What are those purple circles we see on athletes competing in the Olympics? It's Cupping, which pulls on skin to improve your blood flow. The possible placebo effect is said to be an ancient Chinese holistic treatment that works because I have had it done to me several times. The color varies on how much blood is absorbed by the skin. The bruise lasts for several days and it is not painful.
http://www.startribune.com/what-s-up-with-the-hickies-on-the-olympic-at…
What Are Those Purple Circles on Michael Phelps' Back? http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/what-are-purple-circles-michael-9… via @thr
What Are the Purple Dots on Michael Phelps? Cupping Has an Olympic Moment http://nyti.ms/2aumyHo via @nytimeswell
Here's the story behind those purple circles on Michael Phelps' back http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-08-08/heres-story-behind-those-purple-c…
Photo: NBC