cupping n.

1510s, "surgical operation to draw blood by means of a cupping-glass," verbal noun from cup (v.).

There are two modes of cupping: one in which the part is scarified and some blood taken away to relieve congestion or inflammation of internal parts, called wet cupping, or more generally simply cupping; and a second, termed dry cupping, in which there is no scarification no blood is abstracted. [Century Dictionary, 1897]