What is figging anyway?
Figging is a BDSM practice in which a piece of ginger is inserted rectally or vaginally into a person. The term comes from the 19th century English word “feaguing”. Loosely translated, it means “to drive”. The ginger acts in a similar way to a butt plug and is shaped into a similar, suitable form beforehand. The result is a burning sensation that reaches its peak after around two to five minutes.
If the piece of ginger is removed, the pain subsides, but it takes some time. For this reason, figging is a so-called tunnel play: Once started, there is no going back. Instead, you have to wait until the effect wears off by itself.
Why do you do that?
In addition to the well-known stimuli of anal penetration, there is something crucial to figging: ginger contains essential oils. These include the so-called pungent substances gingerol and shogaol. During figging, the pain receptors in the anal mucosa react to these substances with warmth and a painful stimulus. Most people experience this as a burning sensation.
For some, the essential oils also improve blood flow to the sexual organs. This increases stimulation and can even intensify orgasms. That’s why there are other variants in addition to the anal version, such as the vaginal or urethral insertion of pieces of ginger, i.e. into the vagina or urethra. Or you can use the juice from the root to apply it to the glans or vulva lips. Some BDSM practitioners even place small pieces of ginger under the foreskin to achieve the desired effect.
Ginger can therefore cause pain during figging without damaging the skin. Neither the rectum nor the mucous membranes are strained or even injured by a mechanical effect. The sweet pain is caused by the body’s biochemical reaction. The burning sensation is not dangerous and, once the ginger plug has been removed, is only short-lived. This means that the risk of injury during figging is significantly lower than with other painful anal practices, such as fisting.
A kink with a history
As strange as figging may seem at first glance, this practice was not just invented by modern Kinksters. Even in ancient Rome, there was the so-called “radish punishment“, in which a person was anally punished with just such a root.
There is also a legend from the 18th century according to which horse dealers inserted ginger into the anus of their animals. This made them livelier, wilder and therefore more interesting. The horses‘ tense tails also made them look elegant. Figging was also practiced in the Victorian era, namely as part of corporal punishment of children.
What do you need to consider when figging?
If you want to try out figging, there are a few things to bear in mind: You should generally have experience with anal play. Although figging does not require the sphincter to be very stretchy, it is not a beginner’s method. The pain can be very extreme and can last for some time without you being able to do anything about it.
Prepare your piece of ginger well. Peel it and shape it into a cone-like form that resembles a plug. Tip: The piece is easier to grip if you don’t peel off the back part completely. The ginger should remain stable and not be carved too thinly so that it cannot break off. For the right size, use the plugs that you usually like to use anally as a guide. As always, lube is recommended at the beginning, even if it reduces the effect of the ginger a little at first.
Please don’t get the idea of using other household remedies in the absence of ginger root. Chili, for example, is far too irritating and can cause severe irritation. If you want to apply ground ginger powder instead of a fresh root, make sure you also use a lubricant. Otherwise the powder will dry out the mucous membranes. Of course, you should always make sure that the person you are playing with does not have any allergies that include ginger.
As with all anal practices, you can do an enema before you start. After figging, it can also be pleasant to rinse the rectum and use a mild cream, for example for intimate protection. Washing your hands should be done after every session, but it is particularly important when playing with ginger. Anyone who has accidentally caught their eye after peeling ginger knows this. Last but not least, give your mucous membranes enough time to regenerate before you start your next figging session.
For beginners and pros: The ginger spray from Naturally Naughty
By the way: A great alternative to the carved ginger piece for both beginners and advanced users is the ginger spray from Naturally Naughty. The food-grade sprays were developed together with BDSM experts and pharmacists, are suitable for vaginal, anal or oral use and can even be used together with sex toys.
Foto: Naturally Naughty
