Trying a therapy used by Olympians

Round, purple marks on the back and shoulders of US swimmer Michael Phelps and other athletes caused a big surprise and wide debate recently among viewers of the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Some thought the marks were related to claims of the unhealthy condition of Rio de Janeiro's water and a possible negative reaction to them. Others said it looked like the athletes had slept on their medals.

China Daily, where I'm presently doing an internship, decided to show the public the health benefits of the therapy that was the real reason for the mysterious marks.

As a journalist from Sierra Leone, I was curious to know more about the process. I volunteered to try it, together with colleagues from Ghana and Zambia (David Teteh and Mwazipeza Sakala Chanda respectively) as well as the deputy director of China Daily's international news department, Su Qiang.

References to cupping can be found in the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad, who advocated hijama, a cupping treatment that has survived in Muslim countries around the world.

In traditional Chinese medicine, cupping is used to dispel stagnant blood and lymphatic fluid, with the improved flow helping to treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia and bronchitis. Cupping, applied to the back, neck, shoulder and other areas, also can be used to treat musculoskeletal conditions.

As I watching my colleague from Ghana going through the process and recalled the media coverage about the US swimmer and other athletes, I became excited about experiencing it, too.

The process of fire cupping, which we experienced, started with an application of massage oil that was worked into the back by an expert. Then, a cotton ball was doused with a flammable liquid, picked up with forceps, set alight and placed in a cup. It was quickly removed and then the cup was placed on my back.

More than 10 such cups were placed on my back in a process that lasted for about 13 minutes. Experts say it should not take more than 15 minutes.

The suction is created by the heated air in the cup cooling and contracting, with the oil helping to create a seal and allowing the cup to glide over muscles groups, creating round circles. Cupping experts say this is not bruising. Instead, dark circles indicate where stagnation and waste products are pulled to the surface, allowing healing of deeper areas. Pink or light red marks indicate the lack of stagnation and vanish quickly, the experts say.

After removing the cups, light massage was again used on my back to help the skin relax, and I was advised not to swim or bathe with cold water for six hours to allow the free and smooth flow of blood through my muscles.

Upon completion of the entire process, you feel completely relaxed, with the body having a light feeling and the ability to move freely and actively. It was indeed a great experience that was worth trying for health reasons.

For China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 08/19/2016 page21)