Cupping Therapy Costs, Benefits and Is It Worth Trying?

What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. This suction promotes healing by mobilizing blood flow to the area where the cups are placed.

Some modern practitioners think cupping could help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. But none of these uses are grounded in science.

Different Types of Cupping Methods

There are several different methods of cupping used in treatment:

• Dry cupping - Creates suction using a hand pump instead of heat to draw the skin into the cup.
• Wet cupping or Hijamat - Small cuts are made at the cupping site so blood can be drawn out into the cup.
• Massage cupping - Cups are moved around the skin to provide a massage-like effect.
• Flash cupping - Cups are briefly applied instead of being left in place for longer times.

What to Expect During a Cupping Session

Getting cupped by a certified practitioner takes about 20 to 30 minutes and involves the following general steps:

1. The therapist will prepare your skin by cleaning and possibly applying oil to the cupping sites.
2. Glass, silicone, earthenware or bamboo cups will be placed on your skin and heated air or fire will be briefly applied to remove oxygen and create suction.
3. The cups will then remain in place for 5 to 10 minutes drawing the skin slightly into them.
4. For wet cupping, small cuts may be made so your blood can leave the body and go into the cup.
5. After the time is complete, the cups will be carefully removed.
6. The cupped area may look red and bruised for a few days after treatment. This color change is temporary.

Are the Benefits of Cupping Therapy Backed by Science?

Despite celebrities raving about it and ancient practices relying on it, there is very little concrete scientific evidence showing health benefits of cupping therapy.

Here is what current research says about some purported cupping benefits:

Pain Relief

Some studies indicate cupping may temporarily help reduce aches and pains in the upper back, neck, and low back areas. One recent meta-analysis found cupping significantly improved pain vs typical treatment for chronic conditions when measured up to two weeks later.

However, the exact reasons why cupping eases pain is not entirely understood. And the trials conducted had generally poor methodology and small samples.

Increased Blood Flow

By drawing the skin and tissue upwards, cupping is thought to increase blood flow to that area - similar to a reverse massage technique. However, recent research found that one week of daily cupping treatments showed no significant differences in arterial blood flow or vascular function compared to control groups.

Relaxation and Stress Relief

For some people, having cupping applied by a therapist induces deep relaxation similar to a light massage. And lowering stress levels and inducing relaxation could indeed provide indirect health and healing benefits that science has not yet explored with cupping specifically.

But there is no evidence showing cupping meaningfully reduces biological markers of stress better than simple deep breathing relaxation practices you can do anytime, anywhere.

Overall the benefits of cupping therapy continue to be controversial. More rigorously designed large trials will be needed for the health claims of cupping practitioners to be scientifically verified anytime soon.

Is Cupping Treatment Safe?

Side effects from cupping therapy can include:

• Skin irritation, blistering or burns
• Pain or discomfort during treatment
• Dizziness and nausea
• Bruising at cupping sites that can last over a week
• Increased tendency for blood clotting or thrombosis

Wet cupping carries additional risks like infection since skin is broken. Insufficient sterilizing of equipment puts patients at higher risk of contracting blood-borne diseases like hepatitis or HIV with this cupping technique.

It is important you seek an experienced, licensed cupping practitioner who follows hygienic clinical guidelines if you wish to try it.

Cupping During Pregnancy

Pregnant women should exercise extreme caution with cupping therapy of any kind. Powerful upward suctioning force could trigger premature contractions or disturb the uterine lining. Seek guidance from your obstetrician before considering cupping while pregnant.

Cupping Over Cancer Lesions

Cupping therapy should never be done directly over skin that has cancer lesions or moles. Strong suctioning can potentially loosen cancer cells and enable them to spread around the body. Proceed only under guidance of an oncologist.

Typical Cupping Therapy Costs to Expect

Average prices for cupping treatments tends to range from:

• $30 to $80 per cupping session from student practitioners
• $50 to $100 per session from licensed or professional therapists
• $60 to $180 for initial consultation and first treatment package deals

What Impacts Cost of Cupping Therapy Services?

Several factors influence how much you can expect to pay out of pocket for cupping services without insurance coverage:

Type of Cupping Method

Wet cupping with bloodletting takes more effort and care so tends to have understandably higher prices than regular dry cupping.

Massage cupping sessions will cost slightly more than stationary cupping since the therapist's time for the additional massage is incorporated.

Professional Status of Provider

Student cupping practitioners will offer big discounts as they build experience. Established practitioners with years of expertise or specialty training credentials will charge higher rates reflecting their skill level.

Treatment Duration

More cups used and longer they are left in place means greater effort and supplies utilized. So 30 to 60 minute cupping sessions run more than quick 10-15 minute flash treatments, for example.

Customized combination cupping-acupuncture session combos promoting whole-body wellness will tend cost the most due to extra modalities applied.

Location and Overheads

Major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York City with higher rents and taxes get passed down as higher service costs. Discounted community clinic rates will contrast with posh spa industry cupping offers.

Top tools like flexible silicone cups, heating lamps, cup holder frames all contribute to service rates needing to recoup invested capital.

Cupping Packages Can Lower Per Session Costs

Booking cupping therapy packages with multiple advance-paid sessions discounts the per treatment rates. Packages usually run from 3 to 12+ pre-booked appointments.

This rewards loyal repeat customers with lower costs while helping the therapist secure consistent business. Weekly or monthly memberships can offer similar bulk savings in some holistic clinics.

Does Insurance Cover Cupping Therapy?

Currently, most major insurance plans still consider cupping to be an 'alternative therapy' and do not provide direct reimbursement after paying out of pocket. Only a few insurers like Cigna may partially cover adjunct cupping used before other paid treatments like chiropractic or physical therapy.

However, if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HAS), you can pay for cupping with your tax-advantaged health funds debit card. This allows you to get modest tax breaks on therapeutic cupping costs.

Compare Multiple Cupping Practitioners

Rates can vary widely between different holistic medicine centers and individual therapists. Check with several close options before committing.

Ask About Cupping Student Discounts

Well established cupping clinics often offer apprenticeship opportunities for new trainees to develop experience under guidance. You receive deeply discounted rates in exchange for being practice models helping them refine technique.

Are the Costs of Cupping Therapy Worth Potential Benefits?

Given the limited scientific evidence of cupping results to date, paying many weeks of treatment costs without clarity on effectiveness long-term requires careful thought.

Trying one exploratory cupping therapy session at intro offer rates can help determine if you respond positively before considering any big packages.

Ultimately how much therapeutic cupping value aligns to costs spent will be an individual judgement call weighing your personal needs, means and treatment access opportunities relative to other options.

Talk to people in your local community, ask providers detailed questions, clarify your goals - then decide if incorporating cupping therapy sessions into your self care budget and lifestyle feels right.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.