Exploring the hallucinogenic snuffs used by indigenous peoples of the Northern Amazon, focusing on burola and genus adhenantra. The podcast delves into the botanical and ethnobotanical aspects of snuffs, shamanic traditions in the Amazon rainforest, the historical use of hallucinogenic snuffs in battle, the cultural significance and threats to shamanic cultures, and the impact of the rubber boom on the indigenous peoples of the Amazon.
Hallucinogenic snuffs, made from Amazonian trees, are consumed by indigenous peoples of the Northern Amazon for healing and divinatory purposes.
The snuffs, niacuana and hissiomy, induce altered states of consciousness and have cultural significance, but the plants and indigenous knowledge associated with them are at risk due to deforestation and encroachment.
Deep dives
Hallucinogenic Snuffs: Exploring the Northern Amazon's Secret Hallucinogens
This podcast episode delves into the lesser-known hallucinogenic snuffs of the Northern Amazon, particularly focusing on the two powerful snuffs used by the indigenous peoples of the region. The first snuff, called niacuana, is made from the forest tree burola, also known as niacuana to the Yanomami. The second snuff, known as hissiomy, is derived from the seeds of a leguminous tree called genus adenanantra. These snuffs, although not as well-known as ayahuasca, have been used for centuries and allow individuals to reach altered states of consciousness. The podcast highlights the different preparations and applications of these snuffs, emphasizing how they can induce intense visions and altered states. Additionally, it discusses the cultural significance of snuff-taking among the Yanomami, including its use in daily life, not limited to shamanic rituals. The unique nasal administration of these snuffs is explored, as they rapidly enter the bloodstream through capillaries in the nasal passages. The podcast also highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge and the need to protect the environment and cultures that hold these sacred plants and traditional practices. However, the growing threats of deforestation, pollution, and encroachment pose a risk to both the plants and the knowledge associated with them.
Varola: The Hallucinogenic Tree of Northern Amazon
This section of the podcast focuses on varola, a large and beautiful tree found abundantly in the Amazon rainforest. Varola, also referred to as the Amazon nutmeg, belongs to the nutmeg family, Marista Casee. The podcast highlights the ethnobotanical implications of this tree and its use in creating hallucinogenic snuffs. It is revealed that approximately 40 species of varola contain hallucinogenic properties, making it a subject of scientific interest. Various indigenous tribes, particularly the Yanomami, use the resin obtained from varola to create the niacuana snuff. The preparation methods vary, with some tribes drinking the resin, drying it into pellets, or making a powder for nasal ingestion. The podcast discusses the early encounters between Western scientists and varola, including the pioneering work of Richard Spruce and later exploration by Richard Evans Schultes. The medicinal and therapeutic uses of varola are explored, including its potential for treating fungal infections, a common affliction in tropical regions. It is emphasized that the cultural and ecological preservation of varola and its associated knowledge is vital, especially in the face of rapid deforestation and the dwindling populations of indigenous peoples.
Hissiomy: The Sacred Plant of Indigenous Peoples
This segment of the podcast focuses on hissiomy, a plant equally fascinating as varola and highly revered among indigenous peoples. Hissiomy, scientifically known as Adenanthera, grows in the savannas of the Northern Amazon and has a long history of ritualistic and daily use by various tribes, including the Taino peoples of the Caribbean, the Incas, and the automac Indians of the Orinoco region. The podcast explores the geographical distribution of hissiomy and its cultural significance throughout the Americas. It highlights the discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of hissiomy by Richard Spruce and later scientific analysis by Richard Evans Schultes. The major alkaloid identified in hissiomy, known as bufotenin, is discussed, including its relation to other hallucinogens like psilocybin and its presence in frogs and fungi. The podcast relates historical accounts of hissiomy use, depicting it as a stimulant, a tool for battle preparation, and an important element of spiritual and shamanic practices. The importance of protecting this plant and its cultural significance, especially as frog populations and indigenous territories face threats, is stressed.
Preserving Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity
In this final section, the podcast focuses on the urgent need for better stewardship of nature and the preservation of indigenous knowledge and biodiversity. It explores the threats faced by indigenous cultures, rainforests, and their valuable plants and animals. The podcast emphasizes the ecological devastation caused by deforestation, pollution, climate change, and the spread of diseases like COVID-19. The loss of traditional knowledge is highlighted, both through the disappearance of species and the cultural assimilation of indigenous peoples. The significance of modern technological tools to analyze ancient finds and gain insights into the past is discussed, emphasizing the potential for unlocking valuable information about the historical uses of plants, fungi, and other substances. The podcast concludes on a somber note, quoting early ethnographers who observed the detrimental impact of external forces on indigenous communities. It calls for a more responsible approach to environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and global health to ensure the survival of these sacred plants, indigenous cultures, and the well-being of humanity as a whole.
Hallucinogenic snuffs – though most hallucinogens like magic mushrooms or ayahuasca are taken orally, the indigenous peoples of Amazonia have created two different and highly potent snuffs from Amazonian trees which they consume for a variety of healing and divinatory purposes. As with ayahuasca, the author draws on his personal insights and experiences with these plants and these peoples to describe the biocultural importance of these snuffs.
Sources:
Chagnon, Napoleon A. The Fierce People. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1968.
Plotkin, Mark J. Amazon: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Plotkin, Mark J. Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: an Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Amazon Rain Forest. Viking, 1993.
Prance, Ghillean T., et al. Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs. Synergetic Press, in Association with Heffter Research Institute, 2018.
Schultes, Richard Evans, and Robert F. Raffauf. Vine of the Soul: Medicine Men, Their Plants and Rituals in the Colombian Amazonia. Synergetic Press, 2004.
Schultes, Richard Evans., and Albert Hofmann. Plants of the Gods. Vandermarck, 1979.
Episode Note from Dr. Plotkin:
In this video, I made the all-too-common anthropological error of describing the Taíno peoples of the Caribbean as extinct, through both extermination at the hands of colonists and assimilation. This characterization unfortunately overlooks the living culture continued today by a diaspora including Taíno descendant communities, representative organizations, and individuals. I am grateful to Taíno individuals and representatives of the United Confederation of Taíno People for making me aware of this misstatement.
