scientists who elaborated and developed the method further. consequently, this method in its multiple forms spread into medicine throughout asian and european civilizations. in china, the earliest use of cupping that is recorded is from the taoist alchemist and herbalist ge hong (281–341 ad). cupping was also mentioned in maimonides' book on health and was used within the eastern european jewish community. william osler recommended its use for pneumonia and acute myelitis in the early twentieth century. the practice has been used in hospitals in china since the 1950s as a traditional chinese medicine modality. as of 2012 cupping was most popular in china.