Dwarf Pepper

The Shuar of the Ecuadoran rain forest use this

epiphytic, tropical pepper plant as a "mild

hallucinogen." Parents given newborns who are

just a few days old leaves that they have chewed.

Older children are given the plant so that they may

find their dream souls (arutam) (cf. Brugmansia

suaveolens, Nicotiana tabacum) (Bennett 1992,

492 f.*). The leaves apparently are also used as an

ayahuasca additive.

Several Peperomia species contain alkaloids

(Schultes and Raffauf 1990*). Peperomia galioides

H.B.K., which is known in Peru as piri-piri,335 is

added to the San Pedro drink (cf. Trichocereus

pachanoi) to lend the psychoactive effects "more

clarity, brightness, and distinctness" (Giese 1989,

252*).

In Trinidad, the dried leaves of Peperomia

emarginella (Sw.) C. DC. are smoked for asthma.

The essential oil has antispasmodic effects (Wong

1976, 114*).