Part 2 of 6 in the "what is cupping" series. Part 1 is what cupping is; part 3 is how cup retention, sliding cupping and wet cupping differ; part 4 is the marks; part 5 is which situations to tell your practitioner about; part 6 is aftercare.
"And once I'm lying down? How long for, and will it hurt?" Before a first session, these are questions that come up often.
This part describes what a TCM practitioner generally does. HansMed Modern TCM's in-person service is coming soon.
The short version
- The cups generally stay on for no more than 10 minutes — that is the Taiwan folk-practice manual; shorter for thin or delicate skin, older people and children.
- Three to five cups on average, possibly up to seven; more than seven in one session is uncommon — Cleveland Clinic's account.
- It should not hurt. The same page says you may feel some skin tightness during the procedure.
- If you feel dizzy, chest-tight, faint, sweaty or short of breath during it, tell the practitioner immediately. This is what is called "cup fainting".
- Two hygiene questions you can ask outright: are the needles single-use, and are the cups disinfected?
First, the things that cannot wait
If burns, blisters, broken skin, severe pain, or signs of infection develop at the cupping site, please contact your practitioner. If you experience fever, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If you are experiencing seizures, loss of consciousness, or high fever, call 999 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, rather than considering cupping.
The full list, and the reason for each, are in part 5. TCM and Western medicine complement each other; it is not a choice between them.
A note: this section is general information only. For conditions like these, follow your doctor's diagnosis and treatment, and seek medical attention when you need it.
I. Before: the site, the position, and four small things
The area to be cupped is uncovered. Common sites are the shoulders, back, lower back, buttocks and the upper parts of the limbs — fleshy, muscular areas, as the Taiwan folk-practice manual lists them; the position should be comfortable and sustainable for a while, which is the same manual's principle.
Four small things beforehand, which Puli Christian Hospital's patient leaflet puts concretely: not too hungry or too full; loose clothing that uncovers the area easily; remove any medicated plasters first; and stay relaxed.
One instruction before cupping runs the other way: China's national TCM administration's infection-control guideline advises showering beforehand and keeping the skin clean. Showering afterwards has a different timing — see part 6.
💡 Remember: wearing a loose top that lifts easily saves working it out when you get there.
II. During: how many cups, how long, and what it feels like
How many cups. Cleveland Clinic says providers use between three and five cups on average, possibly up to seven; more than seven in one session is uncommon.
How long. Cup retention (留罐) is leaving the cup in place after suction — that is the whole of the WHO standard's definition. The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare's operating manual for the non-medical cupping trade (suction cups) says the cups should generally stay on for no more than 10 minutes, shorter for thin or delicate skin, older people and children. Puli Christian Hospital says about 5–10 minutes. Cleveland Clinic says only "several minutes".
The three figures differ; they point the same way — minutes, not hours. Your practitioner may adjust this — follow what they tell you.
What it feels like. Often described as "tight", "achy" or "slightly swollen". Cleveland Clinic's wording: cupping should not cause pain, though you may feel some skin tightness during the procedure. Afterwards you may feel bruised and slightly sore, but you should not have severe discomfort — also that page.
💡 Remember: longer is not better. Puli Christian Hospital's leaflet puts it plainly: too long and blisters may form.
III. If you feel unwell, and the two questions you can ask
Local pain. The usual handling is to release some suction or remove the cup at once — that is the Taiwan folk-practice manual's handling. Say so on the spot; do not sit it out.
Dizzy, chest-tight, faint, sweaty, short of breath. Tell the practitioner immediately — those are the items Puli Christian Hospital's leaflet lists. This is what is called cup fainting (晕罐), which the Hong Kong regulator lists as a potential risk of improper operation. The same Taiwan manual's handling: remove the cups at once, have the person lie flat, give warm water, keep them warm, and consider seeking medical help.
If you are afraid of needles or have fainted from injections before, say so beforehand. Cleveland Clinic notes that in rare instances people develop vasovagal syncope — fainting after a drop in blood pressure and heart rate — most commonly after wet cupping in people who pass out with needle sticks.
If it is wet cupping. Wet cupping (刺络拔罐) is the method where a needle lightly punctures the skin before the cup goes on, and there is blood in the cup. China's national TCM administration's infection-control guideline requires the skin to be disinfected first and the needles to be one person, one use — disposable needles discarded after use, reusable ones sterilised for each person. You can ask beforehand whether this is how it is done.
Hygiene of the cups. The same guideline requires cups to be cleaned and disinfected after each person. "Are the cups disinfected?" is a reasonable question to ask.
These are standards for medical institutions, not a checklist for you to run at home. Why wet cupping's requirements go beyond ordinary cup retention is in part 3.
The words in this part
All four come from the sources quoted above.
- Cup retention (留罐, 留罐法) — leave the cup in place after suction. That is the WHO's standard terminology for TCM. This is the method people usually mean by "cupping".
- Wet cupping (刺络拔罐) — prick the area to be treated with a needle first, then suck out blood with a cup. It breaks the skin, and there is blood in the cup. The same standard's definition.
- Cup fainting (晕罐) — the term for dizziness, chest tightness and similar reactions during a session. The Hong Kong regulator lists it as a potential risk of improper operation. You may hear a practitioner use the phrase.
- Vasovagal syncope (血管迷走性晕厥) — fainting after a drop in blood pressure and heart rate. That is how Cleveland Clinic explains it, adding that in rare instances people develop it, most commonly after wet cupping in people who pass out with needle sticks.
Frequently asked
How long do the cups stay on? The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare's operating manual for the non-medical cupping trade (suction cups): generally no more than 10 minutes, shorter for delicate skin, older people and children. Puli Christian Hospital: about 5–10 minutes; too long may raise blisters. Cleveland Clinic: several minutes. Your practitioner may shorten it depending on your situation — follow what they tell you.
Does cupping hurt? Cleveland Clinic: it should not cause pain, though you may feel some skin tightness during the procedure; afterwards you may feel bruised and slightly sore, but you should not have severe discomfort. If there is local pain during the session, the usual handling is to release some suction or remove the cup at once — say so on the spot. For what a first acupuncture session feels like, see Does Acupuncture Hurt the First Time (/does-acupuncture-hurt-first-time/).
Do not: sit it out in silence — discomfort during a session can only be handled if you say it. And do not treat cupping as a weight-loss method: weight management is a matter of diet, exercise and overall habits.
The other five parts
- Part 1: What cupping is: negative pressure, four common methods, and what TCM theory says
- Part 3: Cup retention, sliding cupping and wet cupping: what actually differs, and what each requires
- Part 4: The marks: what they are, why they fade, and how long they last
- Part 5: Situations to tell your practitioner about first, or to see a doctor about first
- Part 6: Aftercare: showering, air-conditioning, and the day after
👉 If you are unsure whether cupping is suitable for your situation, you are welcome to book an online consultation with HansMed, where a practitioner registered under the T&CM Act 2016 can assess it with you. Cupping is an in-person procedure; the in-person service is coming soon.
Sit with a licensed TCM practitioner from wherever you are.
HansMed Modern TCM
For general wellness education only — not medical advice. Consult a registered TCM practitioner for personal guidance.
Sources
- Hong Kong Department of Health, Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Common Chinese Medicine Therapies — https://www.cmro.gov.hk/html/gb/useful_information/public_health/pamphlet/Health_35780_Booklet_r3.html
- Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Department of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, operating manual for guasha and cupping in the folk-conditioning trade, page updated 18 December 2025 — https://dep.mohw.gov.tw/docmap/cp-4389-39605-108.html
- Puli Christian Hospital, Department of Nursing, Understanding Cupping Therapy, leaflet T220, dated October 2022 — https://www.pch.org.tw/health_info.php?id=56
- Cleveland Clinic, Cupping Therapy: Definition, Types & Benefits, last updated 06/07/2023 — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16554-cupping
- National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and National Health and Family Planning Commission (China), Guideline for the prevention and control of infection related to TCM medical techniques (trial) — http://www.natcm.gov.cn/bangongshi/zhengcewenjian/2018-03-24/838.html
- World Health Organization, WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine, 2022 — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042322
