Is Cupping Safe? Who Should Talk to a Doctor First

Thinking about cupping or hijama, but wondering if it is safe for you? It is a good question to ask before you book, and an honest answer has two parts: what the research reports, and what depends on your own health.

This article walks through both. It is general information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take regular medication, the best first step is always to talk with your doctor.

What the research says about safety

Researchers have looked at cupping safety in several ways. A large review of 135 clinical trials found that none of them reported serious adverse effects (Source 3). The authors were careful to add that most of those trials were small and not well reported, so "no serious harms reported" is not the same as proof that cupping is risk-free.

A systematic review of cupping studies from Korea came to a similar view: a range of adverse events had been reported, but they were rare, and most could have been avoided if trained people gave the treatment (Source 2). The authors recommended that cupping follow safety guidelines and that future studies record side effects more carefully.

In short, the published research describes cupping as generally low risk when it is done properly, while also saying that the evidence has gaps. That is a fair and calm place to start.

Side effects that have been reported

Knowing the possible side effects ahead of time helps you notice anything unusual and ask the right questions.

Marks and discoloration. Cupping leaves temporary round marks on the skin (Source 1). They are expected, and they can take days to weeks to fade (Source 6). The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health also notes rarer reports of persistent discoloration and scars (Source 1).
Skin irritation. Redness, swelling, itching, blistering and soreness at the cup sites have been reported (Source 6, Source 7). Cupping may also worsen eczema or psoriasis (Source 1).
Burns with fire cupping. When a flame is used to heat the cups, burns can happen. An Australian and New Zealand burns registry recorded 20 cupping-related burns over about seven years, and 16 of them happened at home, mostly when a flammable liquid caught fire (Source 5). This is one reason cupping should not be tried at home.
Infection. Wet cupping (hijama) involves small, shallow cuts in the skin, which breaks the skin barrier. Infection is rarely reported, but serious cases have been described, and researchers recommend high hygiene standards, including hand hygiene, disinfecting the skin, and clean or sterilized equipment (Source 4).
Fainting or feeling lightheaded. Fainting is rare, but it can happen, most often after wet cupping and in people who tend to faint with needles (Source 7). Feeling tired, a headache or mild nausea afterwards have also been listed (Source 7).
Anemia. Repeated wet cupping has been linked to anemia in reports (Source 1, Source 2).

If you notice a burn, severe pain, fever or signs of infection after any cupping session, contact your healthcare provider (Source 7).

Who should talk to a doctor first

Some people need extra care, and a few may be advised not to have cupping at all. Medical sources list pregnancy, bleeding or clotting disorders, anemia, heart conditions and skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis among the reasons to check with a provider first (Source 7).

At M.K Holistic Clinic, we ask you to speak with your doctor before booking if you:

Are pregnant
Take blood thinners (anticoagulants)
Have diabetes
Have a bleeding disorder
Have anemia
Have a serious medical condition

This list is not a judgement about your health. It is a pause button. Your doctor knows your history and medications, and can tell you whether cupping makes sense for you right now. If they have concerns, please follow their advice.

Recent blood work is not mandatory for every client, but it is important for some conditions, such as anemia. If your doctor has recent results, they can be a useful part of that conversation.

What a careful clinic does

Research on cupping side effects points again and again to the same thing: many problems are avoidable when trained people take care with each step (Source 2). Here is how we approach a session.

An intake form for every client

Every client completes an intake form before treatment. It asks about your health, your medications and anything else we should know. If something on the form suggests you should check with your doctor first, we will tell you, and we would rather reschedule than rush.

Hygiene

Because wet cupping breaks the skin, hygiene matters. Researchers recommend hand hygiene and disinfecting the skin at the cupping sites (Source 4). Feel free to ask us how we clean and prepare before and after your session.

Explaining each step

You should never be surprised during a session. We explain what we are doing as we go, what you may feel, and what the marks may look like afterwards. You can ask questions, ask us to pause, or stop at any time.

Before and after your session

For hijama, please do not eat for 3 hours before your appointment. Water is fine. For 24 hours afterwards, we ask that you avoid exercise and avoid animal products.

The bottom line

Cupping is generally described in the research as low risk when it is done carefully, but it is not right for everyone, and the evidence still has gaps. The safest path is simple: be open about your health on the intake form, talk with your doctor first if you are in one of the groups above, and choose a clinic that explains every step.

If you have questions before booking, we are happy to talk them through. Book at mkholisticclinic.schedulista.com or call 416-710-2033.

Sources

Cupping — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2018
Adverse events related to cupping therapy in studies conducted in Korea: A systematic review — European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2014
An Updated Review of the Efficacy of Cupping Therapy — PLoS One, 2012
Disseminated Staphylococcus aureus infection after scarification wet cupping therapy: a case report and literature review — BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2023
Cupping: the risk of burns — Medical Journal of Australia, 2017
The Evidence for Common Nonsurgical Modalities in Sports Medicine, Part 2: Cupping and Blood Flow Restriction — Journal of the AAOS: Global Research and Reviews, 2020
Cupping Therapy — Cleveland Clinic, 2023