Much is said about the harmful effects on health caused by excessive tobacco use, however, for some cultures such as indigenous people, snuff tobacco is used medicinally and even in spiritual rituals Hapé. After all, what is snuff and why is it used to treat some diseases?
Continue reading to learn a little more about this ancient substance that promotes cleansing and healing.
WHAT IS SNUFF AND WHAT IS IT FOR?
Snuff is a fine powder made from tobacco with a compound of tree bark, herbs and other plants. Different from other substances with hallucinogenic effects that alter the senses and consciousness. It is an entheogen, an expression used to describe compounds with symbolic and cultural aspects.
The use of traditional snuff began thousands of years ago in the indigenous tribes of South America. When inhaled, this substance has healing and ritualistic effects. Read our post about tobacco and its origins and learn even more about this substance!
As it is an entheogenic substance, when used, snuff causes a feeling of lightness, energization and spiritual cleansing. Precisely by doing this deep cleaning it can cause some reactions such as excessive sweating, vomiting and weakness.
The substance is considered sacred medicine. Therefore, it should only be used under supervision, as its focus is to promote spiritual and disease healing.
The indigenous people believe that when preparing snuff you must have a purpose. Therefore, only shamans and shaman apprentices can make the substance, as they are considered trustworthy people by the village.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING SNUFF?
The use of snuff has been gaining many followers in Brazil precisely because of its benefits. Both in the field of the mind and in the treatment of diseases. See some of the main advantages of snuff substances:
- It has a calming effect and allows you to control emotions for a long time;
- Its properties have the power to both sharpen the mind and help with concentration;
- It can be used to treat chronic diseases such as sinusitis, rhinitis and migraine;
- It can be used to detoxify and cleanse the energy field of the mind and body;
- It is an ally in the treatment of mental illnesses and some dependencies on controlled medications;
- It helps combat respiratory diseases and colds, as it cleans the path that air takes between the lungs, trachea, nasal cavities, pharynx, mouth, larynx, bronchioles and bronchi, eliminating bacteria and mucus, the famous phlegm.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF SNUFF?
Snuff has healing and cleansing effects, but this is subject to who is using it. He is chosen to perform spiritual cleansing on the body. There are those who claim that, with the relaxation caused by snuff, both in the body and in the mind, it is possible to achieve hallucinations and a state of ecstasy.
When passing through the airways, snuff helps to clear the airways and when it reaches the brain, the substance causes a feeling of well-being and expansion of consciousness and senses.
During the ritual for using snuff, when inhaled, smoke is formed and when blown, it spreads throughout the environment. For snuff to fulfill its medicinal and ritualistic function, it is very important that the user has their thoughts aligned.
IS SNUFF BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?
But like any other tobacco, snuff can lead to addiction . In some cases, the use of this substance can cause diseases such as cancer. However, its ritualistic use is moderate.
Depending on the intention of the people who apply and receive snuff, the substance can either have beneficial effects such as healing and well-being or harmful effects, causing illnesses and even spiritual evils. In other words, the snuff ritual is an act of courage and trust between whoever applies it and everyone who participates.
HOW IS SNUFF PREPARED?
Indigenous snuff is made from tree bark, herbs and other plants. All elements are crushed and ground until they reach the texture of a very fine powder.
In indigenous tribes, there is a hierarchy and the only person who can prepare snuff is the shaman, the shaman’s apprentice or someone who is considered trustworthy by the tribe, as there is a whole technique that must be followed .
HOW IS SNUFF USED?
After preparation, snuff turns into a powder that is inhaled. First through one side of the nostril and then through the other, never through both nostrils at the same time, so that whoever uses it creates a connection so that the substance can act.
In order for the snuff to be inhaled correctly, a tool called Tapi is used, a type of long-handled pipe. When snuff is inhaled, the substance present in the bark of trees, herbs, tobacco and other plants is inhaled, causing it to automatically rise into the respiratory tract.
Tapi, a tool used to inhale snuff, in some rituals is passed between people participating in the ritual and, for this reason, it is worth highlighting that everyone is subject to the same effects since when passing the Tapi, energies are also exchanged.
USE OF MEDICINAL SNUFF
The big difference between the use of snuff for medicinal and recreational purposes lies precisely in the way the substance is prepared and administered. It is exactly this difference that can make snuff go from becoming purifying to becoming an addiction.
It is believed that both snuff and tobacco used in a sacred and ritualistic way have the power to transform and purify the mind and organism. However, when they start to be used in other ways, without proper preparation, they can become highly harmful to health and even generate dependencies.
Did you like the post and the way that snuff is used in different treatments? Use our comments box to tell us if you already knew this type of tobacco. Also take the opportunity to read our post about electronic cigarettes and find out if it is good or bad for your health.