US Olympic Athletes Go Nuts for Chinese Cupping Therapy

By Diana Park

The US has been topping the medal chart at the Rio Olympics once again. But this time, something new has been pointed out as the driver behind some of their stellar performances.

Photos of American athletes have surfaced showing red circular marks on their body, which are the result of something called cupping therapy. Michael Phelps appeared with the marks for his 400m freestyle match, and Natalie Coughlin uploaded an Instagram photo of herself in the middle of a cupping therapy.

Alex Naddour, an American gymnast, told USA Today that cupping has been his secret weapon in training. “That's been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy," he said. 'It's been better than any money I've spent on anything else.”

Called bahuoguan 拔火罐 in Mandarin, cupping is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that uses the power of suction to cause cups to stick tightly to your body. Sometimes, mechanical power is used to create the pressure; other types use heat, with some cupping sessions involving actual fire. After the therapy, the cups leave dark red circular marks that look like bruises.

According to Tian Lifang, director of the Acupuncture and Massage Department at Beijing Hospital, cupping therapy “does two things that benefit people's muscles. It increases local blood circulation and helps ease muscle tension caused by sports-related injuries." Traditionally in China, cupping is known to help cure illnesses such as a cold or fever, skin diseases such as eczema and muscle injuries.

Chinese netizens and state media have been proudly bragging about the fact that American athletes have benefited from one of their traditional therapies.

[Images via Global Times]

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