Cupping is a form of therapy widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It consists of creating a local suction on the skin using either heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps). It is believed this method draws out toxins, mobilizes blood flow, soothes muscle pain and, in some cases, helps cure insomnia.
At the Rio Olympic Games, American swimmer Michael Phelps caught everybody's attention not only for his remarkable achievements but also for some dark purple circles on his shoulders and back. They were the result of having undergone the cupping technique to relax his muscles before entering the races.
The Ebers Papyrus, written sometime around 1550 B.C., considered one of the oldest medical textbooks in the Western world, describes how the Egyptians used cupping to help cure some frequent medical issues and how it was also used by Saharan peoples. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician, used this technique around 400 B.C. to treat internal disease and some structural problems.