A multiple dose powder inhalation device comprising: a body comprising an interior cavity and a cap that may be moved from a closed position to an open position; and a cartridge that is removably insertable into the interior cavity of the body, the cartridge comprising a mouthpiece through which aerosolized powder medicament may be delivered to a user, wherein the cartridge houses a strip of receptacles, each receptacle adapted to contain a dose of powder medicament, a piercing mechanism and an aerosol engine, wherein the cap covers the mouthpiece when the cap is in the closed position and exposes the mouthpiece when it is in the open position, and wherein the multple dose powder inhalation device is characterized in that movement of the cap stores energy for an automatic receptacle opening mechanism;and wherein the body comprises a priming mechanism and a breath actuated mechanism that communicates with the strip of receptacles in the cartridge to selectively advance the strip of receptacles and wherein the body further comprises an actuator mechanism that communicates with the piercing mechanism in the cartridge to selectively cause the piercing mechanism to create one or more openings into a receptacle, and wherein the aerosol engine comprises a first and a second venturi, each venturi having a convergent section and a divergent section, each convergent section having a minimum aperture, a maximum aperture, and an axial length L1, each divergent section having a minimum aperture, a maximum aperture, and an axial length L2, the convergent and divergent sections being arranged so that the minimum apertures of each abut to form a throat, each divergent and convergent section being generally conically shaped, the maximum aperture of the convergent section defining an air inlet, and the maximum aperture of the divergent section defining an air outlet, the first and second venturis being disposed such that there is a central axis intermediate to the first and second venturis; and the aerosol engine further including a first and a second powder receptacle puncturing element, operatively connected to the convergent section and parallel to but displaced from the central axis, a third powder puncturing element arranged about the central axis, each powder receptacle puncturing element comprising a blade or piercing element; wherein each of the convergent and divergent sections and throat define an airway through which inhalation particles travel and be dispensed through an outlet. a body comprising an interior cavity and a cap that may be moved from a closed position to an open position; and a cartridge that is removably insertable into the interior cavity of the body, the cartridge comprising a mouthpiece through which aerosolized powder medicament may be delivered to a user, wherein the cartridge houses a strip of receptacles, each receptacle adapted to contain a dose of powder medicament, a piercing mechanism and an aerosol engine, wherein the cap covers the mouthpiece when the cap is in the closed position and exposes the mouthpiece when it is in the open position, and wherein the multple dose powder inhalation device is characterized in that movement of the cap stores energy for an automatic receptacle opening mechanism;and wherein the body comprises a priming mechanism and a breath actuated mechanism that communicates with the strip of receptacles in the cartridge to selectively advance the strip of receptacles and wherein the body further comprises an actuator mechanism that communicates with the piercing mechanism in the cartridge to selectively cause the piercing mechanism to create one or more openings into a receptacle, and wherein the aerosol engine comprises a first and a second venturi, each venturi having a convergent section and a divergent section, each convergent section having a minimum aperture, a maximum aperture, and an axial length L1, each divergent section having a minimum aperture, a maximum aperture, and an axial length L2, the convergent and divergent sections being arranged so that the minimum apertures of each abut to form a throat, each divergent and convergent section being generally conically shaped, the maximum aperture of the convergent section defining an air inlet, and the maximum aperture of the divergent section defining an air outlet, the first and second venturis being disposed such that there is a central axis intermediate to the first and second venturis; and the aerosol engine further including a first and a second powder receptacle puncturing element, operatively connected to the convergent section and parallel to but displaced from the central axis, a third powder puncturing element arranged about the central axis, each powder receptacle puncturing element comprising a blade or piercing element; wherein each of the convergent and divergent sections and throat define an airway through which inhalation particles travel and be dispensed through an outlet.