Ancestral knowledge about the use of medicinal plants constitutes an invaluable heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. This knowledge, passed down orally from generation to generation, is the fruit of a close relationship between humans and the other beings that inhabit natural environments and represents an increasingly valued health alternative, even in contemporary contexts. However, this knowledge is in danger of disappearing, threatened by various factors: acculturation, the loss of indigenous languages, deforestation, the commercialization of traditional knowledge, and the lack of policies for the protection and transmission of culture. Faced with this situation, urgent questions arise: What consequences does this loss have for Indigenous communities and for humanity as a whole? What can we do to preserve and revitalize this legacy?
Author : Martín Huamán
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : -
In this testimonial, Matías shares his transformative experience after completing his third retreat/diet at the Takiwasi Center. From his first master plant diet -undertaken to heal depression and certain toxic behaviors- to the clarity and balance he has achieved today, he tells us how master plants, isolation in the jungle, and therapeutic accompaniment have helped him regenerate psychologically and emotionally while also developing his spiritual side.
Author : Fabio Friso, Martín Huamán
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : English, Français
In this insightful and revealing conversation, Jacques Mabit, founding president of the Takiwasi Center, and Matteo Politi, research and development manager, explore the intersections between science, spirituality, and traditional Amazonian medicine. Throughout this dialogue, they address the challenges and opportunities that academia faces when approaching traditional medicines, in which spirituality and contact with the "world other" are fundamental elements. This exchange suggests that tradition, science, and spirituality do not have to be in opposition; on the contrary, they can be integrated to offer a deeper and more holistic understanding of the human being and their environment.
Author : Fabio Friso, Martín Huamán
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : Français
Tereza Rumlerová PhD thesis in Psychology, was focused on studying the master plant diet developed in Takiwasi, analysing the long-term effects experienced by a group of participants. The data collected has allowed to analyse the motivations of the people to undertake this therapeutic process, as well as the lived experience and the personal changes perceived at different levels (physical, psychological, social, spiritual). The main reasons for participating in a diet are usually self-discovery, personal development, interest in plant medicine and professional fulfilment. The experience of the diet is perceived as intense and allows participants to experience self-acceptance, self-discovery, mental balance, rest, physical detoxification and connection with nature.
Author : Fabio Friso
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : -
Takiwasi’s innovative treatment protocol allows not only to heal drug addiction, but also to discover or reaffirm one’s vocation, as in the case of Opi Nenquimo, leader of the Waorani indigenous people of Ecuador. This testimony shows the healing power of medicinal plants, which must be accompanied by great willpower, to achieve a profound change in life.
Author : Fabio Friso
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : English, Français
In this insightful conversation, Italian psychotherapist and researcher Annalisa Valeri interviews Arnaud Montagne, a Frenchman specialized in working with veterans and first responders at the Takiwasi Center in Peru. Arnaud discusses the center's innovative project, which combines traditional Amazonian plant medicine with psychological support to address trauma, emotional suppression, and the challenges faced by veterans transitioning back to civilian life. The interview explores the importance of intention, the integration of individual and group therapy, and the transformative power of forgiveness in healing deep-seated wounds. This conversation offers a glimpse into the impactful work being done to assist veterans and first responders in reclaiming their lives and building healthier futures.
Author : Fabio Friso, Martín Huamán
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : English, Français
Many veterans have been looking for healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy. Still, most of these therapies lack of depth, as they tend to just touch the surface of the problem. The intensity of the wounds associated with PTSD demands in-depth healing, which traditional Amazonian medicine can provide when practiced in alignment with its traditions and rituals. Plant medicine can provide highly positive and transformative results, offering a unique opportunity for emotional release and self-discovery. True healing requires sustained effort, support, faith, and patience: the mental health healing journey is a long-term commitment.
Author : Fabio Friso
Audio : English
Subtitle : Español, Français
Since time immemorial, indigenous peoples have acquired vast knowledge about the use of medicinal plants, which we know as ancestral knowledge. However, due to the influence of the Western world, this knowledge has begun to fade. Faced with this problem, Formabiap and Takiwasi decided to join forces to recover and revitalize this knowledge. The goal is for teachers of Intercultural Bilingual Education (EIB) of indigenous peoples of the Loreto region, through research, to recover and continue transmitting their ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants, integrating it into the pedagogical processes of teaching and learning in the schools of their communities.
Author : Formabiap
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : -
In the context of the internationalization of Peruvian vegetalismo, today a growing number of Europeans are undergoing learning process in Peru to become healers and are making use of the “diet” in their country of origin with plants from the European flora. This presentation is based on the research of environmental anthropologist Giorgia Tresca, who has explored the way in which diets are carried out in a European context. Taking as a reference the multispecies approach, it is argued that the plants used in the diet can participate in the redefinition of the relationship of individuals with the environment.
Author : Martín Huamán
Audio : Spanish
Subtitle : -
Jean-Philippe shares his inspiring testimonial of healing and transformation. After years of struggling with depression and addiction, he found a real path to recovery in the combination of traditional Amazonian medicine and psychotherapy. After 9 months, he returns home with a new vision of himself, ready to fully enjoy his family and his life.
Author : Fabio Friso
Audio : French
Subtitle : English, Español