Cupping Therapy Arousing Renewed Interest in US Through Phelps in Rio

The cupping therapy may soon become as much as a pain-killing or as little as a soothing fad in the States, as most Olympics-maniac Americans have seen either by poolside or on TV the dark-reddish marks on their multiple gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Cupping has been around for a very long time as ancient Greek and Roman texts have both mentioned it in passing. It has been an established medical practice in China for at least 2,000 years now. But it is still relatively lesser known in the United States, except for those who have seen Phelps in water or like him have smacked the feelings of it themselves.

Like and often combined with acupuncture, cupping is meant to increase blood circulation to around certain nodes of the main functional human systems, to help kill pains or to assist heal ailments.

"So, it's really great for anyone with any type of pain - whether that's just you woke up and you're having some back pain that day or more chronic conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia," says Lea Gance, acupuncturist with the YinOva Center.

Cupping also has its followers among such American celebrities as Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow who would bear the large circular bruises the glass cups would leave after treatment.

Those same noticeable marks on Phelps has intrigued renewed interest in the ancient Chinese tradition.

Endorsement by a multi-time Olympian and 21 Olympic gold medal winner like Phelps is likely to give the practice more legitimacy, though it's still too early to confirm in America about the medical benefits of cupping.

A 2012 review of existing studies on cupping has found some benefits for those suffering from shingles, facial paralysis and acne but not sore muscles. The review has said that the studies weren't done carefully so their results aren't reliable.

But other medical professionals insist more studies need to be done before we can make any concrete conclusions.