Can cupping on the abdomen help with weight loss?

May 09, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Cupping on the abdomen may have a certain auxiliary effect on weight loss, but its effectiveness is limited, and one cannot rely solely on this method to achieve weight loss goals. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body's meridians are channels through which qi and blood circulate. Cupping on the abdomen can stimulate the meridians and acupoints in the abdominal area, such as the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) and the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. These meridians are closely related to the functions of internal organs such as the spleen and stomach.

Generally speaking, cupping on the abdomen can have a certain auxiliary effect on weight loss, but its effectiveness is limited, and one should not rely solely on this method to achieve weight loss goals. A detailed analysis is as follows:

In traditional Chinese medicine, meridians are considered channels for the circulation of qi and blood. Performing cupping on the abdomen can stimulate the abdominal meridians and acupoints, such as the Conception Vessel and the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. These meridians are closely related to the functions of internal organs such as the spleen and stomach. Cupping stimulation can regulate the circulation of qi and blood in the meridians, improve spleen and stomach functions, enhance their transformation and transportation abilities, normalize digestion and absorption of food, and help reduce the accumulation and conversion of food into fat, thereby providing some assistance for weight loss.

Cupping on the abdomen can also promote local blood circulation and accelerate metabolism to some extent. Improved blood circulation allows body cells to receive more adequate oxygen and nutrients, while also facilitating the elimination of metabolic waste, which is beneficial for fat breakdown and consumption. In addition, this local stimulation may exert certain regulatory effects on the body's overall metabolic functions through neural reflex mechanisms, helping to increase total energy expenditure.

However, cupping mainly indirectly affects weight by regulating the body and cannot directly burn fat in the way that exercise or dietary control can. Different individuals have different constitutions and physical conditions, so their responses to weight loss through cupping may vary. It is recommended to combine reasonable dietary control, appropriate physical exercise, and good living habits for weight loss.

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