The 2016 Olympic games are currently underway in Brazil and while sports fans continue to appreciate the physical feats of competitors, they also noticed some unusual markings on some of the games’ biggest stars.

As Michael Phelps took part in his latest race, the swimmer was spotted as having a number of reddish circles on his body. It was suggested that he may have fallen asleep on all his gold medals, of which he now has a record breaking 22 of them. In actual fact, those marks are the result of a 3,000 year old treatment that is seeing a resurgence in popularity called Cupping Therapy.

What is Cupping Therapy?

The technique that is a derision of acupuncture, is performed by by lighting flammable liquid in a glass cup. Once the flame burns away the oxygen in the cup it creates a vacuum, which in turn causes enough suction for the cup to stick to the body. Skin is sucked away from the body and blood drawn to the surface. The red spots that have caused so much attention are the result of ruptured capillaries beneath the skin.

Where did Cupping Therapy come from?

The true history of cupping therapy is questioned but the earliest illustrative evidence dates back to ancient Egypt, around 1500 BC. Translations of the hieroglyphics in the Ebers Papyrus, the oldest medical text book, details the use of cupping for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual imbalances, weakened appetite and helping to accelerate healing. It was then introduced to the ancient Greeks, where Hippocrates viewed it as a remedy for almost every type of disease. The Chinese expanded the uses of cupping to include using it during surgery to divert blood flow from the operation site. Now, in modern times it has started to become a popular choice in western society as a treatment for many ailments, particularly aches and pains.

Why is it so popular with Olympians?

At the Olympics, it has proven the most popular with the USA swimming team, with the team captain stating that many had started to administer the treatment to themselves and Michael Phelps has become a devoted user, sharing images of the process on social media. There are not a lot of research papers that can reveal what the true science may be behind the treatment but when it comes to athletes who are competing to be the best in the world, any kind of advantage can make all the difference. Many athletes are more than happy to try new treatments that can ease pain and the physical stress of training without scientific backing. Business Insider’s Kevin Loria, when discussing the use of Kinesio tape by athletes said: “A psychological edge and the confidence that comes with it may be all someone needs to hurl a javelin further than their opponent or to spike that volleyball one final time.”

At Direct365, we are already familiar with Cupping Therapy as we are experts in various forms of clinical waste disposal. Cupping Therapy is just one of the specialised treatments that produces various waste that needs to be removed in a way that is safe and legally compliant.

Find out more about our Cupping Therapy Waste Removal services here.

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