Cupping is an ancient therapy that has been used as part of folk medicine all over the world. In the 1830s, cupping was used to treat contagious diseases in English hospitals; it was so in demand at the time that there were ‘cuppers’ who were paid to work in the hospitals. The earliest recorded use of cupping can be found in A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies written by the renowned Taoist alchemist and herbalist, Ge Hong (ad281–341).
Cups were originally made from animal horns; it then transitioned to pottery and bamboo. These days, they are made out of thick glass.
