Cupping Therapy in Las Vegas
Traditional glass fire cupping for muscle tension, soreness, and recovery. Sessions last up to 30 minutes, with a licensed OMD or a supervised senior intern.
What is cupping?
Cupping is one of the oldest techniques in Chinese medicine. Your practitioner warms the air inside a glass cup with a brief flame, then sets the cup on your skin. As the air cools, it creates suction that gently lifts the skin and the muscle beneath it. The flame never touches you.
The cups usually stay in place for several minutes, most often on the back, shoulders, and neck. Sometimes the practitioner slides them over oiled skin to work along a tight muscle. Most people describe a strong pulling or pressure that feels like a deep massage in reverse.
At Wongu Health Center we practice traditional fire cupping with glass cups. You can book it on its own, or your practitioner may add it to an acupuncture visit when it suits your treatment.
Why people choose cupping
Patients most often come to us for cupping to help with:
- tight, knotted muscles in the upper back, neck, and shoulders,
- muscle soreness after exercise, physical work, or long hours at a desk or behind the wheel,
- lingering back or neck discomfort that comes and goes, and
- relaxation and general recovery.
We want to be straightforward about the evidence. Research on cupping is growing, and some small trials suggest it may ease neck and low back pain in the short term. But most studies are small and hard to blind, so the science is less settled than it is for acupuncture.1 Many patients find cupping helps their muscles feel looser and more comfortable, and it is often most useful combined with acupuncture, stretching, and the rest of your care.
About the marks
Cupping often leaves round, reddish-purple marks where the cups were. They are not bruises from an impact. They come from suction drawing blood toward the surface. They usually aren't painful and fade over several days to about two weeks. Your practitioner can use lighter suction if you have an event coming up or would rather avoid visible marks.
Who should avoid cupping or tell us first
Cupping is not right for everyone. Please tell your practitioner if you:
- take blood-thinning medication or have a bleeding or clotting disorder,
- are pregnant (some areas, such as the abdomen and lower back, are avoided),
- have a skin condition, sunburn, open wound, or fragile skin in the area,
- have a fever, or
- have diabetes, heart disease, or another medical condition.
After a session, drink water, keep the area covered from wind and cold, and avoid very hot showers or hard workouts for the rest of the day.
Cupping prices
| Visit | Supervised Intern | Licensed OMD |
|---|---|---|
| Initial visit (consultation + treatment) | $80 · 1.5–2 hours | $120 · about 1 hour |
| Follow-up visit | $50 · about 1 hour | $80 · 30–55 minutes |
| Cupping (up to 30 min) | $50 | $100 (includes OMD consultation) |
| Custom herbal formulas & teas | From $15/day | From $15/day |
OMD cupping visits ($100) include a consultation with a licensed OMD about the best approach for your condition. Intern sessions ($50) are supervised by a licensed OMD. See full pricing.
Cupping questions
Book a cupping session
Self-pay patients can book online. VA Community Care and Culinary patients should contact Wongu Health Center before scheduling so we can verify eligibility, authorization, and provider availability.
Related care at Wongu
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Cupping.