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Extreme beauty: What is cupping?

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Harpers Bazaar UK

Kaley Cuoco has become the latest celebrity to reignite the trend for 'cupping' - the 2,000-year-old Chinese technique which helps to stimulate blood flow.

The Big Bang Theory actress shared a picture on her Instagram account revealing deep red-purple circles across her back and shoulders, alongside the caption: "Hurts so good".

The treatment is particularly popular with athletes; Michael Phelps famously showed off the effects of cupping during the Rio Olympics (where he collected his 19th gold medal), and similar telltale marks could be seen on members of the men's gymnastic team, too.

Photo credit: Michael Phelps during the Rio Olympics. Getty Images
Photo credit: Michael Phelps during the Rio Olympics. Getty Images

But what exactly is cupping? It's alternative medicine treatment whereby specialised glass or plastic cups are suctioned to the body with heat and air to increase muscular blood flow, thereby minimising soreness and swelling and aiding healing. Getting more technical, cupping is said to decompress stiffened fascia, the connective tissue that stabilises muscles and is prone to tightening during intense exercise. In Cuoco's case, it's probable that she has the treatment to ease stiffness in her back that could be caused by her love of horse riding.

The treatment only lasts a few minutes, but that's just enough time for surface capillaries to break, and a bruise to be left behind. The resulting effect is one of relaxation and wellbeing; it's like having a really intense deep tissue massage.

The practice first became famous back in 2004 when Gwyneth Paltrow was photographed with similar welts on her shoulders. Jennifer Aniston is also known to have tried it.

As The New York Times reports, there's not a tremendous amount of research backing up the validity of the treatment. But if 23 Olympic medals are any indiction, we're guessing Michael Phelps won't be abandoning cupping anytime soon.

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