Cupping: dry, fire or wet? Types and where the marks come from

"Cupping" is not a single method but several variants that are easy to mix up. At the AGAMED practice in Szczecin we offer dry Chinese cupping (bloodless) as a treatment that supports relaxation. Below we explain, factually, the differences between the types of cupping and where the characteristic round marks come from.

Important: we treat cupping as a supportive and relaxing (wellness) treatment. It is not a healthcare service, it is not a diagnosis or treatment, and it does not replace a medical consultation. If you have health complaints, consult a doctor.

In brief

• The basic division is dry cupping (bloodless) and wet cupping (with skin incisions) — the difference is the presence or absence of blood.
• Dry cupping includes, among others, the fire cup (suction created by fire) and the flameless/pump cup (suction created by a pump).
• Chinese cupping at AGAMED = the dry method, with no cutting of the skin.
• The round marks are petechiae caused by suction (not a bruise from a blow) — they usually fade within a few to a dozen or so days.
• How intense the mark is depends on the strength and duration of the suction, not on whether fire or a pump was used.

Dry cupping — fire vs flameless (pump)

The fire cup is the classic: a flame (most often a cotton ball soaked in alcohol) is briefly introduced into a glass cup to warm the air. Once the flame is removed, the cup is placed on the skin — as the air cools it contracts and creates suction.

The flameless (pump) cup works the same way in effect, but the suction is created by a pump or a self-suctioning silicone cup, without fire. Its advantage is that you can adjust the suction strength after the cup is placed — if the suction is too strong, it can be reduced without removing the cup.

Both methods are dry (bloodless) and, at the same suction strength, produce comparable marks.

And wet cupping (hijama)?

In wet cupping, after suction is created, small incisions are made in the skin and a small amount of blood is drawn. This is a separate technique with a different character and different hygiene requirements. We do not perform it at the AGAMED practice — we use dry cups only.

Where do the round "marks" come from?

The suction lifts the skin and gently "pulls" it into the cup. This causes local petechiae — tiny leaks from the capillaries. The effect looks like a round redness or bluish discoloration, but it is not an injury like a bruise from a blow and usually fades within a few to a dozen or so days. A darker mark simply means stronger or longer suction — not "more toxins".

Safety and contraindications

Dry cupping performed by a trained therapist is safe, and the marks are temporary. We do not perform it, among other situations, in cases of: skin diseases at the treatment site, clotting disorders, active untreated cancers, severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, fever, the first trimester of pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension. We discuss the full list and details before the visit — see also Chinese cupping and naturotherapy.

Frequently asked questions

Which cup is "better" — fire or pump?

Both give a similar effect. The pump cup allows more precise control of suction strength; the fire cup is the classic method. The choice is a matter of convenience and preference.

Are the marks left by cupping dangerous?

No. They are temporary petechiae caused by suction, not an injury. They usually disappear within a few to a dozen or so days.

Do you do wet cupping (with blood)?

No. At AGAMED we perform dry (bloodless) cupping only.

Book Chinese cupping in Szczecin

At the AGAMED practice in Szczecin we offer dry Chinese cupping — as support for relaxation and well-being, also in a package with hydrotherapy. Chinese cupping and naturotherapy · contact · tel. 519 055 858.

The information in this article is educational and concerns the method as such; it is not a declaration of therapeutic effect.