Virola surinamensis

V. surinamensis is used as a snuff by the Bora and Huitoto tribes from northeastern Peru, southwestern, and western Brazil. The Warao (eastern Venezuela and western Guyana) use its latex to treat cheek ulcers. The Bora, Huitoto and Warao have various other folknames for the tree: nyakwana, ucuba and diaru. When the Bora use its cambium (or inner bark) as an oral hallucinogen, they call it cumala colorada. In Iquitos (Peru) this plant is called caupuri and sometimes used as an ayahuasca additive.

Effects

Although dermatologists all over the world show increased interest for the properties of the Virola genus, psychonauts are left in the grey area of experimental shamanism. Hardly any user reports can be found in the literature and on the communities on the internet.
Of what has been reported, the effects of the Virola species are very intense and unpleasant for most people. In general nausea, headache and related discomfort is reported, together with the states of dreaming, lucid dreaming and hallucinations.

Usage

Dosing Virola bark is highly experimental, as there is hardly any information available from the established resources. Do not purchase this bark if you are unexperienced with preparing and administering shamanic snuffs and brews.

One way to obtain the resin from the dried bark, is to warm the cambium. The resin will melt and pour out of the wood into a container you place underneath it. If the resin is too sticky to handle, you can add ashes or lime. For shamanic purposes a slightly heaping teaspoon of this mix is snuffed three times in a row with 15 to 20 minute intervals.

There are also reports of Virola juice being boiled down into a syrup, of which 3 to 6 bean-sized ash-covered balls are swallowed or dissolved in water and drunk.

Ingredients

Although DMT and also 5-MeO-DMT and β-carbolines have been found in most of the Virola species, V. surinamensis still needs to be analysed to disclose one or more active ingredients. Pharmacological activity has been experimentally demonstrated by Alfredo Gomez Beloz.

Warning

This is one of the more experimental herbs available. People who are interested in a DMT experience rather than developing their shamanic skills, are better off with any of the established sources, such as Psychotria viridis or Mimosa hostilis.

Azarius Encyclopedia: Using Psychedelics Safely