Reviving ancient remedies —
Perfectly circular bruises are adorning the bodies of Olympians in Rio this summer -- particularly among swimmers such as Michel Phelps (pictured) -- after the sudden popularity of cupping, an ancient therapy practiced as far back at the 6th century. But this is one of many treatments used throughout history that aimed to control the flow of fluid within the body.
CNN spoke to Claudia Stein, professor of history at the University of Warwick, England, and Laurence Totelin, a historian of medicine at Cardiff University, Wales, to find out more about cupping and some of the more gruesome, but surprisingly commonplace, medical practices used to treat ailments throughout history.