Anyone can use bute: Spiritual healers

By Tatenda Kunaka

Following a huge debate over the use of bute (snuff) as part of the various indigenous ways of treating Covid-19 – traditional and spiritual healers have spoken out.
Speaking to Nhau, spiritual healers said snuff can be used by anyone for any purpose no matter their religious affiliation.
Traditionalist, Mbuya Simboti, went as far as calling it a “magical herb”, saying it was used for various purposes such as healing and when consulting the spiritual realm.
“In spite of your religious beliefs, you can use snuff to cure headaches, as ointment on swellings and stomach pains,” Mbuya Simboti told Nhau.
“When consulting ancestors for various purposes or problem solving, snuff is used to initiate divination.”
Snuff is a tobacco product just like cigarettes. It is inhaled into one’s nasal cavity.
However, Sekuru Murehwa, who is also a spiritual healer, said snuff is not only for inhaling.
“People often think that bute is for inhaling only, that is not true, it is multi-purpose,” said Sekuru Murehwa.
“Snuff can be used to cast away evil spirits and bad luck by bathing with it after consulting ancestors. One does not even need to visit a traditional healer.”
Scientific research suggests that snuff contains harmful and addictive chemicals that pose health risks. Some chemicals in snuff raise the risk of several types of cancers like nose, pancreatic, oral and esophageal.
A person who snorts snuff is also at risk of other conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and disease while
pregnant women who sniff are said to be at risk of delivering premature or stillborn babies.
However, Mbuya Simboti dismissed the scientific findings.
“I have been sniffing snuff for 20 years. I don’t have any health problems. These days they say it causes cancer but I do not agree with them maybe it is the way they produce it at companies by adding chemicals or other substances that cause cancer,” she said.
Sekuru Murehwa took time to school Nhau on the origins of snuff, saying it is made from various types of tobacco such a “mhonda”, “bande” and “chikwarimba”, which are dried and finely grounded before boiling for a few hours.
“There are different types of snuff such as ‘rehondo’, ‘yematare’ and ‘revadzimu’,” he explained.
“‘Bute rehondo’ is dried and grounded only. Its purpose is not for sniffing but to bath with it for cleansing against evil spirits.
‘Fodya yematare’ can be sniffed, rubbed on any part of the body or put in bath water after one has consulted ancestors.
“‘Yevadzimu’ is for ancestors. After it is produced it is taken into the forest for three to seven days before being used for any purpose.”
On the other hand, personal snuff is stored in an object known as “nhekwe” or “mubakwa” whilst the rest is stored in a “dende”.
“Spirit mediums, called territorial spirits (mhondoro), and angelic beings (makombwe), use snuff only when executing their work,” said Sekuru Murehwa. Nhau/Indaba