''Nicotiana rustica'', commonly known as Aztec tobacco or strong tobacco,
is a
rainforest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...
plant in the family
Solanaceae
The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...
. It is a very potent variety of
tobacco
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
, containing up to nine times more
nicotine
Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
than common species of ''
Nicotiana
''Nicotiana'' () is a genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs in the Family (biology), family Solanaceae, that is Native plant, indigenous to the Americas, Australia, Southwestern Africa and the South Pacific. Various ''Nicotiana'' species, common ...
'' such as ''
Nicotiana tabacum
''Nicotiana tabacum'', or cultivated tobacco, is an annually grown herbaceous plant of the ''Nicotiana'' genus. The plant is tropical in origin, is commonly grown throughout the world, and is often found in cultivation. It grows to heights bet ...
'' (common tobacco).
More specifically, ''N. rustica'' leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas
''N. tabacum'' leaves contain about 1 to 3%. The high concentration of nicotine in its leaves makes it useful for producing
pesticide
Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampri ...
s, and it has a wide variety of uses specific to cultures around the world. However, ''N. rustica'' is no longer cultivated in its native
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
, (except in small quantities by certain Native American tribes) as
''N. tabacum'' has replaced it.
Uses
South America
''Nicotiana rustica'' is called ''mapacho'' in South America. It is often used for
entheogen
Entheogens are psychoactive substances that induce alterations in perception, mood (psychology), mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior for the purposes of engendering spiritual development or otherwiseRätsch, Christian, ''The Encyclop ...
ic purposes by
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
n
shamans
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritu ...
, because of its high nicotine content and comparatively high levels of
beta-carboline
β-Carboline (9''H''- pyrido ,4-''b'' ndole) represents the basic chemical structure for more than one hundred alkaloids and synthetic compounds. The effects of these substances depend on their respective substituent. Natural β-carbolines prima ...
s, including the
harmala alkaloid
Several alkaloids that function as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are found in the seeds of ''Peganum harmala'' (also known as ''Harmal'' or ''Syrian Rue''), as well as tobacco leaves including harmine, harmaline, and harmalol, which are m ...
s
harmane
Harmane (harman) is a heterocyclic amine found in a variety of foods including coffee, sauces, and cooked meat. It is also present in tobacco smoke.
Chemistry
Harmane is a methylated derivative of β-carboline with the molecular formula C12H10N ...
and
norharmane
β-Carboline (9''H''- pyrido ,4-''b'' ndole) represents the basic chemical structure for more than one hundred alkaloids and synthetic compounds. The effects of these substances depend on their respective substituent. Natural β-carbolines prima ...
. There are many methods of administration in South American
ethnobotanical
Ethnobotany is the study of a region's plants and their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of a local culture and people. An ethnobotanist thus strives to document the local customs involving the practical uses of local flora for m ...
preparations. In a preparation known as ''singado'' or ''singa'', ''N. rustica'' is allowed to soak or be infused in water, and the water is then
insufflated into the stomach. In Peru its known as "Mapacho" and smoked in pipes, the juice is also drunk for its hallucinogenic effects. The plant is also smoked in
cigar
A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder l ...
s, used in
enema
An enema, also known as a clyster, is an injection of fluid into the lower bowel by way of the rectum.Cullingworth, ''A Manual of Nursing, Medical and Surgical'':155 The word enema can also refer to the liquid injected, as well as to a device ...
s, and made into a lickable product known as ''ambil''. Finally, ''N. rustica'' is a common ingredient in ''rapé'', a
smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco is a tobacco products, tobacco product that is used by means other than smoking. Their use involves chewing, sniffing, or placing the product between gum and the cheek or lip. Smokeless tobacco products are produced in various f ...
product usually used as a nasal
snuff
Snuff may refer to:
Tobacco
* Snuff (tobacco), fine-ground tobacco, sniffed into the nose
** Moist snuff or dipping tobacco
** Creamy snuff, an Indian tobacco paste
Media and entertainment
* Snuff film, a type of film that shows a murder
Literat ...
. ''Rapé'' is often a combination of ''N. rustica'' and a host of other herbs, depending on the intended use, including
tonka bean
''Dipteryx odorata'' (commonly known as "cumaru", "kumaru", or "Brazilian teak") is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. The tree is native to Central America and northern South America and is semi-deciduous. Its seeds are kn ...
s,
cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...
,
clove
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring or fragrance in consumer products, ...
buds,
alkaline
In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a base (chemistry), basic, ionic compound, ionic salt (chemistry), salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as ...
ashes
(creating ''
nu-nu
Nu-nu is a herbal stimulant used by the Matsés people of the Amazon to prepare the men for a successful hunt.
Recipe
To prepare the snuff, the powdered roasted leaves of mapacho (a variety of tobacco) are mixed with alkaline ashes of the inner ...
''),
Anadenanthera
''Anadenanthera'' is a genus of South American trees in the Legume family, Fabaceae. The genus contains two to four species, including '' A. colubrina'' and '' A. peregrina''. These trees respectively are known to the western world primarily as ...
,
Erythroxylum
''Erythroxylum'' (''Erythroxylon'') is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Erythroxylaceae. Many of the approximately 200 species contain the substance cocaine,Bieri S, Brachet A, Veuthey J, Christen P. Cocaine distribution in wild ...
,
Virola
''Virola'' is a genus of medium-sized trees native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. Species are known commonly as ''epená'', ''patricá'', or ''cumala''. They have glossy, dark green le ...
, and more.
Russia
In Russia, ''N. rustica'' is called ''makhorka'' (маxорка). Historically, makhorka was smoked mainly by the lower classes. ''N. rustica'' is a hardy plant and can be grown in most of Russia (as opposed to ''N. virginiana'' which requires a warm climate), it was more readily and cheaply available, and did not depend on transport in a country with an underdeveloped road network and climatic portage problems. This remained the case until ordinary tobacco became widely available in the 20th century. During
Soviet times
The history of Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union (USSR) reflects a period of change for both Russia and the world. Though the terms "Soviet Russia" and "Soviet Union" often are synonymous in everyday speech (either acknowledging the dominance ...
, rustic tobacco was an important
industrial crop
A nonfood crop, also known as industrial crop, is a crop grown to produce goods for manufacturing, for example fibre for clothing, rather than food for consumption.
Purpose
Industrial crops is a designation given to an enterprise that attempts ...
of agriculture. In those times, dozens of varieties were bred, some of them considered equal in quality to ''N. virginiana''. In modern times, makhorka is still sometimes smoked by peasants and farmers due to its high availability and being almost free for them.
Vietnam
![Hút thuốc lào](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/H%C3%BAt_thu%E1%BB%91c_l%C3%A0o.jpg)
The plant is called ''Thuốc lào'' in Vietnam, and is most commonly smoked after a meal on a full stomach to "aid indigestion", or along with
green tea
Green tea is a type of tea that is made from '' Camellia sinensis'' leaves and buds that have not undergone the same withering and oxidation process which is used to make oolong teas and black teas. Green tea originated in China, and since the ...
or local beer (most commonly the cheap
bia hơi). A "rít" of thuốc lào is followed by a flood of
nicotine
Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
to the
bloodstream
The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...
inducing strong dizziness that lasts several seconds. Heavy cigarette smokers have had trouble with the intense volume of smoke and the high nicotine content; side effects include nausea and vomiting.
There are many “brands” of tobacco, most of which are specific to the region in which they are grown. Some of these “brands” are mellow in flavor and effect, some are more energizing, and some are known for their relaxing properties.
Water pipes can be found everywhere, and are a fixture of local tea booths, eateries, and cafes. It is common to find a table with a small box of tobacco at these establishments from which anyone can help themselves to a bowl during a tea or work break.
Travelers have made the mistake of hitting these pipes too hard on their first attempt, leading to them passing out, much to the delight and amusement of the locals. It is not uncommon for locals to offer the pipe to a foreigner in hopes of seeing the powerful effect the tobacco has on the uninitiated.
The main difference between smoking thuốc lào and the use of other tobaccos is in the method of consumption, in that thuốc lào is consumed with a
water pipe
Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery ...
. The smoker is presented with either a bamboo pipe called a ''điếu cày'' (English: "farmer's pipe") or a ceramic
hookah
A hookah (Hindustani language, Hindustani: (Nastaleeq), (Devanagari), IPA: ; also see #Names and etymology, other names), shisha, or waterpipe is a single- or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing and then smoking either tobacco ...
called a ''điếu bát''. It may also occasionally be smoked in a more uncommon pipe known as a ''điếu ống''. The pipe is filled with an appropriate amount of water and a small amount of thuốc lào is pressed into the bowl.
![Cánh đồng thuốc lào - Nicotiana rustica field](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/C%C3%A1nh_%C4%91%E1%BB%93ng_thu%E1%BB%91c_l%C3%A0o_-_Nicotiana_rustica_field.JPG)
One then ignites the tobacco and inhales to create a body of smoke inside the pipe, before exhaling the smoke, reversing the process of air in the pipe by blowing into it to pop out the tobacco. The smoker then sharply inhales, usually tilting the pipe upwards to an almost horizontal position (but not completely, as the water would drain into the mouth).
Turkey
''Maraş otu'' (English: Maraş weed) is a
chewing
Chewing or mastication is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion, and it increases the surface area of foods to allow a more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, th ...
variant of ''Nicotiana rustica'' commonly used by people who live in
Maraş, Turkey and other areas of the country. Maraş Otu is a mixture of
Oak tree
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably '' ...
ash and ''Nicotiana rustica'' that resembles
henna
Henna is a dye prepared from the plant ''Lawsonia inermis'', also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, the sole species of the genus ''Lawsonia''.
''Henna'' can also refer to the temporary body art resulting fr ...
. They use this by putting the mixture under their lips like Swedish ''
snus
Snus ( , ) is a tobacco product, originating from a variant of dry snuff in early 18th-century Sweden. It is placed between the upper lip and gum for extended periods, as a form of sublabial administration. Snus is not fermented. Although used s ...
'' or Afghan ''
naswar
Naswār ( ps, نسوار, Cyrillic script: насва́р), also called nās (ناس; на́с) or nasvay (نسوای; насвай), is a moist, powdered tobacco dip consumed mostly in Afghanistan and surrounding countries. Naswar is stuffed in ...
''. It is recognized as a drug by anti-drug activists. It can contribute to mouth cancers.
Sudan
In
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
, this type of tobacco is called toombak ( ar, توومباك). It has been used for over 400 years. Being
smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco is a tobacco products, tobacco product that is used by means other than smoking. Their use involves chewing, sniffing, or placing the product between gum and the cheek or lip. Smokeless tobacco products are produced in various f ...
, it is processed in the loose form and the ground powder is mixed with
sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt composed of a sodium cation ( Na+) and a bicarbonate anion ( HCO3−) ...
. As such, it has a very strong pH and is highly addictive.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q602633
Entheogens
rustica
Herbal and fungal stimulants
Plant toxin insecticides
Tobacco
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Crops originating from Peru