Cupping jar

Cupping (ba huo guan) is a unique treatment for cold, rheumatism, strain of lumbar muscles and other ailments. Practiced for thousands of years in China, it leaves red and purple marks on one's skin. For Westerners, this seems to be evidence of abuse. The air inside the glass cup is consumed with burning paper, making the cup sticking tightly on the strained muscles. As blood rushes to the site, it helps alleviate the symptoms. Some people have got used to cupping regularly to prevent diseases. But the red marks left by cupping can remain for a dozen days, which daunts many people concerned with their public appearance. As Western medicine gains grounds in China, many traditional Chinese doctors have to find other ways to attract people. Cupping is often associated with massage and foot treatment.