Mummification (BDSM)

Mummification as a BDSM bondage practice involves restraining a living person's body in a non-damaging way by wrapping it head to toe, or neck to toe, in materials like saran wrap, clingfilm, cloth, bandages, rubber strips, duct tape, plaster bandages, bodybags, or straitjackets. The end result is a person completely immobilized and looking like an Egyptian mummy. They may then either be left bound in a state of effective sensory deprivation for a period of time, or sensually stimulated in their state of bondage, before being released from their wrappings.

Mummification is often used to enhance a feeling of total bodily helplessness, and incorporated with sensation play.

Essential safety
First and foremost, breathing and other safety measures must be appropriately taken care of, usually by leaving the face (or at least the mouth and nose) open.

As with all bondage practices, there should be a means for the bound person to communicate in an emergency, and a way to release them quickly if necessary (for example, using trauma shears to cut their bonds). A bound person should never be left alone. In many cases, as with other BDSM practices, a safety word should be provided - especially in practices involving restraints.

Using clingfilm also brings up the issue of hydration in the body. When the body is tightly wrapped in clingfilm, sweating occurs more than usual (as the body is overheating to its new closed surroundings). The bound person should be (at least) aware of their own hydration and remember that if sweating occurs to an extreme, rehydration should take place.

Best practices
Mummification is best done on the arms and torso first, leaving the legs free so the bottom can stand steadily. When the mummy is being wrapped, the top should insure the bottom will not fall, and see that he or she is safely lowered to the floor or bed.

If the bottom's legs are mummified together, this may make the ankles or knees rub together, causing discomfort. A small amount of padding, such as a folded towel, solves this problem.

Prolonged mummification, particularly with materials like saran wrap or latex, can cause sweating and consequent dehydration in the bottom.

Body temperature (maintained to an extent by movement) may also be affected (some wrappings reflect warmth and others reduce it) so a suitably warm environment and possibly warmth (by blankets or similar) during Aftercare may be important.