Cupping therapy is one of the oldest methods of complimentary therapies which has being used in early human civilization. Evidence shows that it was first practiced by the Ancient Egyptians more than 5500 years ago and then it was introduced to the Greek, the Romans, and the rest of the world. The main postulated aims of this therapy is the extraction of harmful substances or toxins from the body by creating negative pressure in a cup. Cupping was described by Razi as a process in which blood from superficial small vessels located in muscles is release. It has being traditionally used for the treatment of painful conditions but has also been used to treat chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, inflammatory disorders, and metabolic diseases.

Cupping therapy is done by applying small round cups which are made of glass, bamboo, ceramic or plastic to the area of pain. The cup has a rolled rim to ensure tight contact with skin to preserve the negative pressure created. The mouth of the cup is placed firmly over the preferred location against the skin. The negative pressure fixes the cup onto the skin and creates suction effect which pulls the skin upwards into the cup. Sometimes the therapist uses lubricants to facilitate the movement of the cups to cover a wider area. The common application sites are the back, chest, abdomen, buttock, and areas of abundant muscle.