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Cupping is an Ancient Chinese practice that poses as a form or massage therapy. The purpose of cupping today is generally recommended for the treatment of several disorders. These orders can include respiratory conditions (asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia), pain, gastro-intestinal conditions, and even paralysis. Although there are lingering health beliefs that this form of practice is not effective in treating these disorders, it is still said that cupping can also provide a sense of relaxation and invigoration for extended periods of time.

The process of cupping involves a cup, usually glass, plastic, or bamboo that creates a vacuum on a person’s skin. This is done by fire heating up the air in the cup and immediately placing the cup on the skin creating the vacuum. This is supposed to cause the acupressure or healing effects listed above. The general placements of these cups are along the sides of the spine, using about 8 to 12 cups lasting for about 10 minutes. The duration of the cupping can vary according to the variety of the client. Temporary bruising on the site of the cup is expected after treatment in the circular shape of the cup. The longer the cup is placed on the skin, the more apparent the bruise will be. There is also a chance of slight burning from the heat.

Nowadays, there are several different types of cupping with the same idea but different techniques with handling the cups as well as different techniques in heating the cups.

A Few Different Types of Cupping Techniques:
- traditional heated cup over skin
- a heated cup that is pulled across the skin while vacuum still present (also called gliding cupping)
- a heated cup over acupuncture needles
- a cup requiring no fire but instead a hand operated pump at the top of cup that would create the vacuum effect (which was developed toward the end of the 20th century

Different Techniques in Heating the Cups:
- One can swab rubbing alcohol (minimum 90%) into the bottom of a cup, then light it and place the cup immediately against the skin. By creating the seal the immediate loss of oxygen puts the fire out, preventing the person from being burned. The smaller the amount of alcohol, and the quicker the flame is extinguished by application of the cup, the better, so long as there is no risk of the cups falling off due to lack of a proper seal. Some experienced cuppers prefer the use of kerosine over alcohol, claiming it provides better ignition and thus greater suction.
- One can hold the cup inverted over a flame (e.g. a lit candle), heating the air, then place the cup immediately against the skin. Care must be taken not to heat the glass itself. Even so, the person to whom the cup is applied will feel distinctly more heat than in the previous method.
- One can ignite a flame with a small alcohol-soaked cotton wad resting on a small pad of leather or other insulating material that rests directly on the patient's skin, then place the cup immediately over the flame, putting out the fire. The quickness with which the flame is extinguished depends on the size and shape of the cup.
- One can place the cup on the skin and gently heat the bottom of the cup with a flame heating the air inside, whilst leaving a small gap to allow air to escape. When the air is heated sufficiently, the gap is closed and the air is allowed to cool.

For more information on the practice of cupping you can also refer to these websites:

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/cupping.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupping
http://www.massagecupping.com
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cupping.htm