04/09/2026
The Anatomy of the Purple Circle.
What Effects Does Cupping Therapy Have on Fascia, the Brain, and Blood Vessels?
If you have watched the Olympic Games in recent years, you have probably noticed the dark burgundy, circular marks on the backs of swimmers and gymnasts.
A method once strongly associated with rubbing alcohol, burning cotton wool and grandma’s house has made a remarkable comeback in modern sports recovery under the name cupping therapy.
Why are cupping techniques back in the spotlight? Not because of nostalgia or mysticism, but because of the fascinating biomechanics of connective tissue and the physiology of the nervous system.
Decompression: Why Tissues Need to Be Lifted, Not Only Compressed
Most traditional massage techniques work through compression (positive pressure). We find an area of tension, apply pressure to a trigger point and work the tissues, aiming to improve circulation after temporary compression.
Vacuum therapy works in the opposite direction — through negative pressure, or decompression.
Instead of compressing the tissues, the cup gently lifts the skin, subcutaneous tissue and superficial fascial layers. This may contribute to two important effects:
• Improved tissue gliding. Healthy fascia allows the layers surrounding muscles to glide smoothly over one another. Following prolonged inactivity, repetitive strain or minor tissue irritation, this gliding can become restricted. Vacuum creates an upward mechanical lift that may help improve the mobility of superficial tissue layers.
• Interstitial fluid movement. Negative pressure changes the mechanical forces within the treated area and can encourage movement of fluid through the tissues, potentially supporting local circulation and lymphatic drainage.
The Biochemistry Behind the Post-Cupping Mark
One of the most common misconceptions is: “Cupping leaves a bruise, so it must be harmful.”
The dark mark produced by cupping is generally a form of ecchymosis, caused by the movement of blood components from small vessels into the surrounding tissue.
Unlike a typical traumatic injury, properly performed cupping is not intended to damage muscles or large blood vessels.
The body then gradually clears the blood products from the treated area. Immune cells, including macrophages, participate in the removal of cellular debris and haemoglobin breakdown products.
This is part of the body's normal tissue-repair and recovery processes.
Resetting Pain Through the Nervous System
Muscle pain is not always caused by direct tissue damage. Sometimes a cycle develops in which muscular tension increases sensory input, while the nervous system responds by maintaining further protective tension.
Cupping may influence this process through mechanisms associated with the gate-control theory of pain.
Mechanical stimulation of the skin activates sensory receptors. These signals travel through large sensory nerve fibres and can influence how pain signals are processed within the spinal cord.
In simple terms, a strong, non-painful sensory stimulus can temporarily reduce the perception of pain and may help the nervous system decrease protective muscle tension.
How to Use Cupping Safely and Effectively
Vacuum therapy is a strong sensory and mechanical stimulus. More cups, stronger suction and darker marks do not necessarily mean a better treatment.
In professional practice, two common approaches are:
• Moving cupping massage — cups are gently moved over lubricated skin. This provides mechanical stimulation and may support circulation, fluid movement and relaxation without necessarily producing dark marks.
• Static cupping — cups are placed on selected areas for a limited period, commonly several minutes, depending on the individual's condition, skin response and treatment goals.
A treated area should not be repeatedly cupped over fresh marks. The skin and underlying tissues need time to recover before the same area is treated again.
Important Contraindications
Cupping should not be performed over areas such as varicose veins, open wounds, irritated or infected skin, prominent moles, the front of the neck, or areas with unexplained skin changes.
Extra caution is required during pregnancy, and treatment should be adapted or avoided depending on the area and individual circumstances.
Cupping should also be avoided when a person has a significant acute illness or fever.
In the hands of a trained practitioner, cupping is not a magical treatment from the past — it is a mechanical therapy that can be used as part of a broader approach to relaxation, mobility and recovery.
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