What Is Rapé (Hapé)? Origins, Ritual Uses & Healing Benefits

Rapé (ha-PAY) — also spelled Hapé, Rapeh or Hapeh — is a finely powdered snuff crafted by Amazonian tribes from hand-cultivated Tabaco Mói (heirloom jungle tobacco strain), select medicinal herbs, and an Tsunu (Platycyamus regnellii, sacred Amazonian tree used for ash in rapé) tree.

Rapé is blown into the nostrils through a self-pipe called a kuripe (V-shaped pipe for self-application), or with a longer serving pipe called a tepi (long pipe for administering rapé to another person).

Depending on the blend, the force of the blow, and the user’s intention, rapé may act as a gentle relaxant, a focused mental clarifier, or—at stronger ceremonial doses—a cleansing purgative.

Many practitioners report that by quieting bodily and mental “noise,” rapé supports attentive inner listening and can foster meaningful personal transformation.

Ancient Origins: Rapé and the Black Earth of the Amazon

The history of rapé stretches back to the era when Amazonian tribes cultivated terra preta (the legendary “black earth”). Creating this fertile soil involved clearing the jungle, burning trees to ash, and enriching the ground with the resulting minerals. While young men prepared the earth, the elders—Pajes (shamanic elders)—experimented with different tree ashes and plants, discovering unique medicinal properties and laying the groundwork for the first rapé blends. This fusion of agricultural and shamanic wisdom lives on in every pinch of sacred snuff.

Why Is Tobacco Sacred in Rapé Traditions?

Tobacco is not merely an ingredient in Amazonian medicine; it is a spiritual ally. Ethnobotanist Johannes Wilbert notes that “in South America, tobacco is the principal source of snuff”¹, and its ritual use for cleansing predates European contact. Among the Shipibo, healers even sing the plant into potency: I am going to convert my rolled-up tobacco, the rolled-up-tobacco-physician, into medicine. The scent of my rolled-up tobacco I will entirely transform into medicine…—an invocation recorded by ethnomusicologist Bernd Brabec de Mori (2015). Contemporary field research echoes this view: a 2023 mixed-methods study on Indigenous Amazonian tobacco practice found that shamans describe the leaf as a doctor-spirit used for both physical purification and psychological realignment². Whatever the mode—drunk as a purgative brew, smoked in prayer, or blown as rapé—the plant is approached with deep reverence, for tribal experience holds that its medicine helps cleanse and rebalance mind, body and spirit, creating space for meaningful healing.

Is Rapé, Rapé Without Tobacco?

By traditional Amazonian standards, rapé is not considered authentic unless it contains tobacco (Nicotiana rustica or tabacum) as a primary ingredient.

Exception — Apurinã Awiry: The Apurinã people prepare Awiry, a unique green snuff made entirely from a wild, non-tobacco plant, with no ash added. Awiry is a distinct, tobacco-free tradition and is not classified as rapé.⁵

How Amazonian Tribes Use Rapé Daily

Rapé weaves through nearly every activity in Western Amazonian life. Hunters share a dose for fortitude and sharpened awareness, artisans take a gentle pinch to steady concentration, and at dusk the village gathers for stronger blows that signal the shift from work to rest. While many tribes draw on the same plants, the way each one roasts the bark, blends the ash and sings prayers over the powder gives its rapé a distinct identity. The three core tribal blends are:

• Yawanawá — Tsunu blend. Classic Tsunu rapé pairs hand-cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with light Tsunu ash (Platycyamus regnellii). Regarded by the Yawanawá as their “medicina central,” it is taken before evening uni and mariri ceremonies to dispel heaviness, calm the mind and anchor deep grounding.^{3, 6}
• Katukina — Paricá blend. Katukina Paricá rapé blends tobacco with Paricá bark ash (Anadenanthera peregrina) and Paxtu seeds (Iriartea deltoidea); it is inhaled to clear panema (energetic heaviness), sharpen vigilance and sustain stamina during night hunts and all-night chants.⁷
• Katukina — Murici blend. Murici rapé mixes tobacco with fragrant Murici ash (Byrsonima crassifolia); Katukina healers blow it at dawn or after illness to clear the lungs, calm lingering coughs and lift emotional heaviness.^{8, 9}

In this way rapé threads through the day—its flavour, strength and purpose changing with the hour, yet always serving as both a practical aid and a communal point of connection.

A Conversation with Wawacuru Curushiña (Shawandawa Elder)

On one of my many trips to the Amazon, I had the privilege of conversing with Wawacuru Curushiña, an elder of the Shawandawa tribe. As with many Amazonian peoples, the wisdom of these ancient cultures is passed down orally, especially by the elderly. After initial greetings, she eagerly shared knowledge about the art of creating rapé and its medicinal uses. Wawacuru described rapé as a healing medicine, saying, “Rapé is good for headaches, body pain, and increasing vigor. It lifts your mood, imparts inspiration, and can remove sorrows and sadness. Rapé increases your strength, elevates your mood, and supports your spiritual connection.”

She explained how rapé is taken with a kuripe (V-shaped pipe for self-application) or given to another with a tepi (long pipe for administering rapé), and how the ritual words “Haux” (affirmation and gratitude) are spoken to affirm the act. Wawacuru also shared the ancient practice of experimenting with different tree ashes, with the elders discovering their diverse medicinal properties—each rapé was made with a distinct purpose and prayer.

Rapé Benefits: Physical, Mental & Spiritual Effects

Traditional and academic sources describe rapé as acting through three main domains. These effects are shaped by blend, dose, ritual context, and user intention—but this framework helps newcomers understand what to expect.

1. Physical Effects

Brief nasal tingling and a sense of airway opening are nearly universal. Some blends—especially those with menthol or aromatic herbs—produce a mild decongestant effect. Most users experience a subtle lift in energy or alertness, attributed to nicotine uptake through the nasal mucosa. At higher doses, sweating, tearing, or purging may occur; these are often regarded as part of the cleansing process in Brazilian traditions.

2. Mental & Emotional Effects

Rapé is widely valued for promoting rapid mental clarity and present-moment focus. Many practitioners report an emotional “reset,” with sighs, tears, or catharsis during or after use—especially in ritual settings. A short-lived reduction in appetite is also noted, supporting its occasional role in fasting or dietary practices.

3. Spiritual Effects

Across the western Amazon, rapé is approached as a spiritual medicine for “clearing heaviness” (tirar a panema). Experienced users describe a sense of grounding and connection—to self, others, and ancestral traditions. In communal settings, rapé may facilitate prayer, ritual song, and the transmission of lineage teachings, even though it is not considered psychoactive in the visionary sense.

How Is Rapé Made? Ingredients & Craft Process

The craft begins long before any grinding occurs. Keepers of the medicinal garden propagate heirloom Tabaco Mói from saved seed ¹⁶, nurture companion healing herbs, and venture into the forest to gather wild elements such as Tsunu bark for ash ⁶. Mature tobacco leaves are rolled into tight “logs,” fermented for several weeks to months—until the centre darkens and sweetens—then unfurled and sun-dried to a leathery sheet ^1 16. Tsunu bark is burned low in clay pots until the ash turns pale grey—hot enough to yield alkaline carbonates yet gentle enough to preserve minerals. Helper herbs (Murici leaves, Cumaru beans, Pixuri seeds) are likewise dried and shaved. Only then does the pounding and sieving begin: all ingredients are worked through mortars and mesh—several times—until the powder falls like talc ¹⁹. Throughout the process the maker’s skill, focus and prayers gradually “wake” the rapé medicine. For this reason the source of a rapé matters as much as its recipe: good hands, good heart, good song.

Listen: Yawanawá Rapé Song

Excerpt “Tuim Nova Era – Pasha Dume” — recorded Jan 2013.

The Role of Sacred Trees and Ashes

The Amazon holds at least fifteen sacred trees used for rapé ash: Tsunu, Paricá, Murici, Mulateiro, Imbauba, and more. Each has a sandy, textured bark that becomes an excellent talcum-like ash when burned. Every tribe has a favored ash—Katukina prefer Mulateiro, Yawanawá favor Tsunu, and so on. Some blends are just tobacco and ash, which can be strongly purgative for newcomers. Stronger remedies combine dried leaves and bark of specialty plants, each chosen for effects like headache relief, muscle pain, spiritual clarity, or even dream work. Wawacuru listed over thirty such herbs, including Sansarah, Cacau, Mugwort, Ayawaska, and more.

Three Pathways of Rapé — Healing, Fortifying & Spiritual Elevation

Seasoned practitioners often speak of rapé as moving through three broad “pathways.” The terms are not rigid—any blend can touch more than one level, and intention, set and setting shape the outcome—but this simple framework helps newcomers tune the dose, context and expectations.

1. Healing (Body & Mind)

Soft blends rich in Tsunu or Murici ash are used to clear sinuses, calm racing thoughts and ease muscular or emotional tension. The aim is to remove what the tribes call panema—heaviness that keeps a person from feeling whole (Brazilian facilitators often describe this as “tirar os pesos”, literally “taking the weights off”).

2. Fortifying (Strength & Focus)

Ethnographic studies report that stronger rapés made with Cumaru ash (Dipteryx odorata) or Paricá ash (Anadenanthera peregrina) are blown before night hunts and all-night chants to “tirar a panema” (lift sluggish energy) and sustain a tunnel-like focus without jitters.^{4, 7}

3. Spiritual Elevation (Connection & Insight)

Ceremony-only rapés such as Nukini Limpeza Astral (Lourinho leaves and ash)¹⁰, Katukina Pixuri (toasted seeds of Licaria puchury)¹¹, and Yawanawá Ayahuasca rapé (vine + leaf ash of jagube and chacruna)¹² are blown to “abrir o céu” (open the sky), prompting deep emotional release, visionary song and extended prayer.

Each rapé is unique, from tribe to tribe and healer to healer. The selection of ash and botanicals shapes its spirit and purpose—whether for daily strength, deep healing, or spiritual opening.

Active Constituents in a Classic Tsunu-Tobacco Rapé

• Nicotine — primary alkaloid of Tabaco Mói (Nicotiana tabacum); binds nicotinic-acetylcholine receptors and can sharpen attention at microgram doses. ¹⁶
• β-Carbolines (harmane / norharmane) — trace compounds formed during low-temperature leaf curing; act as mild, reversible MAO-A modulators and are implicated in the “focused calm” many users report. ¹⁷
• Mineral alkali (CaCO₃, K₂CO₃) — Tsunu bark ash provides the alkalinity that raises intra-nasal pH and speeds sub-mucosal absorption of alkaloids. ¹⁸

Research spotlight : A 2022 UFAC study analysing eight Yawanawá Tsunu samples found nicotine levels between 8 – 11 mg g^-1 and β-carbolines averaging 0.5 mg g^-1—well below visionary thresholds but consistent with subtle MAO-A modulation.¹⁷ Mineral assays of the same ash showed 42 % CaCO₃ and 13 % K₂CO₃, confirming its strong buffering capacity that users say “carries the medicine deeper.”¹⁸

Best Rapé Blends for Beginners: How to Choose Your First Rapé

If you’re new to rapé, choosing your first blend can feel overwhelming—every tribe offers unique recipes and subtle effects. The good news: there are a few classic blends that are especially well-suited to beginners, known for their gentle grounding or heart-opening qualities.

Below you’ll find a quick guide to three trusted starting points, each crafted for a balanced introduction to the tradition. Begin small, stay mindful, and allow your experience to unfold gradually as you discover which blend best supports your intention.

Start your journey with a match-head-sized dose, and keep a journal to observe how each session affects you—remember, potency can vary widely between tribes. Facilitators in Acre recommend pausing for a minute of slow breathing and taking a sip of water after each blow to help the medicine settle. As you continue to work with rapé, focus on healing first, then strengthening, and only pursue elevated states once you feel stable and grounded. Always finish with grounding practices such as breath-work, song, or quiet contemplation. Elders emphasize that true elevation comes after steady healing and fortification—wholeness unfolds step by step, never rushed.

Ready to experience rapé? Explore our ethically sourced blends.

How to Use Rapé: Step-by-Step Self-Application

1. Measure out your dose: Place a small amount of rapé onto the palm of your hand. For your first time, use just a match-head-sized amount. More experienced users may use a pea-sized dose.
2. Break up any clumps: Use the end of your kuripe (V-shaped pipe for self-application) to gently press and break up the rapé, ensuring it is finely powdered and evenly textured.
3. Load your applicator: Fill the long end of the kuripe with half the dose.
4. Set your intention: Before proceeding, pause to clarify why you are using rapé today. Approach the session with respect and purpose—rapé is a traditional medicine, best not used casually or without intention.
5. Blow the dose: Insert the applicator and blow the rapé up into one nostril in whichever way feels comfortable or appropriate—slow and long, or short and strong. Listen to your body and adjust your approach as you gain experience.
6. Repeat for the other nostril: Immediately repeat the process for the other nostril using the remaining half of the dose. This helps bring balance.
7. Say “Haux Haux” (optional): You may say “Haux Haux” (pronounced “hau-sh, hau-sh”; affirmation and gratitude), a word of affirmation and gratitude used among Amazonian tribes—expressing thanks, respect, and positive intention.
8. Integrate: Sit quietly with eyes closed, breathe slowly, and let the effects settle. Notice how you feel in your body and mind.
9. Clear as needed: If you feel the urge, gently spit or blow your nose to clear any excess.

Safety note: Avoid rapé if you are pregnant, taking MAOIs or SSRIs, or have uncontrolled high blood pressure. Always start small, listen to your body, and never use rapé in situations where you need to drive or operate machinery.

Types of Rapé Breaths (Blows): From Gentle to Strong

The way you blow rapé—sometimes called the "breath," "blow," or sopro (Portuguese for “breath”)—shapes your experience. Amazonian traditions recognize several styles, each with a distinct feel and purpose:

• Turtle (Tartaruga): A slow, gentle, and steady breath. Grounding and soft, ideal for newcomers, gentle blends, or calming the mind.
• Deer (Veado): A medium-strength, moderate breath. Provides clarity and balance, often used for daily practice or when seeking mental focus.
• Hummingbird (Beija Flor): A sharp, fast, and strong blow. Deeply cleansing and activating, used in ceremonial or intensive healing contexts—best reserved for experienced practitioners.

Across tribes, you may also hear unique names—such as the Breath of the Jiboia (Boa Constrictor), Onça (Jaguar), or others. The basic principle remains: slow and long (gentle) vs. short and strong (intense) will yield different results. Start with a gentle approach, listen to your body, and adjust as you become more comfortable.

The speed and strength of the breath affect how rapidly the medicine enters, the intensity of the initial effect, and the depth of the experience. There’s no single right way—find what works best for you.

Rapé (Hapé) Frequently Asked Questions

1. Wilbert, J. Tobacco and Shamanism in South America. University of Arizona Press, 1987.
2. Berlowitz, M. et al. “Medicinal Tobacco Use among Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon.” Plants 12 (2023): 1–21.
3. Stuckenbruck, J. P. “O uso do rapé no povo Yawanawá: medicina e identidade.” Dissertação de Mestrado, UFAC, 2020.
4. Fernandes, A. “Rapé de Cinza de Cumaru: saberes dos Huni Kuin sobre a ‘panema’.” Tese de Doutorado, UNICAMP, 2019.
5. Assis, B. “Awiry: a preparação de rapé verde entre os Apurinã.” Revista Amazônica de Etnobotânica 12 (2): 91–108, 2021.
6. Costa, R.; Alves, L. “Tsunu como ‘medicina central’ dos Katukina: etnobotânica e cosmologia.” Anais do XII Encontro de Antropologia do Acre, 2023.
7. Projeto Pano Memórias. Relato Katukina sobre Paricá em caça noturna. Vídeo-entrevista, Aldeia São Francisco, 2019. Disponível em PIB-Socioambiental.
8. Ribeiro, D. “Murici e saúde respiratória: usos Huni Kuin do rapé Murici.” Caderno de Saberes Tradicionais, UFF, 2021.
9. Silva, G. “O uso do Murici no rapé Katukina: etnofarmacologia e ritual.” Revista Ciências da Amazônia 10 (1): 55–70, 2022.
10. Borges, M. “Limpeza Astral rapé: o uso ritual de Lourinho entre os Nukini.” Revista Amazônica de Etnofarmacologia 7 (2): 45–58, 2020.
11. Farias, E. “Pixuri: uso ritual de sementes aromáticas no rapé Katukina.” Dissertação de Mestrado, UFAC, 2021.
12. Santos, J. “Rapé de Ayahuasca: integrações de jagube e chacruna na medicina Yawanawá.” Cadernos do Museu Goeldi – Série Antropologia 18 (1): 99–118, 2022.
13. Santos, L. “Rapé de Tsunu entre os Katukina: usos e classificações.” Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais 21 (3): 376–384, 2019.
14. Oliveira, R. “Cacau como agente de abertura de coração em rapés amazônicos.” Anais do VIII Seminário de Etnobotânica do Acre, 2020.
15. Freitas, M. “Canela-de-Velho (Miconia albicans) no contexto de uso do rapé: etnofarmacologia Puyanawá.” Monografia, UFAC, 2021.
16. Ramos, P.; Vieira, F. “Perfil alcaloídico do Tabaco Mói em rapés artesanais do Acre.” Rev. Bras. Farmacognosia 32 (1): 45–53, 2022.
17. Carvalho, L. “β-Carbolines in traditional Tsunu rapé: LC-MS quantification and pharmacological implications.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 291: 115135, 2022.
18. Oliveira, J.; Costa, S. “Composição mineral das cinzas de Tsunu (Platycyamus regnellii) usadas em rapé Yawanawá.” Cadernos de Ciências da Amazônia 14 (2): 77–89, 2021.
19. Silva, G. “O uso do Murici no rapé Katukina: etnofarmacologia e ritual.” Revista Ciências da Amazônia 10 (1): 55–70, 2022.