Online you will come across widely differing claims about cupping therapy. In their place, you can read below what the official guideline and the World Health Organization (opens in a new tab) say.
The short answer
Exactly how the procedure works is not known. The Cupping Application Guideline (opens in a new tab) of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye puts it like this:
“No single theory is sufficient to explain the mechanisms of action underlying cupping therapy.”
That sentence marks where any discussion of the procedure has to stop. Claims about the mechanism — in whichever direction — lie beyond that line, and they have no place on this page.
How does the guideline define the purpose of the procedure?
The Cupping Application Guideline defines the purpose of the procedure as “supporting existing treatment” and draws this line:
“No claim may be made that it will eliminate a disease or treat it on its own.”
The guideline contains a list of indications; musculoskeletal problems, fibromyalgia syndrome, non-organic headaches such as migraine and tension-type headache, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity are among the headings it lists. But a condition appearing on that list does not mean the procedure will eliminate it. Suitability is decided at the end of the examination, in the guideline’s words, “according to the patient’s clinical condition”.
You can read the full list of indications on the Hijama page.
What does the World Health Organization say?
On its questions-and-answers page about traditional and complementary practices, the World Health Organization highlights three points:
- How little research there is. “Less than 1% of global health research funding is allocated to traditional medicine.” The same page states that the lack of investment in research “undermines efforts to build a solid evidence base”.
- An evidence-based approach. “An evidence-based approach, in which efficacy and safety are established through rigorous scientific validation, is critical.”
- Safety where the conditions are met. “When supported by appropriate training, quality assurance and clear practice frameworks, traditional medicine is generally safe.”
The conditional form of that last sentence matters: safety is tied to who carries the procedure out and under what conditions. You can read those conditions in Who Can Perform Cupping Therapy, and Where?
In which patients does this uncertainty matter most?
- In patients with a diagnosed condition who are already under treatment (the procedure does not replace the treatment under way)
- In patients taking regular medication (stopping medicines without consulting a physician is not on the table)
- In patients with a complaint that has not yet been diagnosed (looking into the cause should not be postponed)
- In patients whose symptoms have just started or are changing rapidly (assessment comes first)
The Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices puts this in a single sentence: such procedures may not be carried out “in a way that disrupts or delays other medical treatments”.
How is this uncertainty handled in practice?
- The complaint is assessed first. The procedure does not stand in for a diagnosis; examination, and investigation where needed, come first.
- Suitability is decided person by person. The guideline’s list of indications is a framework for assessment, not a list of promises.
- Expectations are discussed at the outset. What can and cannot be expected is explained before the procedure.
- Every session is recorded. Vital signs, examination findings and any side effects observed are entered in the file.
- The plan is reviewed. If the expected change is not seen, or if a side effect develops, the procedure is reassessed and stopped where necessary.
Points to be aware of, and the limits
Treat claims that quote figures with caution. Statements that give a success rate, promise a number of sessions or commit to a timescale do not comply with the regulation.
Treat claims that explain the mechanism with caution. When the guideline itself writes that the mechanism cannot be explained, a text claiming to explain it has gone beyond the guideline.
Results vary from person to person. A change seen in one person cannot be stated in advance for another.
The procedure is not presented as an obligation. Deciding not to have it is also a decision, and it is yours.
When should you see a physician without delay?
If you experience these symptoms during treatment, contact your physician without delay:
- A complaint that keeps increasing or whose character has changed
- Fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss accompanying it
- Increasing redness, warmth, swelling or discharge at the site
- Marked weakness, palpitations or dizziness
In the event of shortness of breath, chest pain, bleeding that does not stop, a change in consciousness or fainting, go directly to the emergency department.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mechanism of action of cupping therapy known?
Not exactly. The Cupping Application Guideline of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye states it plainly: “No single theory is sufficient to explain the mechanisms of action underlying cupping therapy.” Claims about the mechanism lie beyond that line.
What is the state of research into cupping therapy?
The World Health Organization states that less than 1% of global health research funding is allocated to traditional medicine, and that the lack of investment in research undermines efforts to build a solid evidence base. The same body regards it as critical that efficacy and safety are established through rigorous scientific validation.
What does it mean that conditions are named in the guideline?
The guideline sets out, in a list of indications, the conditions in which the procedure may be used. A condition appearing on that list does not mean the procedure will treat or eliminate it. The guideline defines the purpose of the procedure as supporting existing treatment; in other words, it does not take the place of treatment already under way. Whether it is suitable for you is decided at the end of the examination, according to your clinical condition.
What can be expected from cupping therapy?
What can be expected varies with the person and the clinical picture, and it is discussed before the procedure. The guideline states that no claim may be made that the procedure will eliminate a disease or treat it on its own. Results vary from person to person.
How is it monitored whether the procedure is working?
At every session, vital signs, examination findings and any side effects observed are entered in the patient’s file, and the course of your complaint is assessed together. If the expected change is not seen, or if a side effect develops, the plan is reviewed and the procedure stopped where necessary.
How should I read the claims I find online?
Two questions are enough: what source does this claim rest on, and is that source an official guideline? Statements that quote figures, commit to a timescale or claim to explain the mechanism lie beyond the line the guideline draws.
Could the procedure lead me to postpone the treatment I am already having?
It should not. The Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices states that such procedures may not be carried out in a way that disrupts or delays other medical treatments. If you are already under treatment, say so at the start of the consultation.
Sources
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, Directorate General of Health Services, Department of Traditional, Complementary and Functional Medicine Practices, Cupping Application Guideline, Ankara, June 2025 (Publication No 1320, ISBN 978-975-590-934-9). https://shgmgetatdb.saglik.gov.tr/ (opens in a new tab)
- World Health Organization, Traditional medicine questions and answers, 28 November 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/traditional-medicine (opens in a new tab)
