Ayahuasca Documentary Clips

Over the course of the fall and spring of 2009-2010, we filmed a number of scenes for a documentary that will both be a feature length film, as well as an episode of The Nature of Things.  My scenes had to be cut from the final TV show documentary in order to tell more of Dr. Gabor Maté‘s story and those of his patients.  I will be making some scenes of my participation in this documentary as I can make them available, hoping to eventually be able to present a comprehensive story from what we filmed.

In this first scene, I arrive at the airport in Tarapoto, Peru and hop in a camionetta to set up at our bungalows for the 10 days of my stay.

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In this short clip, I am walking around the grounds of Takiwasi, a rehab clinic that treats its volunteer patients using Amazonian plant medecine.  Here I am with Dr. Jacques Mabit, a French doctor turned Shaman, who was my guide through the Ayahuasca ceremonies and we are talking about the mind and body approach of Amazonian plant medicine and some of the phytochemical compounds responsible for the healing properties.

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Next, I along with my friend and guide Jeronimo, collect our ingredients and make our Ayahuasca brew that we are to take the following evening.  We take the vine of Banisteriopsis and the leaves from Psychotria to boil together overnight.

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Lastly, the final trek up the mountain.  Jero and I hike up to the tambo at the top of the mountain in order to take Ayahuasca in a shamanic ceremony.