Cupping therapy is a specialized complementary and integrative health treatment rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. A cupping therapist places specialized cups on your skin to create suction, which draws your skin and underlying tissues into the cups. The suction increases blood flow to that area to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Though cupping therapy is generally considered safe, it’s not something you can or should do too often. So, how often should you do cupping therapy? And what happens if you overdo it?
How Often Should You Do Cupping Therapy?
Regular cupping therapy is thought to provide a wide range of health benefits, including:
- Pain relief for chronic back and neck pain
- Stress reduction
- Pain management for chronic pain caused by long-term conditions
- Improves flexibility by restoring range of motion to joints
The frequency of your cupping sessions depends on how your body responds to the cupping, the type of cupping therapy, and your ultimate health goals. Your cupping therapist will work with you to determine the optimal schedule based on your needs, goals, and how your body responds to treatment.
Cupping Schedules Based on Your Health Goals
Here’s how often you should schedule cupping therapy sessions based on your health goals.
| Health Goals | Cupping Frequency |
| Chronic pain | One to two times a week |
| Acute pain or injury | Weekly or biweekly |
| Stress reduction | Once or twice a month |
| Immune system support | Monthly or seasonally, depending on your immune system |
| Joint mobility and flexibility | Weekly |
| Migraine and headache relief | Weekly or biweekly |
| Digestive health | Weekly or biweekly |
| Post-surgery | Weekly or biweekly |
| Respiratory needs | Weekly during flare-ups; otherwise, monthly |
Cupping Schedule Based on Your Experience
No matter your health goals, it’s important to space your cupping treatments one to two weeks apart for your first few sessions. This is true even if you’ve been doing dry cupping for years and want to try wet or fire cupping. Leaving time between sessions gives you and your therapist enough time to see how your body responds immediately to and in the days following your cupping therapy, and adjust your treatment plan.
If you’re prone to extensive bruising or remain fatigued for several days post-treatment, your therapist may recommend you schedule sessions farther apart to give your body ample time to recover. Likewise, if you respond positively, your therapist may suggest you schedule sessions closer together to enjoy the benefits of cupping.
Cupping Schedule Based on the Type of Therapy
The type of cupping therapy you do influences how often you should schedule sessions. Some types of cupping are more intense than others, and your body needs more time to heal and experience the benefits. Here’s the recommended schedule for cupping therapy based on the type of treatment:
| Cupping Therapy | Cupping Frequency |
| Dry cupping | Once per week or once every other week |
| Wet cupping | Every four to eight weeks |
| Fire cupping | Once or twice per month |
| Moving or gliding cupping | Weekly or every other week |
| Flash or rapid cupping | Once or twice per week |
| Silicone/Rubber/Soft Cupping | Multiple times per week |
Cupping Frequency by Body Part
You can do cupping therapy on almost any part of your body. However, not every body part responds the same way to treatment, which influences how often you can perform cupping there. For example, your shoulders and back have dense muscles that are more tolerant to cupping, while other areas are delicate and sensitive.
| Body Area | Frequency |
| Back and shoulders | One to two times per week |
| Lower back | One to two times per week |
| Arms and hands | Once per week |
| Legs and calves | One to two times per week |
| Abdomen and stomach | Once a week or once every other week |
| Chest and rib cage | Once a month |
| Feet and ankles | Once per week |
Can You Do Cupping Every Day?
As a rule, you shouldn’t do any type of cupping every day. Your body needs time between each session to rest and recover.
It’s common for people to experience bruising (known as cupping marks), soreness, and even fatigue after a cupping session, and your body needs time to heal from that. Doing another cupping session the next day may only cause more bruising, soreness, and fatigue, instead of promoting the healing and pain relief you’re looking for.
Some people feel refreshed and pain-free after their cupping sessions. While that’s a good sign and indicates your body is healing and responding well to the therapy, it doesn’t indicate that daily cupping is safe.
What Are the Risks of Too Much Cupping Therapy?
Even when you follow the recommended cupping therapy schedule, there are risks to consider.
Bruising and Sensitivity
Some sensitivity and bruising after a cupping therapy session is normal and expected. However, when you schedule cupping therapy too often and don’t give your body time to heal between sessions, the bruising and sensitivity may last longer than expected. You may also find yourself less able to tolerate the cupping sessions as the sensitivity increases.
Inflammation or Infection
Wet cupping therapy includes small incisions to increase blood flow in the cupping area and out of the body. Your skin needs enough time between wet cupping sessions to heal properly. Not giving your skin the time it needs could lead to an infection or more inflammation.
Weaker Blood Vessels
Though cupping increases blood circulation and flow to reduce muscle tension and provide pain relief, the suction stresses the immediate area of skin and tissue. Too much cupping in the same area can weaken the capillaries and blood vessels, increasing the odds they break.
Reduced Effectiveness
Like any treatment, your body will likely get used to the cupping. In some respects, that’s good. Building a tolerance means you may be able to schedule more frequent cupping sessions. But it’s important to keep in mind that as you become more tolerant to the treatments, the less effective they may be. Sticking to a schedule of fewer treatments each week or month means you may get more out of every session.
Space Sessions for Maximum Results
The frequency of your cupping sessions will depend on your health goals and needs, the type of cupping you’re doing, and how your body responds to treatment. But no matter how cupping makes you feel, scheduling downtime to give your body time to heal ensures you get the maximum benefits from each and every treatment session.
If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or even migraine headaches, we can help. The caring, compassionate team at Flourish Chiropractic Spa is skilled in chiropractic care and treatment, as well as supportive and complementary care, like cupping techniques. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first steps toward a healthier, more pain-free life.
