Virola Bark, Virola surinamensis

Virola Bark (Virola calophylla, V. colophylloidea, and V. theiodora) are among the most recently discovered ethneogenic plants. Jungle trees of medium size have glossy, dark green leaves with clusters of tiny yellow flowers that emit a pungent aroma. The intoxicating principles are in the blood-red resin yielded by the tree bark, which makes a powerful snuff.

Virola surinamensis is from the Myristicaceae or Nutmeg family. Traditionally the Virola bark is stripped from the tree early in the morning and a blood red resin is scraped off from the inner bark. This resin rapidly turns reddish brown and dries to a hard gummy mass to be used in the preparation of snuff often called ebene, epena or yakawana. This contains amongst other things tryptamines. Snuffing is central to the ceremonial practices of the medicine man and is a ritual custom.

In Peru a preparation of pellets is made from the resin like exudates. Great care is taken in boiling thin slivers of the bark for an hour or more with constant stirring to produce a thick paste which is then carefully rolled into pellets and then coated in an alkaline ash (Calcium oxalate). When half a dozen of these pellets are ingested the effects are not as intense like the snuff.

This material is sold for collection purpose only. Not for human consumption.

INFORMATION PROVIDED ON OUR WEBSITE IS FOR BOTANICAL/CULTURAL RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY! ANY REFERANCES ABOUT THE USE OR EFFECTS OF THESE NATURAL HEALING HERBS IS BASED ON TRADITIONAL USE OR SHAMANIC PRACTICES. ALL PRODUCTS ARE SOLD FOR ETHNOBOTANICAL RESEARCH (NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION)!!!