A therapy in which a jar is placed on the skin surface to cause local congestion through the removal of the air in the jar promotes the free flow of qi and blood in the channels diminishes swellings pains dispel cold and dampness originally practitioners would use hollowed out animal horns for cups and place them over particular points or meridians today most acupuncturists use cups made of thick glass or plastic although bamboo iron and pottery cups are still used in other countri