CHEEK
PIERCING: Men from Aleutian Islands used cheek piercing when
they went seal hunting. By piercing their cheeks with rods,
they looked like they had whiskers. Their intent was to imitate
the appearances of the seal and they felt this increased their
chances for a successful hunt.
EAR
: This type of piercing was meant to mark life stage changes
in group affiliation.
EYEBROW,
NASION, AND NAVEL : The Egyptians used this as a sign of royalty.
FEMALE
NIPPLE : In the 14th century Bavarian women had diamond studded
rings through their nipples and passed gold chains through them.
FEMALE
GENITAL : There are two different kinds.
1.
LABIA: Truskese women pierced their labia and hung a little
bell from their labia to attract a male partner.
2.
CLITORIS: This is a modern technique that is done to enhance
female orgasms.
LIPS
: This is also a ritual to celebrate the passage from childhood
to adulthood. It also mimics facial beauty marks. This type
of piercing comes from Australia, New Guinea, Africa, India,
North and South America, and Indonesia.
MALE
GENITAL: The main reason for this type of piercing is increased
sexual enhancementas well as initiation into adulthood. It is
meant to establish male sexual identity. There are the many
variations.
1.
Dydoe: This is a piercing of the gland along the coronal ridge
of the penis of a circumcised male. This originated in Southeast
Asians and India and was felt to enhance female pleasure during
intercourse.
2.
Foreskin: This was used by Roman athletes to keep their attention
on the games to keep their attention on the games. It had a
metal ring on their foreskin. It was welded shut and called
a "fibula". This prevented erections. This was also used on
the foreskin. It was used also used on their slaves to prevent
procreation. The Greeks also used it on their athletes. They
fastened a ribbon around the foreskin and tied the end to the
base of the penis. This decreased chafing and "flapping" during
the games.
3.
Guiche: The Samoan men pierced the flesh between their testicles
and their anus. This was a ritual of puberty and was believed
to stimulate the prostate gland.
4.
Kandoekoe: Tribes of Borneo used round-like marble devices and
implanted them under the skin on the shaft of the penis. This
was meant to increase the stimulation of the vagina, and increase
the girth (circumference) of the penis.
5.
Palang: This method used a rod that transected the gland of
the penis . This is to increase blood flow causing the gland
to swell. It also was felt to make erections last longer and
orgasms are more intense. In Borneo some tribal women refused
to marry a male that had not had this type of piercing done.
Kama Sutra recommends this for impotence.
6.
Rhinoceros penis: A rigid cross bar is placed 4 inches behind
the tip of the penis and projects 2 inches on either side, looking
like a rhinoceros. This is from China and Borneo.
7.
Scrotum: French soldiers used this to signify passage from childhood
into adulthood.
MALE
NIPPLE : This signified masculine status in Roman centurions.
This was seen as a sign of courage.
NOSE
PIERCING: The people of India view this a sign of beauty.
SEPTUM:
Aborigines used bones in their pierced septums. This signified
a warrior status.
TONGUE:
The Maya's performed this type of ritual when they wanted to
talk to their ancestor's spirits.
STORE
SAFETY
If
you are considering any type of body piercing make sure you have
a reputable store. Ask lots of questions and scrutinize the store
and the equipment. In particular ask the store operator how the
instruments are cleaned. An autoclave machine is used to sterilize
the instruments after each use.
Inquire as to how long the piercing operator
has been performing body piercing. Currently there is no law
mandating that they have a license to do body piercing, but
there is a law stating that they have a business license. You
should use someone who has a lot of experience.
The piercing establishment should be regulated
by the health department and that certificate should be posted
in the store and be current.
All needles should be disposable and sterile.
The jewelry should also come in sterile packaging. The operator
should wear sterile gloves while doing the procedure. The client
should request references from previous customers. A reference
from a friend or someone you know well would be most important.
The customer may be asked to sign a release
or consent form and this should be thoroughly understood before
providing your signature.
Remember it's YOUR BODY and you have the right
to ask any questions you want. Don't feel embarrassed. If the
proprietor does not answer your questions or you feel uncomfortable
just leave the store. You can always find another piercing establishment.
PIERCING CARE
Once the piercing procedure has been performed
avoid touching and turning of the jewelry to insure proper healing
of the skin. If you do need to touch the area make sure you wash
your hands thoroughly prior to touching the site. If you have
a great deal of pain, redness or tenderness at the piercing site
you should notify the piercing establishment and consider contacting
your physician. You may have developed an infection at the piercing
site.
If there is mild swelling, itching, or redness at the piercing
site, you may be allergic to the jewelry that was placed. Notify
the piercing store as well as your physician. All that may need
to be done is replace the jewelry with a type that you are not
allergic to.
The day following the piercing you should clean the piercing
site twice a day. Begin by thoroughly washing your hands and
use an anti-bacterial soap. To clean the piercing site use an
anti-bacterial soap and warm water along with a Q tip. Gently
clean the piercing site and the jewelry.
The jewelry should not be removed for several months. If the
jewely needs to be removed for medical reasons (example x-rays)
a lubricanted piece of monofilament nylon fishing line can be
placed through the piercing site until the jewelry can be replaced.You
can also go to the piercing store and they can do this for you,
usually for a fee.
Piercing stores also sell retainers that can be put into a
pierced site in place of the jewelry in order to keep it open.
The amount of pain experienced during piercing depends on the
area which is pierced. The more nerve endings in the area ,
the more painful it might be. Pain also varies depending on
a persons individual tolerance for pain. Most piercing stores
are not allowed to "numb up the skin", unless the piercer is
a registered nurse or a phtsician. Scarring at the piercing
site is unusual but may result from infection, allergic reaction
to the jewelry , or piercing technique. A small amount of scarring
may also be visible at the piercing site if the jewelry is permanently
removed.
The jewelry that is used for piercing should be non allergenic.
Types of metals which are commonly used are stainless steel,
gold, titanium and platinum.
The jewelry that is placed at the piercing site should be sized
for the area which is pierced. This will vary from person to
person. If the jewelry is too large it could cause some tearing
of the tissue and this may result in excessive tearing.
Some types of piercing require slightly different care. With
tongue piercing healing time is approximately 3 weeks. To keep
this area as clean as possible use an antiseptic mouthwash 2
to 3 times a day. Oral contact with other persons should be
avoided for several weeks. Ice may be used to decrease swelling.
Initially avoid hot liquids and spicy foods.
With genital piercing avoid oral or sexual contact for several
weeks. A barrier during sexual contact should be used for up
to 6 weeks. There is no need to clean the area after urination,
as urine is sterile.
STRETCHING
This type of "body art" is less common. Any type of stretching
should be done very GRADUALLY! If it is not done slowly, a person
can develop excessive scarring. It should be noted that stretching
of body parts is a permanent change. Areas of the body which have
been stretched include ear lobes, labia, lips, neck and penis.
