Cupping is a practice that dates back to 1550 BC with the ancient Egyptians and people of the Sahara. In ancient Greece, 400 BC, Hippocrates used cupping to help his ailing patients. From there, the popularity spread throughout Asia and Europe and remains popular to this day throughout the world. Cupping involves using a series of circular glass cups applied to the skin surface under suction. The negative pressure created in each cup tightens and lifts the skin away from the surface, drawing it into the cup, improving blood flow in that area and reducing pain and inflammation. Cupping leaves temporary circular marks on the skin, which, many might recall, were worn like a badge of honor in the 2016 Olympics by 23x gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps.