Okay, so ordinarily putting produce—or pretty much anything other than a clean, ideally lubed-up sex toy and/or body part—up your vagina is very much *not* something we recommend. But, look, there’s an exception to every rule, and the exception to this one is called figging—aka the act of sticking a skinned piece of ginger root up the vagina or anus. Yes, it’s a sex thing, and if it sounds like it would hurt, that’s kind of the point.
“Figging is a sexual activity that involves putting ginger root in the anus or vagina to create a deliberate and intense burning sensation,” says Julieta Chiara, a kink instructor and sex expert. A little chemical aptly known as gingerol “is responsible for the tingling, burning, or warming sensation that this kink is known for,” adds sexologist and BDSM educator Sunny Megatron, host of American Sex Podcast and Editor-in-Chief of Zipper Magazine.
This kink is often part of BDSM play, so, as with other kinky sex acts with which you may be more familiar—spanking, flogging, etc.—the pain is all part of the game.
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“For some, the appeal of figging is sexual pleasure. Intense tingling in such an erotically sensitive area triggers sensation overdrive, which can intensify arousal and enhance orgasm,” says Megatron. “Many, however, don’t find the sensation itself enjoyable. They do it for other reasons—maybe as a part of Dom/sub play or for the sadomasochistic aspect.”
Whether this is the first you’re hearing about this creative use for ginger or you’ve been curious about figging for a minute now, there are a few things you should be aware of before you try it out. Here’s everything you need to know before you, well, shove a spicy root up your vag. You’re welcome!
1. It has roots (sorry) in ancient Greece.
Figging is believed to have been used as a punishment for slave women, adulterous men, and animals among the ancient Greeks and Romans. While some accounts mention ginger or radish, others refer to the act as “gingering” using a piece of skinned garlic. Confusing, right?
2. You might’ve heard of it because of Fifty Shades.
ICYMI, figging got a shoutout in the Fifty Shades trilogy. (Perhaps you’ve heard of it?)
3. If you have a ginger food allergy, this is not the activity for you.
If you have an allergic reaction when eating ginger, stay away from it for recreational purposes too. Ginger can irritate some people’s skin, says Carol Queen, PhD, staff sexologist at Good Vibrations. Not fun!
4. It’s actually safer than it sounds
While putting an actual root up your most sensitive orifices may sound like a Bad-with-a-capital-B idea, the health risks of figging are actually fairly minimal, says Megatron. In fact, as Chiara notes, ginger root has long been used for its medicinal properties, so there are much worse things you could be sticking up there! As long as you follow a few key safety tips (more on that below), you should be able to fig fairly safely.
Of course, if you’re prone to vaginal infections, figging may be a bit of a “play at your own risk” situation, says Megatron, as infection and irritation can occur. If your vagina’s pH gets all out of whack if someone looks at it the wrong way, then you might wanna pass on this one.
5. You need to skin the ginger root.
Herein is the potential for any trouble. Any dirty portion of unskinned root getting inside of you could lead to bladder or vaginal infections, notes Michael Ingber, MD, a board-certified urologist and female pelvic pain doctor.
It’s also a plus if you can make it as smooth as possible. “If someone is going to fig, make sure the inserted part is smooth,” adds Queen. You don’t wanna stick an accidental shank up your body and scrape or cut yourself.
And if you’re doing butt stuff with figging, carve out an anchor or some sort of handle so it doesn’t get sucked up into your bum. “Remember, ‘without a base, without a trace,’ meaning insertables without a flared base can easily get lost inside the body,” says Megatron. “Selecting a larger ginger root shaped like the letter ‘L,’ similar to a prostate toy, can help with this.”
6. It’s not for beginners.
“People respond to the ginger sensation differently, and as with every other genital sensation exploration, it will be hard to stop the sensation if you decide you don’t like it or it’s too much,” explains Queen. You can’t safe-word out of it, she adds, so def keep that in mind.
7. There are some figging alternatives
If you’re curious about figging but aren’t so sure about getting down and dirty with an actual piece of ginger, there are some other, potentially safer, ways to engage with this kink.
“Temperature play with cool and warm insertables can create a similar sensory effect,” says Megatron. “There are also lubes with ingredients like menthol and peppermint oil that create a cooling sensation or cinnamon and capsaicin that warm.” However, it’s worth noting that some folks may be sensitive to these ingredients, too.
Whatever way you choose to play, Megatron recommends doing a spot check on a smaller, less sensitive area first to see how your body responds. “Not only are allergies a concern, but ginger and tingling lube ingredients are known to also cause skin irritation in some people.”
8. The urethra can also get involved, but it’s a lot more intense
As Samantha Jones once put it, “We have three holes down there,” and, technically, they can all be used for figging. That said, urethral figging is a much less common, much more advanced, and ultimately riskier technique.
“This is definitely not a beginner activity!” says Megatron. “Urethral play carries a much more significant risk of serious infection and health consequences.” If this is something you think you might be interested in, Megatron strongly suggests enrolling in some urethral sounding technique safety classes at a local dungeon or online kink education provider like Kink Academy.
9. It can be a solo or partnered activity.
Partnered figging often involves a top-bottom dynamic, according to Queen. On the other hand, a solo sesh with figging would focus on just your sensation and the way it enhances your erotic pleasure. It’s usually a good idea to try most BDSM things solo first so you can get a sense of things, and that rings true with figging.
“We are our safest sexual partners, and it’s good to explore without the pressure of someone else there,” says Chiara. “Try putting ginger on the outside of the anus and vaginal opening, and moving your way inwards if it feels like something you can handle.”
10. Set aside some time for it.
“It’ll take a few minutes for the sensation to max out, and then it will take a while for the intensity to subside,” says Queen. Generally speaking, “it takes about half an hour for the sensation to go from wild to mild,” she adds, so try to keep your figging play within that time frame.
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Associate Sex & Relationships Editor