What is Rapé, where to buy it and all its benefits?
What is rapé?
A fine powder that combines mapacho (a specific type of tobacco that’s different from the one used in common cigarettes and much stronger too) and ashes from various plants with other medicinal and sacred herbs, rapé is both a snuff that unite medicinal properties and spiritual aspects, and an integral, sacred part of certain Brazilian tribes’ cultures.
The correct rapé pronunciation is “Hapey” or “Hapé”. The R at the beginning of a word in Portugese is pronounced as an H.
The ritual that sees the process of creating the mixture or blend of rapé is very sacred, requesting time and effort of experienced shamans, as well as deep understanding of each component, and reverence and gratefulness.
Though its main ingredient is tobacco, rapé blends also contain components such as alkaline ashes of other plants, tonka beans, clove buds, tree barks, seeds and leaves; what goes into the blend will vary depending on the ceremony’s intentions, as well as the tribes’ traditions and culture, its recipe passed down through generations.
The snuff’s strength will be directly dependent on its ingredients – some blends are even tobacco free, but these will not evoke the same cleansing and grounding effects of other rapé snuffs.
What is the origin of snuff?
What is rapé used for?
This shamanic snuff is an essential part of sacred and medicinal practices across several South American tribes, revered with respect and understanding both of the physical and ethereal aspects and effects that follow the rapé ceremony.
Considering that there is an infinite possibility of ingredient combinations for the snuff blends, in addition to the fact that each and every user will set their own intentions for the ritual, it is also safe to assume that there are equally as many purposes to the use of shamanic medicines such as rapé. From cleansing of energy, immunity boost, inducing visions, connecting with oneself, the Earth, and others that take part in the sacred rite, in the treatment of certain respiratory or digestive problems, in a search for more clarity and answers to questions, enhancing the senses, and many more.
The frequency of use can vary depending on the tribe and the practices, and sacred tobacco can be used as part of collective rites where the snuff is shared, and as part of personal, individual practices for cleansing and healing, greatly varying from the malpractice and misuse of tobacco we often see and correlate with chain-smoking.
Using rapé medicine
Medicinal rapé is mainly used for detoxifying and healing the physical body. It does wonders to purging excessive mucus, toxins, and bacteria, and, due to its sanative and analgesic properties, it is also a potent agent in the treatment of infections and wounds, and reducing pain and fatigue. Because nicotine is part of its composition, rapé also acts upon the blood flow to the brain, improving alertness and focus. It is very common for people who are feeling rundown, stressed, ill, or even depressed to look for treatment in shamanic rapé.
Long does rapé last is a question many people have. This varies with the doses but normally the strongest effect around five to fifteen minutes. When taken a bigger or too big quantity it can last significantly longer. Always start with a small quantity.
How to use rapé
Some people might assume, due to the fact that rapé contains tobacco, that you should smoke the snuff. Because the powder is so fine, having the ingredients been pounded in a pestle and mortar, then passed time and time again through a fine cloth, it would be quite difficult to smoke it. The correct way to take rapé is to have it administered into your nose, as part of a ceremony (that may well be followed by other practices, too).
Firstly and most importantly, it is essential that the people interested in making use of medicinal tobacco, be it through the use of rapé, should dedicate time into understanding its purpose and cultural significance, as well as having an educated view of the ceremony and using it with respect and thoughtfulness. It takes years of apprenticeship for shamans to learn how to make their tribe’s rapé, the administration of the snuff, and the rituals.
Now, to more technical details. While rapé enters the body through the nose, it shouldn’t be snorted or simply inhaled. Instead, a pea-sized amount of the blend is scooped into a rapé applicator, or a pipe, and blown into the subject’s nose; it is important to try and “hold in” the rapé for a few instants before blowing it out again – which is a process that will most likely happen naturally, too. Usually, it is easier to have an experienced practitioner or shaman blow on the pipe (in this instance, called a tepi pipe, which is more elongated) and drive the rapé into the other’s nostrils.
Those who have already experienced the ceremony other times and are accustomed with the practice might prefer a personal pipe, or a kuripe, which is shaped in a V-angle so the snuff can be blown from one person’s mouth into their own nose.
It is important that both sides receive the rapé to achieve balance between the things one desires to let go and what they wish to receive and welcome, or the whole process might slightly backfire – fear and rejection of part of the ritual might be considered as rejecting the spirit of the rapé.
Discover the brazilian tribes that make rapé
There is a multitude of Brazilian tribes that traditionally make use of the rapé snuff, creating and passing down from generation to generation their own distinct blends of rapé and rites that make use of this shamanic medicine – and to name only a few, there are the Yawanawa, the Apurinã, the Kuntanawa, the Huni Kuin, and the Nukini. Not only do the blends of snuff and the ceremonies vary, but also the very act of creating the mixture can be distinct: the techniques, the tools, the choice of herbs, and even the songs sung in the process are unique to each tribe and sometimes occasion, which results in a very particular energy for each sort of rapé.
Types of rapé
There is a wide variety of rapé snuffs, equally diverse and unique as the tribes that create the blends. The name of each shamanic rapé will usually be composed of the name of the tribe of its origins, and sometimes even the name of the shaman who devised it, and sometimes it’ll reference some of the components of the blends. There are tribal snuffs, blended options, ceremonial rapé, and even tobacco-free alternatives. Certain blends will be more adequate for beginner users, while others might be more often used by those who have grown accustomed to its use; some powders will exhibit lighter colors while others may look darker – such distinction is mostly due to the herbs and plants used in the making of the rapé as well as the processes and time taken into its production.
The Yawanawa Tsunu blend might as well be considered a classic amongst the variety of rapé. High quality handmade tobacco strings (also called cordas) and ashes of Tsunu bark go into this famed mixture. Its main expected effects are that of increased physical and spiritual strength and powerful healing, as well as energetic cleansing and a sense of comforting warmth
The Caboclo rapé is made by those of mixed ancestry: indigenous Brazilian and European, combining distinct energies into something unique and powerful. The Caboclo Paricá blend is composed primarily of Rustic tobacco and ashes from Paricá tree barks, which also take the name of Xinshá. The tobacco used in this blend might feel stronger than most other varieties.
A blend that offers feminine strength and power is the Nukini Rosa Branca (meaning White Rose, a symbol of purity), traditionally used across Brazilian culture as components of herbal baths due to their aura cleansing and soothing properties. It is a delicate yet strong rapé, meant to both nurture and relax.
For ceremonial and spiritual purposes, the Shawadawã Spiritual rapé is a sublime option. A part of the Shawadawã tribe’s selection of blends, Kapayuba herbs (which are used for enlightening and amplifying one’s visions during ceremonies) go into its creation. Though its main effects are those expected from taking most sorts of rapé, this Shawadawã snuff carries a great connection to spiritual forces, often used along Ayahuasca and healing songs.
Something especially unique about the Apurinã Snuff is the lack of tobacco (please note that the lack of tobacco in the production does not necessarily mean an absolute voidance of nicotine) in the blend – in fact, it is not even a blend, per se, as the Apurinã make use of only the Awiry plant to create this rapé, hence the borrowed name for the snuff. This rapé’s singular beautiful green color comes from the Awiry plant, which can only be gathered during the dry seasons, when the waters of the rivers recede and the plant can be harvested, making this snuff even more special.
Where to buy rapé?
Learning more about rapé is only part of the enlightenment process that will help you grow as a person and feel better about yourself with the aid of sacred medicine. It is also very important to always try and acquire your rapé, as well as any other natural medicine, from reputable and trustworthy sources that work alongside tribes and communities that show respect and appreciation for what Nature has to share with us.
The effects and benefits of rapé
Physically speaking, as soon as the powder is blown into the nose, that person will most likely experience a burning sensation around the central area of the face, along with watering eyes and a tingling/tensing sensation over the area known as the third eye or crown chakra; another initial common effect is, of course, sneezing due to slight irritation in the nasal cavity – which likely leads to cleansing of the airways and subsequent running of the nose, ridding the cavities and frontal head area of mucus. This process might lead to headaches and sometimes even a certain level of trouble breathing if the area is excessively obstructed.
If the throat area is also clogged, there’s a high chance that the rapé will also cause it to be expelled, and may even lead to nausea and vomiting, but it is important to remember that these are all a natural part of the process and should be considered a way to achieving the release of tension and all that is toxic to one’s body. Whoever takes rapé can expect to conclude the rite feeling calmer yet more focused than before, and in closer touch with themselves and better perceiving the potential of the world around them.
Rapé is also a very powerful spiritual tool for clearing and connecting with one’s intentions and thoughts, aiding with more potent prayers and sharper focus and awareness of the self and one’s surroundings, opening up gateways to higher communication and thinking. It works closely with the user’s intentions, which is why it is so important for the individual to fully dedicate themselves to the rapé rituals and processes (there’s even proper preparation before the ceremony itself). This sacred snuff will amplify any intent: be it protectiveness, power, peace, understanding, connections; whichever energy is present during the intake will be perpetrated in the process as the snuff enters the body and anything else that needs to be let go of will be expelled from the mind.
Unifying both aspects, the use of rapé will result in balance and renewal. The purging of substances “stuck” in the body can be considered a material and synchronous representation of the spiritual process of ridding oneself from toxic, old, and negative energy. The nicotine present in the blend will provoke increased production of dopamine, acetylcholine, and epinephrine, leading to unwinding and peacefulness and, at the same time, a more alert and aware state (which is far from anxiousness and distress); in other words, it’ll bring forth a sense of invigoration and balance, as you’ll be both grounded and stimulated.
How long do the effects of rapé last?
The immediate effects of rapé (that sudden jolt and paradoxical sense of energized alertness and soothing relaxation) can be expected to take place only within a couple of minutes after intake. But don’t worry, the wonderful feeling of balance, cleansing, and renewal should stick with you for several hours, if not for quite a few days even. Because of its immunity boosting properties and its spiritual cleaning power, the rapé will offer a sense of rejuvenation and promote a more acute sense of appreciation for the good things that surround you.
About rapé legality
Rapé/Shamanic Snuff/Rapé Snuff is legal in the U.S.A. as long as the components of the product contain no hallucinatory agents, or any trace whatsoever of such components.