Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which cups are placed on the skin to cerate suction the cups are generally left in place and moved around for 10 20 minutes depends on your comfort and your practitioner39s assessment of the problem the purpose of cupping is to enhance circulation help relieve pain remove 34heat34 and pull out the toxins that linger in your body39s tissues you might have some purple marks after cupping which will normally faded after 5 7 day