Why do some of the world’s top athletes look as though they’ve been on the receiving end of a brutal paintball firing squad? 为什么一些世界顶级运动员看上去就像他们在某个残酷的彩弹射击队里充当过靶子？
US swimmer Michael Phelps’s skin is strewn with livid polka dots and his compatriot the gymnast Alex Naddour is also sporting circular welts. 美国选手迈克尔·菲尔普斯的皮肤布满乌青的圆点，而他的同胞，体操运动员阿历克斯·内多身上也布满圆形的伤痕。
The technique has been used for millennia but it shot to prominence in 2004 when US actor Gwyneth Paltrow attended a film premier with circular marks peppering her skin. 这项技术已经流传千年，但是直到2004年，美国影星格温妮丝·帕特洛出席一次电影首映式，皮肤上遍布圆形痕迹时，才为人瞩目。
Other celebrity endorsements followed with Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston among those sporting the circular suction marks on their skins. 其他名流也步维多利亚·贝克汉姆和詹妮弗·安妮斯顿的后尘，在肌肤上留下圆形吸痕。
But the Rio Olympics provides us with growing evidence that athletes are turning to the alternative medicine in an attempt to boost their performance. 但里约奥运会为我们提供了越来越多的证据表明，运动员正在转向替代医学，以提高他们的竞技水平。
According to Mr Naddour he has found the treatment “provides relief from the soreness and pounding that come from gymnastics”. 内多先生宣称，他已经发现了“减轻体操带来的疼痛和撞击”的治疗方法。
But this is not the result of a corporate team-building exercise. The athletes are among the latest adherents to the traditional Chinese medicine treatment known as “cupping”. 可是这不是某个公司进行团队建设联系的结果。这些运动员是传统中医中一项名为”拔火罐“的治疗方式的新信徒。
This involves having hot suction cups applied to the skin for several minutes leaving what appears to be a circular love bite on the surface which can take over two weeks to fade. 具体做法是：把加热后有抽吸效果的火罐放到皮肤上留置几分钟，使得皮肤表面出现吻痕，痕迹可能持续两周后才消褪。
He told USA Today: “That's been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy. It's been better than any money I've spent on anything else.” 他告诉《今日美国》：”这是今年我保持健康的秘密。它比我在其他任何地方花钱的效果都要好。“
“It has saved me from a lot of pain.” ”它把我从很多痛苦里拯救出来。“
Cupping is claimed by its practitioners to treat an array of ailments including muscular pain joint pain skin problems including eczema and acne respiratory disorders including the common cold pneumonia and bronchitis and has also been used as an alternative treatment for cancer. 拔火罐的理疗师声称，拔火罐可以治疗一系列的疾病，诸如肌肉疼痛、关节疼痛和包括湿疹和痤疮在内的皮肤病，以及呼吸系统疾病，包括普通感冒肺炎和支气管炎，拔火罐也被用来作为一种替代疗法治疗癌症。
网友评论
Mario Tabone-Vassallo Cupping of course was part of European Medicine for centuries 拔火罐当然是几个世纪以来欧洲医学的一部分。
Sir Rafferty Way too advanced for the average dork mind here most here think kilary is a good idea. 这种治疗方法对于笨蛋来说太高级了，对希拉里来说是个好的主意。
CaetunaG Cupping IS traditional CHINESE medicine treatment. Someone said not I guess you come from Korean. 拔火罐是传统的中医治疗。不用别人说我猜你可能来自韩国。
secularhuman Ugh it's hideous! What's wrong with good old sugar pills? 啊，多么可怕的!药片难道不管用了么?
Michael Skerritt And i thought cupping was what perverted tailors did when measuring you for trousers? (Suits you sir!) 我认为拔火罐就是个变态的裁缝在测量你的裤子吗?（先生，你看尺寸合适吗？）
Johnjo Snake Oil 蛇油。
Anne359 placebo effect is better than opiates. 安慰剂产生的效果堪比鸦片。
BujangTeruna cupping is not traditional Chinese medicine treatment 拔火罐不是中医治疗。
ForestRunner Proves athletes are as easily suckered as 'celebrities!!' 证明了作为“名人! !”的运动员一样容易迷惑”
conan_drum Paltrow Vic Beckham and Aniston definitely people to follow. I mean they would know better than people who have been studying and researching the human body for their whole lives. 帕特洛维克贝克汉姆和安妮斯顿这样做了人们肯定会效仿。我的意思是他们会学习和研究人体的整个生命过程比一般人知道的多。
guy It's a biased industry out there 这是一个有偏见的产业。
Or may be you have a sheltered life? 或者你有一个庇护的生活?
Sgraglacious 'Cupping is claimed by its practitioners to treat an array of ailments including muscular pain joint pain skin problems including eczema and acne respiratory disorders including the common cold pneumonia and bronchitis and has also been used as an alternative treatment for cancer.' But can it cure Remainers constant whining? “拔火罐的理疗师声称，拔火罐可以治疗一系列的疾病，诸如肌肉疼痛、关节疼痛和包括湿疹和痤疮在内的皮肤病，以及呼吸系统疾病，包括普通感冒肺炎和支气管炎，拔火罐也被用来作为一种替代疗法治疗癌症。” 但是它能治愈屌丝们不停的抱怨吗？
conan_drum Cancer? you have to be kidding. 癌症？你逗我。
Sanch Sadly not. Some people will do anything when all else has failed and they are desperate and some will always take advantage of the desperate. 可悲的是，不能。有的人尝试了一切办法都是徒劳，他们在绝望中愿意做任何事，所以有的人就会利用他们的绝望牟利。
Mazin All brawn and no brain. 所有的肌肉和大脑。
Bob Studholme Have you tested this to know that? 你测试了这个知道了什么吗?
Mazin No I'm m not stupid enough to test it on my self. However I have read several studies on it and other alternative medicines and none of them are scientifically substantiated. 没有，我还没愚蠢到拿自己做实验。但我读过一些研究和其他替代药物没有一个是得到科学的证实。
conan_drum Have you taken poison to see if it really kills? 你真的吃过毒药来看它是否真的能杀死你。
SBlack This is a huge victory for stupidity. Maybe the athletes should be withdrawn from competition but I do not see that happening. WOW brain dead or brain dead. 这只能糊弄愚蠢的人。也许运动员应该退出竞争但我没有看到这种情况发生。我的天呀，都笨死了。
Lee This is similar to a very traditional old treatment in Saudi Arabia called Hijamah. 这类似于一个传统的老在沙特阿拉伯称为罐放血治疗。 Small world since then! 世界是这么的小。
