Abstract: Objective To evaluate the curative effect of moving cupping on patients with back pain and investigate the correlation between therapeutic effects and changes in serum interleukin 2 (IL-2),interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels. Methods Forty-five patients with chronic back pain treated in the first medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from August 2018 to December 2018 were included in this study,with 24 cases in moving cupping group and 21 cases in acupuncture group,and average age of (28.7±5.9) years.The VAS score,JOA score and changes in serum IL-2,IL-8 level before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment,VAS score in the moving cupping group (2.24±0.54 vs 5.33±0.80) and the acupuncture group (2.33±0.66 vs 5.33±1.62) were lower than those before treatment (P<0.001,respectively),but the differences between the two groups were not significant;JOA score in moving cupping group (18.24±2.32 vs 26.57±1.78) and acupuncture group (17.10±3.13 vs25.62±1.40) were lower than those before treatment (P<0.001),without intergroup significant difference.In moving cupping group,lumbar mobility improved after treatment in ROM of flexion (20.71±6.31)° to (26.27±6.33)°,extension (21.02±6.33)° to (25.02±4.75)°,left lateral flexion (18.82±6.15)° to (27.17±13.84)° and right lateral flexion (20.83±9.13)° to (23.06±3.76)°(all P<0.01);IL-2 significantly increased (3.83±1.35) ng/ml to (7.79±1.41) ng/ml,P<0.01,while IL-8 decreased significantly (89.76±22.99) pg/ml to (55.79±22.94) pg/ml,P<0.01. Conclusion Moving cupping therapy can relieve pain,improve lumbar mobility for chronic back pain patients,which may be related with changes in IL-2,IL-8.