The price of Gold: Chinese athletes left with huge spots after 'cupping' therapy in quest for Olympic glory

By Katy Hastings for MailOnline
Updated:


It might look like a giant case of chicken pox but in fact this Olympic swimmer is hoping her spots will lead her to a place on the medal podium.

Chinese swimmer Wang Qun was doing some last minute training in Beijing with marks left by cupping  - a Chinese medicine technique to relieve ailments including back neck and shoulder pain.

Olympics Wang qun cupping marks

Wang Qun's cupping marks are clear to see while she trains at the National Aquatics Centre with just a few days to the games to go.

The procedure is said to move the energy, or 'qi', in the body and is used widely in folk medicine in eastern European and Asia.

It is performed by placing cups onto the skin by way of either heat or suction.

Olympics Wang qun cupping marks

The spots are a tell tale sign of the treatment.

Olympics Wang qun cupping marks

The swimmer limbers up at the pool following her treatment. The technique is said to help shoulder pain which swimmers in particular can be susceptible to.

The technique works by creating a vacuum inside a cup by inserting a flame, removing it and quickly placing the cup on to the body before the vacuum is lost.

The suction anchors the cup to the body and the skin covered is drawn up into it by a few millimetres.

cupping

Cupping is an ancient therapy which is said to help back complaints and draw toxins from the skin.

The cups are left on the body while the area beneath is treated and the energy, or qi, is moved.

Mild reddening is common, however this disappears after a few days.

Gwyneth Paltrow cupping

Gwyneth Paltrow includes cupping as one of the many alternative therapies she uses.

A number of celebrities are fans of this form of acupuncture including Geri Haliwell Paris Hilton and Gwyneth Paltrow - who have even been spotted sporting the tell-tale circular marks herself.

Miss Paltrow made no secret of her preference for the remedy when she appeared at a New York premiere several years ago covered in the large circular spots.

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