Our Hapé Samauma blend is powerfully cleansing and brings balance to the energies in the body, mind, and spirit. Made by the Kuntanawa Tribe, it contains ash from parts of the sacred Samauma tree, mixed with nicotiana rustica (Aztec tobacco). The indigenous people consider the Samauma tree to be the “Mother of all trees” because of its sacred protecting presence. The Samauma tree grows taller than most, and its branches reach out over the plant life underneath like a mother caring for her children. The trunk of the Samauma is hollow and bulging because the trunk stores a large quantity of water, which is released into the ground through its roots during drought seasons, giving life to the surrounding area. No wonder this tree is considered the mother–a life-giver. Samauma ash can be used as a diuretic, for headaches, and to strengthen the organs.
This Hapé Samauma blend has a flavor that is strong, yet very pleasing and will act as a harmonizing agent for feelings, thoughts, and emotions. During a ceremony, it can help with centering and empowering intentions, and connecting to the spirit world, our roots, and nature. It’s especially effective for the root, heart, and third eye chakras.
What is Hapé?
Hapé is the preparation of powdered medicinal herbs which is administered through the nose as a snuff. The effects are experienced promptly and intensely and it elicits feelings of alertness and elevation. Hapé is typically made with mapacho (Aztec tobacco, which contains 9 times the nicotine of common tobacco) as a base, and other plant medicines mixed in for various effects.
This ancient practice of consuming powdered plant medicines through the nose dates back from the pre-Columbian days and was first observed among the indigenous tribes of Brazil. To these tribes, hapé is a sacred shamanic snuff medicine with extensive healing and other powers. Other uses include inducing visions, increasing energy, and heightening the senses with the aromatic fragrance of the plants used in the blend.
Hapé is made from different medicinal plants for different purposes. Several tribes traditionally use hape, and they each produce their own specific Hapé blends. These tribes include but are not limited to the Katukina, Yawanawa, Kaxinawa, Nukini, Kuntanawa, Apurinã, Ashaninka, and Matses.
Hapé History
In 1577 doctor and botanist Francisco Hernández de Boncalo introduced the herbal snuff in Europe and the elites of that time often took snuff as a headache treatment. During the 18th century, inhaling snuff became fashionable among the European aristocracy.
Today, indigenous tribes in the Amazon basin continue to use hapé in all aspects of life, from formal rituals, to social gatherings, to simply tuning into Nature and welcoming the healing power of sacred plant medicines.
The ritual use of hapé was introduced to the West by traveling shamans through ayahuasca ceremonies, as well as by visitors who have spent time in the jungle with indigenous communities. Ritual hapé use is making its way around the world.
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