Cupping Therapy

I had never heard of this type of therapy until I came to China.  My former colleague and friend, Amy, is into Chinese medicine, and she had it done when we were in Beijing.  Since then, I've occasionally noticed people in a crowd with the tell-tale bruises that result from this therapy.  In fact, one of the men who attended Bible Study last night had had this done (we noticed the bruises and asked about it) and said it was very relaxing.

A description (from Wikipedia):

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps).

The air inside the cup is heated and the rim is then applied to the skin, forming an airtight seal. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts, forming a partial vacuum and enabling the cup to suck the skin, pulling in soft tissue, and drawing blood to that area.

And, as I didn't get a photo last night, here's two images I found on Google that show during the therapy and after the therapy, respectively:

www.carecentreindia.com

www.acupuncturebenefits.org