If you’d rather not put anything up your nose, you might want to click away. Yesterday we talked about actual magic mushroom nasal spray; today we’re going to talk about rapé, and specifically kuripe. Rapé is a snuff that was originally used by indigenous Brazilian tribes, but these days, people in Europe are also snorting this medicinal herb more and more often.
Why? Well, it’s said to relieve certain ailments and give you a nice high. If you’re interested in trying this unique snuff and have already checked it out in our shop, chances are you’ve noticed not only the many jars of different “flavors” but also a number of interesting wooden pipes. This self-applicator pipe is also known as a kuripe...
What is a kuripe?
A kuripe is a pipe designed for self-administering rapé into your nose. It is small, shaped like a V, and is usually (but not always) made of bamboo. Why bamboo? Because it is inexpensive, easy to handle, and suitable for being easily turned into a rapé pipe. Kuripes are sometimes made from bone. However, these are much harder to find and therefore usually more expensive. For the true shamans among us, bone may be preferred: this is due to the presence of the soul of the animal to which it belongs.
Although we are discussing a single type of Kuripe here, there are actually three different variants of this pipe. The most common and widespread is also the simplest. A V-shaped pipe with only an inlet and an outlet, and no moving parts.
Another Kuripe you might come across is the so-called Double Nose Kuripe, which has two outlets, one for each nostril. Incidentally, this Kuripe is quite rare; it isn’t used very often. We believe that using rapé in two “rounds”—one for each nostril—is much better for several reasons. For example, one nostril is often more open than the other, requiring each to be blown with a different intensity.
Is a kuripe the best rapé pipe?
Although the Kuripe is by far the best-selling rapé pipe, it isn’t necessarily the most suitable way to administer the shamanic snuff. Buy a Kuripe if you want to experiment with rapé yourself. Buy one as a gift for someone who knows what they’re doing. If you’d rather practice with real rapé ceremonies, go for a Tepi pipe and find an experienced shaman. The Tepi pipe is the one used during these official ceremonies. The difference is that this pipe is designed so that someone else can blow the powder into your nose. If a real ceremony is a bit too much for you right now, a Kuripe is really all you need.
What exactly is rapé and what does it do?
Rapé is a preparation of medicinal herbs in powder form—often tobacco-based—that the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region blow through the nose, either with the help of another person or using a kuripe. In the Amazon region today, sharing rapé is a common social activity with spiritual, pre-Columbian roots. Rapé is considered a sacred, shamanic medicine.
It is traditionally prepared by an expert shaman, but the art of sacred rapé preparation has been passed on to non-indigenous rapé enthusiasts, so you can also find makers of high-quality rapé outside of tribal communities and in other parts of Brazil. The effects of rapé can vary from person to person, and they can even differ from one session to the next. However, most users report feeling a kind of intense jolt to their mind, accompanied by a sense of liberation and an easier ability to let go of negativity.
Are you curious about the different types of rapé and applicators? Then take a look at our rapé shop!
