This recently trending therapy is actually very old dating back to ancient China, ancient Egypt, and the middle eastern cultures. Cupping includes suction cups being placed on the body with a negative pressure or vacuum effect. Cups may be made of silicone, plastic or glass. The cups may be left in one place or slid, both have different effects and will leave the skin looking pink, red or purple in color.  Cupping helps with increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, relieving muscle tension, reducing fascial restrictions in connective tissue, moving the lymph (our immune system), treating the common cold, and creates a relaxing effect on nervous system. Unlike compression of tissue, the lifting and opening action with cupping creates space allowing natural metabolic wastes to be flushed out of the tissues. After this therapy there may be some mild muscle soreness.