Thistles and Nettles

Nettles in General

Thistles and nettles can be very very nice to use in bondage scenes, either solo or with a partner. When handling, especially pre-session, it is best to use thickish leather gloves, nettles in particular can make your hands go numb for a little while, not a thing you'd really want when trying to manipulate a small slippery handcuff key behind your back!

Make sure the nettle / thistle you use is not poisonous or will cause you real damage (If in doubt consult an expert and TEST outside of a scene!) My personal favourite is the stinging nettle, it has small hairs on the underside of the leaves which when placed in contact with the skin break off, releasing some chemicals which irritate the skin. Don't be fooled if you touch the hairs with you palms, your skin there is slightly thicker and can lessen the reaction quite considerably. When applied to areas of thinner skin, even "normal" areas of the body such as the arms, the acid causes small itchy white lumps which in my experience are only noticeable by the STRONG pins and needles like feeling. Some people can get away with this feeling only for a few hours, but others can take up to 24 hours to get over this, yes even a small contact can last for a long time.

The actual chemicals involved are: histamine, acetylcholine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). In combination with each other they produce the itching burning sensations of the nettles, personally it feels like "Hot pins and needles" :) The chemicals are all present in the body already, so in most cases stings are perfectly harmless, well apart from the pain (But if you're reading this you want that, right?). As with everything in this field of play it is wise to test before you're inside a scene, testing ensures the victim won't have a bad reaction to the nettles!

Only the leaves of the plant have the sting, if you handle the stems the small hairs there do not sting, but always wear gloves. Of course the whole point of using nettles in these bondage situations is to induce some pain, but not too much. Remember that it is the underside of the leaves which have the stinging hairs on, and as such it is the part of the plant you want to get exposed to in order to receive the stinging goodness. The first time, for the sensitive areas of the body, like the nipples can be too much to take, however like most things you can get used to it in moderation. I find that my nipples will stay hard for almost a whole day after a few hours with a couple of nettle leaves taped / clamped on; it's a none too unpleasant reminder for the following day of your previous playtime.

I find when they're applied to the penis they may have to be removed quickly if anything but a tiny quantity is used as the pain quickly becomes unbearable in some cases, especially if pressed / taped tightly against the head; however this reaction may lessen over repeated exposure to the stings, or if you use slightly older leaves which have dried a little or leaves from older plants.

An alternative means of using stinging nettles in solo-bondage play is, ironically, the safety... If your main release fails you have to dig through a big box of stinging nettle leaves for a small key somewhere in the bottom... I can tell you now, you'll wait for the ice to melt before even thinking of that, unless your house is on fire!!!

All in all, I'd have to say that the nettles are my favourite method of adding a little more spice to any self bondage session! If you're questioned about having such a nasty plant, or simply want to make some use out of it, gathered or grown, nettles when cooked are very tasty and completely safe to eat. But please, if you do decide to boil some up, make sure they're the right ones, do a little research and type in "stinging nettle" into google or something!

To vary the effect gained from using the nettles, leave them out a day or so, as when they're drying out the stings will weaken considerably. On the other hand, once you've performed your little harvest, you might like to keep them in water in a sunny spot to ensure ultimate freshness!

They can also be used to spice up an otherwise normal release... having to drag a nettled-up rope with the key on the end through your private parts does add some spice! (I really want to try this one!)

Harvesting Times

Whist nettles are around for most of the year, you'll find that the younger you harvest the stronger the stings will be, with an older plant the top of the growth will be stronger than the bottom. The best time to harvest and play with nettles is the main growing season between March / April and the middle of Summer - that's when the stings will be at their best! Always wear heavy gloves when harvesting, or just make your sub do this - naked if you can!

Using nettles.

As has been mentioned, the sting is caused when the tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves break off and deliver their sting into the skin, this means that there are a few ways the stings can be applied which vary the severity of the treatment at hand.

• Whipping - Taking a stem or two (Complete with leaves) doubled up and beating your sub will be less severe in terms of physical impact pain and warmth than a spanking, however during the whipping the stings will take their toll and add the chemicals!

• Stroking - Stoking the bottom / sub with a stem (With leaves!) isn't the most effective way of imparting stings as the hairs tend to break off, not penetrating the skin and being wasted... However who can resist a gentle stroking. It's fun to do this along a man's whole length and watch him jerk when the stings hit!

• General Contact - Leaving / taping a large amount of sprigs to various parts of your sub and making them giggle is always fun as you and the sub have no idea where exactly the stings will hit! This treatment is especially true around or on the erogenous zones.

• In the clothing - This is one of the best methods I've found for having fun with, as it can be done quite easily in public! The nettles can be placed in any tight clothing you can think of - pants / knickers / tights (Pantyhose) / bras / taped to the skin under a t-shirt / jacket. Take your sub, fill their pants with nettles and knee him - you'll never see anything like it! Keep in mind that once a sting has been used, it's gone and all you're left with is a bunch of leaves under the clothing, so in order to be effective you need to put a LOT of nettles into your sub's clothing - a carrier bag full of nettles squished up in their pants makes for much amusement, take them shopping and see the squirming!

• Exact placement - This is best used when you want all the stings of a leaf / bunch of leaves targeted in once place, and as such is best done with individual leaves, remember for this to work at it's best it needs to be done with the leaves at the top of the growth, or with new nettles in the middle of summer. For males slaves you can make a ring of torture for them by placing leaves sting side up along a strip or three of insulating tape and then wrapping them around his cock & balls - on first contact he will get harder, breaking more hairs and getting stung more! The tape approach works really well on the nipples / breasts as well!

• Nettle Skirt - Make your subbie wear a skirt made of nettle stems for an evening of servitude, this one is quite harsh as it'll sting a LOT, especially if you make them dance a little, I'm sure you're not that cruel though ;)

• Restricted Movement - (Make sure you wear gloves for this one!) Take some of the long stems near the end of summer when they're starting to lose their full potential and use them doubled up as bondage rope to tie your sub to something nice and solid, nettles on the wrists / arms / ankles have a unique way of hurting - don't feel restricted to their erogenous zones - torture the whole body!

• Masturbation - Make your male sub masturbate to orgasm with a bunch of nettles, if you feel that their current bunch have been worn out, give them a fresh one! Depending on how cruel or kind you're feeling give your sub a pair of gloves, or not! (Watch their eyes roll, and lips swell!)

NOTE: Additional information can be found by visiting the Sado-Botany (External Site) Link here: http://www.mordor.u-net.com/smbd/nettles.html

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CategoryTechniques - CategoryToys