An ancient Chinese physical therapy technique is having its moment in the global spotlight. The large purple circular marks on U-S Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and other athletes have attracted a lot of curiosity around the world. They essentially come from a treatment known simply as 'cupping'.

Cupping has been around for a very long time - ancient Greek and Roman texts mentioned it and it's been in practice in China for at least 2000 years but here in the U.S. it's still relatively unknown and few people have experienced it including myself - until now. Leah - is going to give me my first experience. Leah is this going to hurt

Leah: "No. That's the first question we always get and it doesn't hurt. It actually feels like a massage in reverse. That's the simplest way to explain it."

Cupping, which is often combined with acupuncture, uses heated glass cups placed on the body to draw blood to the surface of the skin. It's meant to increase circulation and help with soreness and healing.

"So, it's really great for anyone with any type of pain - whether that's just you woke up and you're having some back pain that day or more chronic conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia," Acupuncturist Lea Gance with The Yinova Center said.

Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans of the treatment despite the large circular bruises they leave.

Those marks were noticeable on U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps when he competed in Rio recently - triggering renewed interest in the ancient tradition.

Cupping's endorsement from a pro-athlete like Phelps will likely give the practice more legitimacy but does the treatment really have any proven medical benefit

A 2012 review of existing studies on cupping found some benefit for those suffering from shingles, facial paralysis and acne but not sore muscles. The review said the studies weren't done carefully so their results aren't reliable.

But other medical professionals insist more studies need to be done before we can make any concrete conclusions.

"I agree some of the qualities of the studies weren't perfect but it still doesn't meant that there isn't something there that some of my patients find very beneficial. So, I think we have to be careful we don't do a blanket endorsement - we don't have enough evidence for that - but I don't think we should throw out the baby with the bathwater just because the perfect studies haven't been completed yet," Brent Bauer, director of Mayo Clinic said.

The scientific evidence on the benefits of cupping may be minimal but anecdotally people say it makes them feel good and more relaxed - much like a massage. And after undergoing the experience myself, I have to agree. And that may be good enough for Michael Phelps.

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