Make sure your patient is aware of the pain and bruising associated with cupping before they consent to treatment. The hot cups hurt when they’re in contact with the patient’s skin, and cupping leaves circular bruises that are tender, painful, and last for a week. Target the place where the patient is experiencing pain. The back, arms, and legs are ideal treatment areas. Don’t do cupping on the face or genitals, feet, or hands. Also avoid any ulcers or deep vein thrombosis. It’s too dangerous to cup in those spots. Avoid cupping if your patient has bleeding disorders or is on blood thinners, because cupping can cause blood to clot. If they’re not sure, have them talk to their doctor. Use a wet, soapy washcloth to thoroughly wash the area of the body that you’re going to treat. Rinse off all the soap with some water, and then dry the treatment site with a clean towel. Consider removing any body hair from the treatment site. The suction created during the procedure can painfully pull stray hairs. Smear a small amount of lotion over the intended treatment site and rub it in. The lotion will make it easier to move and reposition the cups during treatment. To make sure your cups are clean before you use them, wash them with hot water and soap. Cups used for cupping are generally glass, and hold about 2 to 4 fluid ounces. They’re also usually dishwasher safe, you so you can wash them in the dishwasher if you have one.  You can also use silicone or plastic cups. Cups with narrow mouths are better than those with wide mouths. Make sure the cups are dry before you use them.

Summary: Get your patient’s consent to perform cupping. Identify the area on the body that you want to treat. Wash the treatment site with soap and water. Rub lotion into the skin. Wash the cups with hot water and soap.


A hickey is a bruise left behind in the heat of passion. You'll create a hickey by gently breaking blood vessels through the suction of lips against sensitive skin. This is a mark of love, and a visible display that you've been intimate with someone. Be aware of the implications! You are leaving a noticeable mark on someone's neck, here, so you should be sure that she's into it before you go for the hickey. Of course, it might spoil the mood to ask, "Do you mind if I give you a hickey?" Consider that she might be embarrassed by this love-mark: she may not want her friends, family, or teachers to know that she is sexually or romantically active, and she may feel the need to hide the spot with makeup or a scarf. Some people proudly display their hickeys, while others are mortified.  A hickey is a playful mark of possession – a brand of passion. In general, a girlfriend or emotionally-involved partner will be more receptive to a hickey than someone you met that night. Consider whether a hickey is necessarily the "goal" of your encounter with this girl. It can be fun to give or receive a hickey, in the heat of the moment, but you shouldn't put all of your focus on bruising and "branding" her. Take your time, and make her feel amazing! Don't just suck on her neck without any buildup. The hickey is best delivered during a heated make-out or lovemaking session, in the height of passion, when it feels the most sensual. Wait until you've been kissing this girl for at least a few minutes. If you are having sex, the hickey is even more appropriate, and any pain from the mark will be wrapped up into the experience. Be aware that pain can be a serious mood-killer for some people. It's not for everyone! Whether you are making love or just making out, nibble her neck and give her light kisses. Most hickeys are given on the neck, as a result of the delicate pressure of the lips on the sensitive skin. There is no "right" or "wrong" part of the neck. However, she'll be able to hide it more easily if it's low, near her collarbone, or high on the neck, such that it falls beneath her hair. The neck may be the most popular spot, but you can technically give a hickey to any area of sensitive skin. For a less visible and more intimate mark, try giving her a hickey on the top of her breast or the inside of her upper thigh.

Summary: Know what a hickey is. Give a hickey only with consent. Give her a hickey in the heat of the moment. Move your lips slowly down the girl’s neck.


The realities of childbirth are that you will probably do this during labor and may not even realize it, but if you don't, try to find a way to empty your bladder prior to massage. A full bladder may push the uterus off to the side, which makes the massage process both uncomfortable and ineffective. Uterine massages may take place immediately after birth, or may take places several minutes to several hours after delivery. Subsequently, it is a good idea to practice deep breathing and muscle relaxation immediately prior to and during the massage. Relax your muscle and take slow, calm breaths to help with the potential discomfort. If you still have a pain management drug such as your epidural in your system, you may not notice any discomfort. If your birthing professional opts to perform a uterine massage, trust that there is a good reason for it. It may cause some discomfort, but it is important that you allow your birthing team to perform the massage as they see necessary, since it could help keep you healthy and safe after birth. Just as you did through labor, you may choose to have a partner with you during the after-birth process, including the massage. Hold their hand or ask them to distract you to provide some comfort during the massage process.
Summary: Empty your bladder. Relax your body as much as possible. Allow the massage to happen. Ask for support.