Cupping Therapy in Kirriemuir & Angus

Cupping therapy at Sona Chiropractic uses an ancient healing technique to relieve muscle tension, improve blood flow, and support recovery.


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What Is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is an ancient healing technique with roots in Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures, used for thousands of years as a form of alternative medicine. Today, cupping therapy is used in modern clinical practice by physical therapists, massage therapists, and complementary health practitioners to address muscle tension, improve blood flow, and support recovery from pain and injury.

The principle behind the  cupping therapy we use at Sona Chiropractic is the creation of negative pressure on the skin's surface. A cupping therapist places cups on the treated area and uses fire, manual suction, or electrical methods to remove the air inside the cup, creating a vacuum force that draws the skin and underlying connective tissues upward. This is how cupping helps: the suction creates space in the tissue, increasing blood flow to the affected area, stimulating lymphatic drainage, and promoting cell repair at a tissue level.

Cupping therapy is classified as alternative medicine and a form of complementary therapy, though scientific evidence for cupping continues to grow.




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Benefits of Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy offers a range of benefits for people dealing with pain, muscle tightness, and circulatory health conditions. Key cupping benefits include:

  • Increased blood flow: Cupping increases blood circulation to the treated area, helping to deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles whilst removing inflammatory substances.

  • Muscle tension relief: Cupping helps relieve muscle tension and reduce muscle tightness, particularly across the upper back, neck, and specific areas of chronic tension.

  • Pain relief: Cupping therapy reduces pain associated with chronic back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain. Pain relief from cupping is supported by multiple clinical studies.

  • Lymphatic drainage: Cupping enhances lymphatic drainage, supporting immune function and the removal of waste products from the body.

  • Cell repair: Cupping promotes cell repair by stimulating the body's antioxidant processes and healing response.

  • Migraine headache relief: Cupping therapy can reduce headache severity significantly, with some studies citing up to 66% reduction in migraine headache intensity.

  • Stress and well being: Cupping can promote relaxation and a perceived sense of well being, and the release of endogenous opioids helps relieve pain and improve mood.

What to Expect During a Cupping Session

Before your cupping session, your cupping therapist will review your health history and discuss any relevant health conditions. They'll select the most appropriate cupping technique for your specific needs, dry cupping, wet cupping, or dynamic cupping. Cupping therapy typically uses three to five cups during treatment.

The cups create suction on the treated area, and you'll feel a pulling or tightening sensation inside the cup, this is normal and should not be painful. The affected area will be monitored throughout. After the cupping session, you may notice circular cupping marks on the skin, ranging from light pink to dark purple depending on the degree of stagnation in the area. These marks are not standard bruises; they are a natural response to the increased blood volume and typically fade within 3–10 days.

After cupping therapy, drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day. People who've experienced cupping often report a sense of lightness and reduced tension in the treated area immediately following treatment.

Meet Your Massage Therapist

Maya Irvine

Sports Massage Therapist

Hello, I’m Maya, a Level 4 Sports Massage Practitioner based at Sona Chiropractic in Kirriemuir, Angus. I’m currently completing my final year of a BSc (Hons) Sport Science degree, which has strengthened my understanding of how the body moves, adapts, and recovers.

I provide sports massage in Kirriemuir, using evidence-based techniques including traditional sports massage and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (IASTM) to support recovery, improve mobility, and reduce muscular tension.

As an active football player, my interest in injury prevention and rehabilitation grew from personal experience — and I’m passionate about helping others return to sport and daily life with confidence.

Is Cupping Therapy Right for You?

Cupping therapy is suitable for most healthy adults experiencing muscle tension, pain, or circulatory concerns. However, you should avoid cupping or consult a healthcare provider first if you:

• Have skin infections, active skin conditions, or open wounds in the treatment area

• Have a bleeding disorder or are on blood-thinning medication

• Are pregnant or menstruating

• Have cancer or haemophilia

• Have other health conditions that may affect the suitability of cupping therapy

Cupping should not be performed over open wounds, fractures, or areas of acute inflammation. For people who've tried other treatments without lasting relief, cupping therapy can offer a different approach — working through negative pressure on the tissue and blood flow rather than manual pressure alone.

Book Your Cupping Therapy Session

Interested in trying cupping therapy? Book your cupping session at Sona Chiropractic, 23 Reform Street, Kirriemuir. Call 07346 809923, email contact@sonachiropractic.com, or book online booking page.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Cupping creates suction on the skin that draws blood and lymphatic fluid into the treated area, promotes cell repair, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and relieves muscle tension. Cupping also stimulates large nerve fibres and triggers the release of endogenous opioids, the body's natural mood enhancers and pain-relief chemicals.

  • The main side effects of cupping therapy include cupping marks (circular discolouration ranging from pink to dark purple), mild bruising, and temporary skin soreness. Cupping can lead to scarring, burns, or skin infections if not performed correctly by a trained professional. Mild-to-moderate adverse reactions are possible, always seek a qualified cupping therapist.

  • Cupping and massage address muscle tension and pain through different mechanisms. Cupping uses negative pressure to lift the tissues; massage applies direct downward pressure. Many clients benefit from a combination of both therapies, cupping can improve blood flow and loosen specific areas before or after massage work. Your healthcare provider and therapist can advise the best approach for you.

  • From a medical perspective, cupping does not directly "remove toxins" in a literal sense. However, by promoting lymphatic drainage, improving circulation, and stimulating the body's antioxidant processes, cupping therapy supports the body's natural waste removal and cellular repair systems. The body's antioxidant processes are genuinely stimulated by the cupping response.

  • Cupping therapy session prices vary by practitioner and session length. Please contact Sona Chiropractic or visit our booking page for current pricing and available session options.