Blown into each of the nostril cavities through a ceremonial pipe made of bone or bamboo Rapeh is often made of several Amazonian plants with the core of most Rapeh snuffs being the tobacco species Nicotiana Rustica.
This Amazonian tobacco, also known as Mapacho, is used extensively in tribal rituals and is much stronger than N. tabacum, the type of tobacco found in cigarettes. It is important to know that mapacho does not contain any unnatural chemical additives. In addition to the tobacco, Rapeh usually includes the alkaline ashes of other plants such as cinnamon, tonka bean, clover, banana peel, or mint, but many shamans keep the exact ingredients of their particular Rapeh a secret.
With kambo, Rapeh is commonly used to help assist in bringing on a purge if an individual is stuck and unable and to release and let go.
Rapeh:
- Helps focus and sharpen the mind.
- Clears a person or space of distracting and un-serving energies in preparation for intention setting.
- Detoxes both body and mind and clears energetic field.
- Clears sinuses of mucus and bacteria, thereby helping to combat colds and respiratory ailments.
- Used as a grounding tool in meditation.
- Can be used during a Kambo ceremony to help bring about a purge.