Domination & submission _ the BDSM relationship handbook ( PDFDrive )

Despite taking every other possible precaution, there will always be a miniscule
chance of an electrical malfunction of some sort that could cause unfiltered
household current to travel through the violet wand. This risk may increase
somewhat if the wiring in your house is getting old or if you’ve had electrical
problems in the past. If that worries you, you should consider purchasing an
inexpensive portable Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) at any hardware
store or electronics shop for $20 to $40. When it senses the type of electrical
surge that could cause a problem, it automatically breaks the connection the
same way that your computer’s surge protector does.
All things considered, a violet wand is actually much safer than it might seem at
first blush. Obviously, if you notice that someone is particularly sensitive to the
effects of a violet wand, you should reevaluate their suitability for this sort of
play. If your subject continues to experience tingling or numbness after a few
days in affected areas, that should definitely be considered a big red flag. As is
the case with just about any BDSM toy, the greatest risks associated with the use
of a violet wand are usually the result of careless or inappropriate use.
TENS and EMS Units
Electrical BDSM play can take many forms. As we’ve just learned, violet
wands are primarily used to stimulate the skin. TENS units are designed to
stimulate the nervous system, while the purpose of EMS units is to stimulate
muscle. TENS and EMS devices may appear superficially similar; both typically
consist of a control console, long wires or leads, and dermal adhesive electrodes,
but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. In medicine, it’s
a somewhat controversial treatment for chronic pain that’s been around since the
early 1970s, though the idea of using electricity to dull pain is not particularly
new. Ancient Romans wrote of alleviating pain by touching live electric eels
and in the 18 th century, Ben Franklin tinkered with the use of electricity as a
treatment for pain and a cure for various ailments. Today, in addition to its
questionable efficacy as a medical treatment, it is used by many fetishistas for
BDSM electrical play. To some, it may seem counter-intuitive that a device
designed as a pain reliever is used by sadomasochists for pleasure. While its
real effectiveness as a pain reliever is highly doubtful, the tingling or ticklish
sensations that it produces are anything but. A portable TENS unit will typically
cost between $30 and $100.