Mambe is a process. The whole mambe activity starts, as they are very young. They have to be prepared and have understanding of the meaning it has. The recollections of the leafs and the production of the mambe are part of the process and have its particular meaning and ways of doing it.

 

Uitotos start practicing mambe since they are very young. Since they are 14 years old young uitotos are introduce to this practice. For this tribe young uitoto boys are mature enough to accept responsibilities and wisdom at the age of 14. 

 

Only men are allowed to practice mambe while women are not allowed.  This happens because the coca plant is considering the representation of women in the tribe so women not able to practice this activity while men yes. 

 

It has religious and cultural significance. The Uitotos practice mambe as a way of transmitting knowledge. This practice has a spiritual significance for them because they believe this plant help them understand the origin of life.

 

The preparation of mambe is also part of the ritual. When preparing the substance Uitotos sign special song when mixing, when crushing and when heating the mambe leafs and the yarumo leafs also when recollecting the leafs only uitoto women are able to do it and while doing it they sing a permission song asking the plant to let them take their leafs away. 

 

Mambe it’s used when they have to take difficult decisions. One effect this practice has on the indigenous is that it’s an stimulant which means it give them energy and gives them the sensation of having a clear and clean mind, which help them to concentrate. For example, the shaman uses the mambe when he has to take difficult decisions also the hunters use it to free their mind and take better decisions while hunting. This is why there are different ways of practicing mambe and it s different uses.

 

The coca plant is consider a way of getting to pure wisdom. Uitotos believe that women are the figure of wisdom and intellectual power while men are the figure of muscular power. The coca plant is consider the women figure so when they extract the leafs and turn them into coca dust they are extracting the wisdom of women.

 

In the practice there is no addiction or hallucinations. The coca its own does not produce addiction or hallucinations. This is happens because the coca it’s a natural plant but its often confused with cocaine because of their similar names due to the fact that cocaine contains compounds from coca.