Most people are unfamiliar with the practice of figging, even those who consider themselves kinky.
And no— it has nothing to do with figs.
Figging is the act of putting a sliced ginger root into the butt of a consenting participant.
Why?
For the pleasurable burning sensation that it can induce.
Some people appreciate the sensation that figging provides. Others despise it. As a result, it can be treated as either a sensory treat or a kinky punishment, depending on the situation.
To enjoy figging, you ought to be entirely at ease with anal play and be comfortable wearing butt-plugs without difficulty. You must also be comfortable with pain, to the point that you can enjoy a good spanking.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the act of figging and its strange origins, as well as how to take part in the practice safely.
Let’s dive in!
What Is Figging?
The traditional meaning of figging implies inserting a chunk of raw, peeled ginger into somebody’s rectum; however, this has now been modified to also include vaginas and, in certain instances, urethras (Ouch!).
Figging, also known as “gingering,” produces a hot, stinging, or burning feeling that some people consider sexual, intense, degrading, or painfully thrilling.
Before entering the butt, a piece of ginger will be peeled and sliced into the shape of a butt plug. That is, tapered at the point of inflection with a larger flange at the tip, so it doesn’t get trapped up there.
Although ginger is by far the most commonly used food for figging, you can use whatever makes you feel hot.
Depending on your pain threshold and how well-stocked your refrigerator is, you could also use jalapeños, spice, cloves, peppercorn, Tabasco sauces, peppermint oil (essentially anything that has the term “pepper” in it will do the trick!)
How It All Began
You may find yourself wondering, “Who was the first person to decide to put ginger up their butt”? – which is a fair question.
But the answer is more intriguing than you may think.
The kink actually developed from a practice known as ‘feaguing’, and it dates way back to the 16th century, and it began as a sad case of animal cruelty rather than a sexual fetish.
Selling horses was a tough gig back in the day, especially if you were trying to get an old and tired stallion off your hands.
So, to give the illusion that the creature was still young and very spritely, vendors resorted to stuffing live eels up their butts. Yes— actual live eels.
The practice was pretty common, and it often worked when trying to fool potential buyers into buying an old steed.
Of course, this experience wasn’t a positive one for the horses involved, who would often gallop around in immense pain.
The practice became so widespread that people began checking the anal cavities of horses for live eels to ensure they weren’t being tricked into an unwise purchase, which exposed the animals to further stress and pain.
To prevent possible detection, vendors soon turned to ginger – which induced a similar effect to the live eels but was much harder to prove.
Francis Grose, a popular writer at the time, wrote about the practice of feaguing in his 1785 publication Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. His definition is as follows;
“To feague a horse; to put ginger up a horse’s fundament, and formerly, as it is said, a live eel, to make him lively and carry his tail well; it is said, a forfeit is incurred by any horse-dealer’s servant, who shall shew a horse without first feaguing him. Feague is used, figuratively, for encouraging or spiriting one up.”
Do People Actually Enjoy Figging?
Yes!
While the practice isn’t as popular as many other kinks today, it’s certainly still a firm favorite for some people.
Figging has come a long way since its days as a Victorian method of punishment. People nowadays do it because they prefer to, frankly, feel the burn. But every person’s reasons for figging are unique.
Whilst some people find the feeling of ginger in their nether regions excruciating, others find it to be mild and tingling, similar to a minty mouthwash for the bowels.
Others don’t enjoy it, but that’s the idea, particularly if you’re a masochist or in an intimate power dynamic with a dominant.
The building is gradual—as the ginger compounds interact with the extremely sensitive tissues of the colon, the receiver will experience warmth, stinging, and eventually a burning pain. The fig-ee can boost the sensation by clenching their rectal muscles.
Whippings, spankings, and other contact play can be used in addition to figging since the smacks lead the receiver to clinch their butt, increasing the burning. If they do not clench, the effect of the implementation will be more painful.
Is Figging Dangerous?
Although ginger is often considered to be an irritant, the dangers of figging are reduced because ginger is an organic root. The stinging feeling lasts just 20-30 minutes.
The most frequent blunder would be not crafting the base broad enough, and it becomes lost, needing a trip to the emergency room.
Alternatively, after slicing the ginger, one may neglect to clean their hands and then rub their eye, resulting in a less horny burning of the retina.
Ensure the ginger is soft, with no rough areas or corners, and that you progressively enter the fig-ee.
Some argue that lubricant is unnecessary for figging; others argue that the ginger is slick enough that it will not really matter, and that lubrication will, in effect, reduce the desired experience. Others, however, believe that all anal action should include lubrication.
As with all matters of the butt, we advise you to explore and make your own decision.
We couldn’t find any research or case studies to suggest that figging can be dangerous or leave you with any long-term damage. Ironically, we did discover that when ginger is ingested orally, it can actually reduce bowel inflammation.
Please remember that it might sometimes take a quick second to burn, so don’t attempt to amp up the experience by squirting more hot sauce up there. Just sit still and wait for the sensations to start up!
Also, and if you’re going to “fig” someone, please do everyone a service and double-check that the intended target isn’t sensitive to ginger, spice, garlic, or whatever you’re using as a figging method.
It’s usually best to just ask for permission in general. Consent is essential, even when taking part in a sadomasochistic act.
How To Take Part In Figging
Prepare your ginger root by cutting it into little pieces. Leave the center bulb of the root, but remove all but one of the limbs.
You’ll want something that looks vaguely like an extraterrestrial butt plug.
Peel the outer skin from the finger while leaving the skin on the “handle.” Then, shave down the piece even more until it looks like a butt plug. That translates to a tapering tip and a small collar located at the base.
After all, you wouldn’t want it to be too thin — as this could result in breakages.
Rinse it under the faucet to remove any particles and make it nice and slippery.
Assist your companion in getting into position and easing the root into their butt. This should be slick enough to glide straight in without any lubricant, but if necessary, apply some.
However, try to keep it to a minimum because lubricant will reduce any burning feelings.
Your mate may be content with just the tip, or they may be able to take the plant right down to the small neck you sliced earlier. This will help to keep it in place and prevent it from sliding – but keep in mind that the root is quite slick and the anus is a powerful muscle.
If the entire thing may possibly fit inside their bottom, it’s important to keep a grip on the handle to avoid this.
The receiver is unlikely to detect anything immediately. It could take up to ten minutes for the experience to become fully achieved. It will increase in intensity when the root is left in for a longer period of time, peaking and then fading after around 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it!
Now that you know the basics about figging, you’re free to give it a try or to erase it from your memory entirely— whatever floats your boat.
If you do fancy giving figging a try, we recommend proceeding with caution and reading some more about it first. And of course, the practice of figging must be consensual for both parties involved, as with any sexual act.
