Mapacho (Nicotiana Rustica) – Maso Bundles from Peru

More about Mapacho (Nicotiana Rustica)

A Mapacho Maso is a fermented solid mass of Tabaco leaves, and consists of tightly wrapped and bundled Nicotiana Rustica leaf, produced in Peru. They are made according to an old traditional recipe and contains a solid but juicy jungle Tabaco. The indigenous Amazon people have used Mapacho products in traditional ceremonies in weather prediction, fishing ceremonies, and spiritual applications such as meditation and trance. Shamans use Tabaco as a healing and purifying herb and also use it as a smudging herb for energy cleansing in a very similar way to sage. Traditional spirituality holds the believe that evil spirits cannot reside where there is this sacred Tabaco.

You can read more about the use and history, and the significance of this Tobacco on the Mapacho Facebook page.

Other names: Mapacho, Rustica, Nicotiana rustica, Mapacho Masos

Mapacho Shamanism

In addition to Ayahuasca rituals that combine with Tabaco snuffs, there are even shamans that specialise in Tabaco healing. They call them tobaqueros (Jauregui et al. 2011). When used in shamanic rituals, Tabaco is assumed to protect, cleanse and re-align energies, thereby bringing profound clarity and healing (Jauregui et al. 2011). Furthermore, South American shamans, commonly use Tabaco smoke to blow it over the person heal them with the intention to bring their energies into equilibrium and clean out all negativity and anxiety (i.e. ‘sopladas’ – the healing energy of blowing) (Jauregui et al. 2011). Thus, Tabaco in the shamanistic culture has a potent function of cleansing, bringing clarity and focus, and for allowing strong visualisations.

Usage

This massive form of Mapacho is made according to an old traditional recipe and contains a solid but juicy jungle Tabaco. They are fresh and humid. They come vacuum-sealed when we receive them, to keep them fresh and preserved during storage and transport. Upon receiving you can keep it in the vacuum state for many months. When opened, unpack the section and store it in paper wrapping. When the outside becomes brittle over time you can simply spray the outside with distilled water, thereby the material will slowly absorb the water and the outside layer will become fresh again. Pack the humidified Tabaco in a plastic bag for a day or two, maximum. Then wrap it in dry paper again.

Note: This can not be stored in a (non vacuum) plastic bag, as this may cause to form mould. Store it in paper instead, below room temperature.

Nicotiana Rustica Plant Info

Nicotiana Rustica is extremely potent, containing up to 20 times higher levels of nicotine than the usual Tabaco, Nicotiana Tabacum (Stanfill et al. 2010). Therefore, this shamanic tool is extremely powerful and can provide an intense journey of cleansing and energetic shift. Through this highly activating Tabaco, one might feel a strong aiming of the mind, and intense clarity and focus.

References

Wilbert J, (1987). Tobacco and Shamanism in South America. Yale University Press,
New Haven, CT.

Farzin D, Mansouri N (2006). Antidepressant-like effect of harmane and other beta-carbolines in the mouse forced swim test. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 16 (5): 324–8.

Herraiz T, Chaparro C (2005). Human monoamine oxidase is inhibited by tobacco smoke: beta-carboline alkaloids act as potent and reversible inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.;326(2):378-86.

Janiger O, Dobkin de Rios M (1973). Suggestive Hallucinogenic Properties of Tobacco Medical Anthropology Newsletter;4(4): 6-11

Jauregui X, Clavo ZM, Jovel EM, Pardo-de-Santayana M (2011). Plantas con madre: plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. J Ethnopharmacol.;134(3):739-52.

Stanfill SB, Connolly GN, Zhang, L, Jia, TL, Henningfield, J, Richter P, et al. (2010). Surveillance of international oral tobacco products: total nicotine, un-ionized nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Tob. Control 20, e2.