Virola theiodora is also called Epena, Parica, Nyakwana, and Yakee. It goes by various names depedning on the tribe. Virola is prepared as a snuff in the Western Amazon basin and was used ceremonially by adult males.

Traditionally the Virola bark is stripped from the tree early in the morning and a blood red resin is scraped off from the inner bark. The use was generally restricted to Shamans and medicine men to diagnose and treat illness and was commonly used as an Ayahausca analogue.

Freshly harvested bark from South America is great for use in crafts and is commonly used in woodworking in South America. Virola contains poisonous Tryptamine Alkaloids, Dimethyltryptamine.