The Ancient Role of Tepi in Kambo Rituals
In traditional Amazonian healing practices, the Tepi plays an essential role as a ceremonial tool for administering sacred snuffs during Kambo rituals. This long pipe, typically made from bamboo or bone, is used by a shaman or practitioner to blow healing powders into another person’s nostrils. The Tepi is not just an instrument; it is a channel for the transmission of wisdom, strength, and spiritual connection. Within Kambo healing, the preparation of the body and spirit often begins with these rituals, as the Tepi allows participants to open themselves to deeper states of awareness and cleansing before receiving the frog’s secretion.
Self-Application Through Kuripe
While the Tepi is designed for one person to serve another, the Kuripe provides a way for individuals to take part in self-application. This smaller V-shaped pipe fits perfectly for personal use, enabling someone to blow healing snuffs into their own nostrils. The Kuripe represents independence, self-reflection, and personal responsibility within the ceremonial process. In Kambo healing, using the Kuripe can be a deeply intimate act, as the practitioner connects inwardly without relying on an external guide. This moment of solitude and sacred interaction highlights the balance between receiving guidance from others and walking one’s own path.
The Use of Tepis and Kuripes in Ceremonial Balance
Communities often rely on both Tepis and Kuripes in Kambo rituals, as they represent two complementary forms of practice. The Tepi allows the wisdom of the healer to flow into the participant, while the Kuripe offers personal empowerment and self-directed experience. Together, they create harmony within the ceremonial setting, where collective energy meets individual intention. These tools serve not only as practical devices but as symbolic bridges between people and spirit. By incorporating both, the Kambo healing experience becomes richer, embodying connection, reciprocity, and balance.
The Integration of Hapeh and Rapeh
Sacred snuffs such as Hapeh and Rapeh are central to the preparatory stages of Kambo healing. Made from finely ground Amazonian plants, ashes, and sometimes tree bark, these mixtures are administered through Tepis or Kuripes. Hapeh and Rapeh help clear the mind, ground the spirit, and purify the energy field, ensuring the body is ready for the intense cleansing of Kambo medicine. Their use brings calmness, focus, and an opening of spiritual channels. For many, this stage is as transformative as the application of Kambo itself, as it aligns the body, heart, and mind with sacred intention.
Sacred Plants Supporting Kambo Healing
Beyond the frog’s secretion, many Amazonian plants like Angico, Cacao, and Pau Pereira play supportive roles in the healing journey. Angico is often used for respiratory strength and spiritual grounding, while Cacao carries heart-opening properties that foster emotional connection. Pau Pereira is valued for its purifying qualities and is sometimes incorporated into cleansing rituals. These plants complement Kambo medicine, weaving a holistic tapestry of physical healing and spiritual awakening. By integrating these natural allies, the healing experience extends beyond detoxification, embracing nourishment, balance, and renewal in body and soul.