Fire Cupping Looks Pretty Terrifying

Olympic athletes swear by its healing properties, but what does it actually feel like to get fire cupped?

We just had to find out the story behind those purple blotches that we've seen covering Michael Phelps' arms and back. So we contacted a local acupuncturist that specializes in the ancient art of cupping for answers.

Evan Schwartz from Hudson Valley Community Acupuncture in Fishkill tells us that cupping has been around for thousands of years as a natural way to heal muscles and relieve pain. Schwartz believes that by applying suction to the skin, blood is brought to the muscle, helping it heal faster.

Many doctors and scientists have been quick to dismiss cupping, saying that there is very little evidence to prove claims that the practice does anything more than leave you with a big hickey.

Regardless of what you believe, we thought it would be fun to see what the craze is all about. We volunteered our producer, Meat Sandwich to get cupped and after seeing how it works Robyn Taylor rolled up her sleeve and gave it a try too:

What do you think about cupping? Do you think it's the real deal or just a fad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.