An ancient healing art used across cultures for thousands of years.
The use of cupping in medicine is not exclusive to Chinese Medicine. Many indigenous cultures across the planet have, within their medical practices, techniques resembling or replicating the practice of Cupping within them. This technique is found in many folk medicines of Latin America. The practice of placing cups in various locations of the body have served the purpose of removing and/or moving problems of the interior through exterior means.
Aside from treating pain through movement of Qi and Blood within the tissues using this technique, Cupping is also used to treat sickness as well. Traditional Chinese Medicine practice states that exterior pathogens entering the body can also be removed with Cupping technique. What this means to you is that early onset of certain colds and flu can be remedied and/or minimized using this technique. The placement of cups on the upper part of the back is said to be able to pull out those exterior factors that get you sick. Lancing certain places and placing a cup to draw out a few drops of blood is also said to clear heat in the body that causes conditions such as fever.
The uses for Cupping are many besides only pain relief of sore or stiff muscles. Ask your practitioner about the many other conditions that are effectively helped by this technique.