The Hitachi Magic Wand (HV-250R) is an electric, mains-powered vibrating muscle massager, manufactured by well-known Japanese manufacturing firm Hitachi. It first appeared on the North American market in the 1970s, and gained notoriety due to its use in the pornography industry.
The stated use of the Magic Wand is for soothing and relaxing sore muscles and nerves, relieving tension, and rehabilitation after sports injuries. Anecdotally, it has been claimed that intensive vibrating massage provides increased blood supply to injured areas and thus regenerate the tissues and release pain; in this sense, massage is a form of physical therapy.
Muscle and bone stimulation is provided by the rubberised, 2.5" head of the device; it is attached to the main body of the massager via a flexible neck. Owing to its popularity, various aftermarket attachments, differing in colour, pattern of studs, and material, are available to purchase. Out of the box, the massager provides two vibration rates, controlled by a rocker switch on its body: 5,000 and 6,000 rpm. However, an aftermarket accessory is available to provide a continuously variable speed selector for finer control.[1]
However, the Magic Wand is far more famous for its use as a sex toy: when used in this capacity, it is usually applied to the vulvar area or anus for erotic stimulation and can be used by both sexes, jointly and separately. Some physicians recommend it for women to increase genital sensitivity and enhance arousal. Its effectiveness as a masturbation aid, especially for women, has been widely publicised by a variety of writers in that sphere, most notably Betty Dodson.[2][3]
The wand only comes in a 110v variety which means that it requires an adaptor for use in the countries running on 240v.