Urethral Figging

Are you looking for something a little more extreme than simple sounding?

Perhaps you long for the sensation of something just a bit warmer and slicker than mere metal or silicone against your cock?

Do you like your kinky encounters to have a little "burn" to them?

If the answer to any of the above questions is "yes" - or even "maybe" - then it's time you learned about a little trick called "urethral figging".

Although the name might imply that this is a sexual practice involving figs, in fact, figs play no role at all - but it is something with a bit of a botanical twist.

Simply put, "figging" refers to the process of having a peeled ginger root inserted into your anus, vagina, or, of course, urethra.

The result is a burning, tingling sensation which exquisitely combines pain and pleasure while still being perfectly safe - and even beneficial! - to your health.

Like all kinky practices, figging should not be undertaken without careful research and preparation. Remember, the first rule of BDSM and all other kink play is SAFETY!

So let's take a look at urethral figging from both the "inside" and the "outside": how the giver should prepare, what the receiver might feel and all the exciting ways in which it can enhance sexy times for the both of you.

Plus, as an added bonus, we'll be discussing the history of ginger's use in sexual practices as well as the many health, mood and libido benefits which adding ginger to your sex life can have.

What Exactly Is "Figging" - And Why Aren't There Any Figs?

You can't talk to someone about figging without getting the question "Why on earth is it called that, if it's got nothing to do with figs?"

The answer, as it turns out, comes from neither kink nor torture, but from an ancient, once widely popular and now mostly discredited animal handling technique.

Hold Your Horses!

For many years, a well-known but rarely discussed "trick" among horse owners was to insert peeled ginger root into the animal's anus just before it was to appear in public.

The burning sensation from the ginger would force the horse to hold their tail up higher and step quickly, causing a steed of any age to appear young, lively, and aesthetically pleasing.

While this was most commonly practiced on carriage horses and show horses, who needed to look "pretty" and "young" in order to attract attention and earn money, some unscrupulous businessmen would even do this in order to pass off an old nag as a much younger, sprier creature when put up for sale.

Although ginger was the most commonly used item for "perking up" horses, records from the Victorian era indicate that some horse owners preferred to use onions, radishes, black pepper, tobacco, and even live eels!

Therefore, this technique was not named for any one ingredient, but was instead collectively known as "feaguing," from an Old English word meaning "to make more lively"

Eventually, the word transformed into the much easier to spell and pronounce "figging" instead.

Luckily, in modern times, awareness of "feaguing" as a form of animal cruelty has drastically increased.

Today, the practice is banned, with horses' anuses even being inspected for the presence of ginger before a show or race. If ginger is found, of course, the horse is immediately disqualified and its owner strictly chastised!

A "Radish-ing" Punishment

Although the name comes from the equestrian world, the practice itself is in fact much older.

What would eventually become the sexual technique "figging" began its life as "rhaphanidosis," a punishment for sexual crimes utilized in ancient Greece and Rome.

The name "rhaphanidosis" comes from Raphanus, the scientific name for the radish family. This punishment involved the insertion of a large radish into the anus, after which it was left there for an extended period of time while the criminal was publicly humiliated.

Records of torture techniques from this time period indicate that rhaphanidosis was considered a suitable punishment for adultery, promiscuity, homosexuality, and sexual misconduct by both male and female slaves.

In addition, the writings of the playwright Aristophanes portray the process as comedic, describing the victims as being laughed at and mocked by watching crowds.

The "punishment" was less the radish itself and more the embarrassment and humiliation they would have to endure.

However, modern scholars strongly believe that some victims of this punishment actually died from it, as the radishes used were large enough to pierce the bowels and intestines and cause severe internal bleeding.

You've Been A Bad Boy!

More modern records of this technique show that figging resurfaced during the Victorian era as a punishment for misbehaving school children.

The wisdom of the time held that a spanking, whipping or caning would be more painful if the subject was not allowed to tightly clench their asshole while being hit.

Therefore, naughty children would have a sliver of ginger inserted into their anus to deter clenching.

Ginger was used both because it added to the punishment (via causing a burning sensation against the sensitive skin) and because, unlike radish es or other root vegetables, it was not large or sharp enough to be fatal.

There is no exact record of when figging transformed from a punishment widely used in schools to a kinky, BDSM-associated sexual practice.

However, as much of BDSM derives from punishment, we believe that we have the Victorian era to thank for this.

It comes as no surprise, then, that a lot of modern figging-focused porn, whether anal, vaginal, clitoral or urethral, features a "naughty Victorian schoolboy" getting punished by a strict teacher!

Why You Should "Give A Fig" About Figging!

Sure, that explains where figging came from and how it got its name, but it doesn't answer the question that you're probably reading this article to answer - what's in it for me? What will I get out of trying figging?

Lucky for you, the answer to that happens to be "quite a lot"!

Urethral figging is an easy, affordable way to add more intensity and new sensations to your sounding sessions.

While the number and variety of sounds available for purchase is ever increasing, materials-wise, it's still pretty limited.

There's sterile stainless steel sounds and squishy silicone penis plugs, but that's about it. Ginger root is the perfect way to "add something new" WITHOUT having to shell out a ton of cash!

More importantly, though, figging feels amazing. Enthusiasts have described it as a "tingling" "burning" "prickling" and even "sizzling" against the sensitive inside of the urethra.

Some guys love it, and would willingly submit to it whenever their Mistress or Domme demands, while others dread it as one of the most intense forms of punishment - making it a perfect way to intensify a caning or spanking session.

Figging is also one of the safest and most health-friendly methods of achieving this elusive tingling and burning against you or your partner's cock.

Other items which may provide similar sensations, such as toothpaste, Ben-Gay, chili peppers, Tiger Balm or Vick's Vapo-Rub, are not safe for internal use and can severely damage the urethra if used incorrectly.

Ginger root, on the other hand, will cause no such damage as long as you clean up and wash thoroughly after each use.

And It's Healthy, Too!

Did you know that ginger root doesn't just feel good, it provides a host of health benefits as well?

Ginger is one of the most commonly appearing ingredients in Eastern medicine, where is prized for its ability to reduce swelling, sooth nausea, muscle pain and menstrual cramps, and combat low blood sugar and cholesterol.

Truly, ginger should be a key part of every happy, health-conscious life style.

Plus, why not take some of that ginger - NOT any of the pieces used for figging! - and brew some tea, or perhaps add it to a stir fry or fish dish?

Ginger stimulates increased blood flow throughout the body, which can enhance sexual excitement and hasten arousal similar to other natural aphrodisiacs.

Some ginger tea might be the perfect thing to get you and your partner in the mood for a steamy session of ginger play!

But How The Fig Do I Get Started?

We've covered the what, the where, when, and even the why - but now it's time to tackle the "how".

Like all other kinky practices, figging should be carried out safely and carefully, with proper precautions to ensure that no injury or damage occurs.

This goes double when it comes to urethral figging, due to both extreme sensitivity and the need to avoid urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Preparation

Purchase organic ginger (easily found at Asian markets, organic groceries or alternative medicine shops) to avoid nasty pesticides.

For the most intense sensation, it is recommended you buy a full, unpeeled ginger root - called a "hand" due to its distinctive shape - rather than the smaller, pre-peeled pieces.

The ginger oils will be the most potent if they are exposed to air as little as possible before beginning the figging.

Ideally, you should purchase the "hand" of ginger on the same day you intend to use it. However, if you must store it, seal it inside a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator. Do NOT leave it out on the counter or anywhere else with exposure to open air.

When you're ready to play, carve the ginger into the desired shape. For urethral figging, you will not need much more than a sliver - even if you regularly stretch yourself with sounds and plugs, the urethra remains one of the body's narrowest holes.

However, the sliver should be long enough that it sticks out of the urethra slightly and can be easily removed. To start out, we recommend a width of between 1/8 and 1/4 inch and a length of at least 1 full inch.

Once you and your partner become more comfortable with the figging process, you can customize your cuts of ginger to the individual length and shape of your penis.

Use a paring knife to completely and thoroughly remove all skin from the ginger before insertion. The erotic tingling sensation is produced by an oil called "gingerol," which is trapped beneath the skin of the root.

It will not be able to properly interact with the sensitive flesh of your cock unless every bit of skin is removed.

Insertion

Insert the ginger slowly and carefully. If you wish, you can take some time to tease the cockhead and the outer skin of the penis before insertion.

As a bonus, this can help the receiver get used to the unique sensation of ginger root against flesh.

Some men also love the feeling of ginger root rubbing against their balls, perineum or asshole, so give those a try as well!

Don't despair if you don't immediately begin to feel the burning. Most men report that it takes about 2 minutes for the sensations to really get intense.

Of course, your partner can keep you excited and distracted while you wait by giving you a few nice slaps or strokes of their whip.

As with other forms of painplay, we recommend starting slow and increasing in time and intensity as you get accustomed to this new type of play.

If this is your very first time figging, we recommend leaving the ginger inside your urethra for no longer than 30 minutes. Don't worry, you'll still be getting the full experience - figging enthusiasts claim that the first 5 minutes are the most painful and intense of all!

Plus, with a little practice, you'll easily be able to hold the ginger inside you for an hour - or perhaps even longer!

Aftercare

Anyone who came in contact with the peeled ginger root should thoroughly wash their hands, face and body after each figging session. While ginger oils are not harmful to humans, they can sting slightly if they come into contact with moist membranes such as the eyes or inside of the nose.

A shared shower after some intense figging is a great way to both calm down and bond with your partner!

Any pieces of ginger used in figging should be IMMEDIATELY thrown away. They should NOT be reused either for sexual play or consumption.

Use a fresh piece of ginger every time you and your partner engage in figging!

The remaining parts of the ginger "hand," however, can be safely stored in a sealed plastic bag inside your refrigerator for future use.

So what the "fig" are you waiting for? Pick up some ginger root, carve it down to size and get ready for one of the most intense experiences of your life!

If you're a fan of sounding but have been longing for something a little more extreme, we promise that figging is exactly what you have been waiting and hoping for!