That sounds like cupping. The chinese have done that for centuries, and they STILL do it. I had a place on the back of my neck done when I was in China. It leaves a welt that lasts for about a week. It looked like a hickie, ha ha! But it is still done quite a bit in Asia. Special glass cups are heated with a candle and then placed on the skin at specific places, drawing a big welt. Intriguing procedure.