Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups as suction devices that are placed on the skin suction is created by using an alcohol soaked cotton pad that has been lit the flame is used to warm up the inside of the cup before being placed on the body flames are never used near the skin once the suction has occurred the cups can be gently moved across the skin often referred to as 34gliding cupping the suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle l