Areas to Never Cup

Never cup directly on or near an artery, nerve, or these specific zones

In several areas of the body, arteries and nerves sit close enough to the surface that direct suction is never appropriate, regardless of technique, hardness, or how experienced you are. This page covers the specific anatomical zones; for the broader categories of contraindication (who shouldn't be cupped at all, and general zones like broken skin or eyes), see our Contraindications guide.

 

Front of the body:

A.  Common Carotid Artery – located on each side of the neck. Never cup the front or sides of the throat under any circumstances.

B.  Axillary Artery – located in the armpit.

C.  Brachial Artery – located on the inside bend of the elbow.

D.  Femoral Artery – located in the groin area or the inside fold of each leg at the pelvis.

E.  Linea Alba – the connective tissue running down the center of the abdomen where the abdominal muscles meet.

F.  Temporal Region – avoid strong suction here entirely; the temporal artery and facial nerves sit close to the surface and are extremely delicate.

 

Back of the body:

G.  Popliteal Artery - located behind the knee.

H.  Kidneys – avoid cupping directly over the kidneys. If cupping the lower back generally, work around this area rather than treating it as a standard part of the region.

General zones to avoid, regardless of location

Beyond the specific arteries above, a few categories are never appropriate to cup anywhere on the body:

• Veins, particularly visible or varicose veins
• Nerves, beyond the facial nerve concern noted for the temporal region
• Eyes and body orifices
• Broken, irritated, or infected skin, moles, and lesions
• Lymph nodes

For the full picture of who shouldn't be cupped at all (as opposed to where not to cup on an otherwise appropriate candidate), see our Contraindications guide. For a full-body breakdown of where cupping does work well and why, see our cupping placement guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cup near the neck? Only the back and top of the shoulder area where there's muscle. Never the front or sides of the throat, where the carotid artery and major veins and nerves are.

Is it safe to cup over the kidneys? No, avoid this area directly. If treating the general lower back, work around the kidney area rather than through it.

Can you cup behind the knee? No, the popliteal artery sits close to the surface there.