Use of snuff and its main constituents for religious purposes in an alternative community with shamanic practices in the south of Brazil

Snuff is a fine aromatic powder traditionally made from dried leaves, tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes dates to pre-Columbian times across the Americas and is considered sacred in indigenous culture. Colonizers trivialized its consumption, leading to industrialization for commerce. Commercial snuff now consists mainly of industrialized tobacco without medicinal plants or spiritual intent, posing health risks. In shamanism, plants serve as vehicles to access other realms, enabling dialogue with spirits and acquisition of knowledge. Plants in shamanic snuff vary by locality; Erythroxylum coca is used in Amazon communities, alongside Chacrona and Mariri in ayahuasca preparation. Distinguishing recreational from shamanic snuff and studying their effects is essential.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Snuff is a fine aromatic powder composed of dried and thin leaves combined with tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes has appeared since pre-Columbian period in various localities of American continent. Practice is considered sacred in indigenous culture and suffered from trivialization of consumption due to influence of colonizers, which triggered subsequent industrialization of this complex for commercial purposes. Commercial snuff is essentially made from industrialized tobacco without addition of other medicinal plants and without therapeutic or spiritual purposes beyond its indiscriminate and inappropriate use, causing health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to make a review on snuff in Brazilian culture and a tour of a local community. In shamanism, plants are used as access vehicles to other religions of cosmos and its inhabitants, from where experts dialogue, bring songs, news, omens, and acquire new knowledge. The plants used in shamanic composition of snuff vary with the locality of indigenous villages in America and are essential ingredients of this interaction between humans and non-humans, a special mediator of intersubjective interactions. Several studies show the use and meaning of Erythroxylum coca used in different communities of the Amazon, besides Chacrona and Mariri, popular names of plants used in manufacture of Ayahuasca drink by doctrine Santo Daime. Because of this, it is essential to establish differences between recreational snuff and shamanic and their effects on body as well as studies on use of shamanic snuff should be directed according to their applications and plants employed by communities.