Is cupping therapy effective? Read to know

There was a gasp of surprise at the Rio Olympic Games when American swimmer Michael Phelps added one more gold to his already record tally of 18 - he has added two more since. But the surprise was not only for his remarkable achievement but also for some dark purple circles on his shoulders and back. They were signs of "cupping" that he had undergone before the race.

Cupping is a form of therapy widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. It consists of creating a local suction on the skin using either heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps). This method is believed to draw out toxins, facilitate blood flow, soothe muscle pain and, in some cases, help cure insomnia.

Cupping has a long history. The Ebers Papyrus, written circa 1550 BC, considered one of the oldest medical textbooks in the Western world, describes how the Egyptians used cupping to help cure some frequent medical conditions and how it was also used by Saharan peoples. Hippocrates, a Greek physician who many believe laid the foundation of scientific medicine, also used this technique circa 400 BC to treat some internal diseases and structural problems.