Short answer: cupping therapy (hijama) is best known for relieving pain and muscle stiffness — especially in the neck, shoulders and back — and for faster recovery, better movement and deep relaxation. It increases blood flow to the treated area and loosens tight tissue. Patients also come to us for headaches, knee pain, skin and scalp concerns, and as a Sunnah practice for overall wellbeing.
A cup creates gentle suction that lifts the skin and muscle instead of pressing down on them. This draws fresh blood into the area, stretches tight tissue and fascia, and calms over-active pain nerves. In wet cupping (hijama), tiny superficial scratches let the cups draw out a small amount of blood from the surface.
That is why the benefits patients feel first are local and physical: a looser neck, a lighter back, easier movement. Over a course of sessions many also describe better sleep, less tension and more energy — the knock-on effect of a body that is no longer in pain.
From the published research and from what our patients tell us, session after session.
A meta-analysis of 18 trials found a large reduction in chronic pain. Back, neck and shoulder pain are our most common reasons for treatment.
Back and bodyCupping reduced neck pain and improved function in 18 trials (BMJ Open 2018). Ideal for desk and phone strain.
Why Olympic athletes use it: tight, tired muscles recover and move more freely between hard sessions.
A review of 22 studies found cupping improves soft-tissue flexibility — useful for stiffness and posture.
Patients with tension-type headaches and migraine often report relief, with cups on the neck and shoulders.
MigraineSuction brings fresh blood to the area — the basis of hijama in Unani medicine.
Most patients feel calm and heavy after a session, and many sleep better that night.
Facial and body cupping support circulation to the skin; reviews include acne among the conditions studied.
AcneCupping improves circulation to the scalp and eases flaking and itching.
HairThe Prophet ﷺ called cupping among the best of remedies (Sahih al-Bukhari 5696).
Hijama in IslamAt the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimmer Michael Phelps — the most decorated Olympian in history — and other athletes competed with the round marks of cupping on their backs and shoulders. Elite athletes and sports physiotherapists around the world use cupping for muscle recovery, tightness and range of movement between hard training sessions.
The same technique is available at our clinic — with a doctor’s assessment first, single-use cups, and a plan built around your body rather than a fixed package.
Cupping has been studied in hundreds of clinical trials. These reviews pull the evidence together.
A review of 135 randomised trials found cupping — alone or combined with other treatment — effective for conditions including herpes zoster, facial paralysis, acne and cervical spondylosis, with no serious side effects reported.
Across 18 trials and 1,172 patients, cupping produced a large short-term reduction in chronic pain compared with no treatment.
A meta-analysis of 18 trials found cupping reduced neck pain and improved function compared with no treatment. Side effects were mostly mild and temporary.
A review of 22 studies found evidence that cupping improves soft-tissue flexibility and supports its use for back and neck pain, with a very low rate of side effects.
| Concern | What patients usually notice | Typical course |
|---|---|---|
| Neck and shoulder stiffness | Looser movement, less pain, often after the first session | 3–5 sessions |
| Lower back pain | Less stiffness on waking, easier bending | 3–6 sessions |
| Knee pain | Easier walking and stairs | 4–6 sessions |
| Headache and migraine | Fewer or milder episodes | 3–6 sessions |
| Sports recovery | Lighter, freer muscles after training | As needed |
| Stress and poor sleep | Calm after a session, better sleep | 2–4 sessions |
| Hair fall and scalp | Less shedding, healthier scalp over time | 6+ sessions |
| Acne-prone skin | Calmer skin over a course | 4–6 sessions |
| Sunnah wellbeing | Lightness and wellbeing | On Sunnah dates |
Sessions are usually 1–3 weeks apart. Results vary from person to person — Dr. Siddiqui plans your course after examining you.
The benefits build when cupping is done well and followed up. At our clinic every course starts with a doctor’s assessment, so the cups go where they will help you most.
Between sessions, keep moving, drink water and follow the aftercare — and keep taking any medicines your doctor has prescribed. Hijama works alongside them.
Cupping is very safe when done properly, and these simple checks keep it that way. Dr. Siddiqui screens every patient — if hijama is not right for you today, he will tell you and suggest what is.
Tap a card to see the fact.
Relief of pain and muscle stiffness, faster recovery, better flexibility and relaxation. Many patients also seek it for headaches, skin, scalp and as a Sunnah practice.
Suction lifts the skin and muscle, draws fresh blood into the area and loosens tight tissue, which eases pain and stiffness.
For most healthy adults, yes — it is safe when done by a trained practitioner with single-use equipment after a medical check.
Many patients feel lighter and looser the same day. For long-standing problems, results build over 3–6 sessions.
Usually 3–6 sessions, 1–3 weeks apart, depending on your concern. Dr. Siddiqui plans this with you.
The Sunnah form, chosen for pain, heaviness and wellbeing; it adds tiny scratches so the cups draw out a little blood. See wet cupping.
Cupping is not a weight-loss treatment. Some patients use it for wellbeing alongside diet and exercise.
We never cup directly over varicose veins. If you have them, tell us — the doctor will advise what is safe.
Your liver and kidneys clear waste. Cupping supports the body through better local circulation and relaxation.
Yes — Olympic athletes use it for recovery, tightness and range of movement between hard sessions.
Temporary round marks, mild tenderness and occasionally light-headedness. See side effects.
₹200 per cup, consultation free — about ₹1,000 for a typical 5-cup session. Try the price calculator.
Where the cups go, and why.
Open chartMeaning, types and how a session works.
Read moreCupping for knee pain.
Learn moreWhat is normal, and who should wait.
Read more₹200 per cup.
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See datesBook a free consultation with Dr. Siddiqui — 100 m from Okhla Vihar metro, open Saturday to Thursday, 11 AM–7 PM.