Crystals have become increasingly popular for their purported healing properties and ability to interact with and balance your body’s energy field, also known as your chakra. A trendy social media accessory, people keep them on their desks, under their pillows, and place them on their bodies—or even in them.
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Crystal dildos, black obsidian anal plugs, and yoni eggs (egg-shaped gemstones meant to be inserted into the vagina) are among the crystal sex toys that some believe can help heal our bodies from trauma and increase sexual pleasure over time.
“Crystals have perfect molecular structures that have positive effects on our electromagnetic fields. When our energetic bodies are at ease, we are at ease, we are open to healing, to peace, to love, to all of life’s pleasures,” according to the website of Chakrubs, a registered sex toy store in the United States (US) that specialises in toys made from natural crystals.
While this sounds appealing, it's also up for debate; there isn’t much science behind crystals, and some have argued that promoting crystal sex toys as healers is reckless because, depending on how you use them, they may cause more harm than good.
For one, gemstones tend to be semi-porous which makes them difficult to clean and can cause bacteria to remain on them. If you actually insert crystals into your body, you can “run the risk of scratching your vagina, which can also invite bacteria,” according to the Cleveland Clinic, a US-based medical news website.
A safe and non-invasive approach is to try using crystals alongside sex toys in order to encourage healing and better energy and connections.
However, just how much good can the use of crystals in the bedroom do for individuals with sexual trauma, emotional distress and a lack of connection with a partner? To dig into the debate and better understand the potential benefits of crystals and sex toys in the bedroom, we spoke to three sexual wellness experts based in Hong Kong.
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While taboos around sex are still powerful in Asia, there has been a recent shift in attitudes and habits particularly in the last few years during the pandemic as more people start to have more time to themselves and as social media begins to put out more progressive messages. In particular, more people have started to be more open about self-exploration.
“Sex toy brands experienced a boom over the pandemic, as more people stayed home and needed to find ways to entertain themselves,” according to Sara Tang, a Hong Kong-based certified sex coach and sexologist who hosts her own podcast, Better in Bed and provides online and offline sex coaching at Asaya Wellness at The Rosewood Hotel. “Also, I believe the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, have more sexually progressive attitudes and are more open and accepting of sex toys.”
“There are the countless health and wellness benefits that are associated with the pleasure one gets from sex toys as well. From better sleep, relief from period pain, the balancing of hormones and boosted immunity. Sex toys make your sex life more satisfying as well. They can add novelty, excitement and new sensations to a relationship,” Tang shares.
