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Virola, also known as Epená, is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American. It has glossy, dark green leaves with bunches of yellow flowers with a strong oder.
The tree bark contains hallucinogenic alkaloids, 5-MeO-DMT (Virola calophylla), 5-OH-DMT (Bufotenine), and also N,N-DMT. The bark also contains beta-carboline harmala alkaloids, MAOIs that promotes the effects of DMT.
The bark is usually gridded into powder then used as a snuff. Usually shamans use an assistant to aid them in this process, by using a large pipe to blow the snuff into the shamans nostril.
Virola is usually used by a small amount of shamans because of its restriction within the Schultes, and Orinoco Basin tribes.
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