How to Use Electric Cupping Machine | Safe Step-by-Step Routine

For the full breakdown, see our best Electric Cupping Machine guide.

Electric cupping machines promise the benefits of traditional cupping therapy without requiring a practitioner’s strong hands or a flame. But the manual that ships with these devices often buries the most important details — how long to leave a cup on, when not to use one, and how to remove it without leaving a bruise. This guide pulls together the instructions from multiple manufacturers into one routine you can follow with almost any home unit.

Step-by-Step: How to Use an Electric Cupping Machine

Every electric cupping machine works on the same principle: a pump creates suction inside a cup placed on your skin. The exact buttons vary by model, but the sequence below applies broadly.

1. Clean the skin where you’ll place the cup. Wash with soap and water and dry thoroughly. This removes oils that can break the seal.
2. Optionally apply massage oil to the treatment area. Both the UFFAE 5-in-1 and the LONGCO manual recommend oil before starting, especially if you plan to glide the cup across the skin rather than hold it still.
3. Power on the device. On the UFFAE, hold the Open/Mode button; on the UBALANCE JZ-15, long-press Power. A short press toggles the Dolinvo unit on and off.
4. Select the lowest suction level first. The UBALANCE and Dolinvo both offer 12 suction gears; the UFFAE starts at level 1. Increase gradually only if the sensation feels comfortable.
5. Place the cup firmly against the skin to create a seal. You should feel the skin draw up into the cup almost immediately.
6. Hold or glide. For static cupping, leave the cup in one spot 1 to 3 minutes per the Dolinvo manual — Most reputable guidance suggests starting short. For dynamic cupping, glide the cup in slow strokes across the oiled skin for 3 to 5 minutes per area, per the UFFAE manual.
7. Release suction before removing the cup. Press the Release button (UFFAE) or Pressure Release (UBALANCE), wait for the seal to break, then lift the cup away. Never pull the cup off while suction is active — that’s how bruises and skin damage happen.
8. Power off and clean the device. Hold the power button to shut down, then wipe the cup with a clean cloth. Do not immerse any part in water.

Several devices feature optional heating, but never operate the machine while it’s charging — the Dolinvo manual warns against this explicitly. Use only the supplied USB cable with a compatible power adapter.

Who Should Skip Cupping (And Where Not to Place Cups)

Electric cupping is not safe for everyone, and the contraindications appear in every manual for good reason. The UBALANCE and Dolinvo manuals add open wounds, inflamed skin, varicose veins, eczema, psoriasis, and skin lesions to the list.

Placement matters just as much as health status. All the manuals agree: avoid the face, the front of the neck, the throat, and major arteries. The UBALANCE specifically names these areas as off-limits. Keep the device away from children, and never use it on the head or navel, per LONGCO’s guidance.