Epená / nyakwana
Virola spp.Myristicaceae // inner bark resin
Also known as: epena, paricá, nyakwana
Preparation
Overview
Plant parts
inner bark resin
Known constituents
DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, beta-carbolines variably
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- Principal reported constituents include DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, beta-carbolines variably; broad class: serotonergic tryptamines.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
No traditional-use records in this corpus.
Modern evidence
Multiple Virola species are involved; vernacular names also overlap with Anadenanthera preparations.
MODERATE · Virola: A Promising Genus for Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Identity/attribution caution.
Safety
Human
- High risk
Safety severity is HIGH: acute distress, cardiovascular effects and uncertain composition
Intrinsic toxicity · HIGH · Virola: A Promising Genus for Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
Safety severity is HIGH: acute distress, cardiovascular effects and uncertain composition
HIGH · Virola: A Promising Genus for Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
Common name
epena, paricá, nyakwana
Traditions
Yanomami and other northern Amazonian peoples
Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia // 20th-century ethnography with older continuity // living tradition
Ethnobotanical
Epená / nyakwana is documented in Yanomami and other northern Amazonian peoples in Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia for ceremonial snuff and spirit-contact/healing.
LOW · Virola: A Promising Genus for Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Ritual
Documented functions include spirit-contact, visionary, healing; these functions are tradition-specific and should not be generalized across cultures.
LOW · Virola: A Promising Genus for Ethnopharmacological Investigation
Legal
Legal status changes over time and by jurisdiction — this is a dated snapshot, not current law.
International · Checked 2026-08-09
Varies substantially by country; constituent controls and plant-specific controls are not uniform.
State / municipal · Checked 2026-08-09
Material state and municipal variation may apply; verify jurisdiction at time of use.
US Federal · Checked 2026-08-09
Plants not named federally; DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are Schedule I.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
peer-reviewed article
- 21 CFR 1308.11 — Schedule I1 claim
government/regulatory source