Dr. Jacques Mabit was invited to participate in The Universe Within Podcast to speak with Jason Grechanik about his personal journey and four decades of experience using traditional Amazonian medicine in the treatment of mental health.

Throughout the conversation, Jacques explores the differences between Western and Indigenous worldviews, particularly in the way they understand human health, nature, and the spiritual dimension.

He also addresses some of the risks involved, such as the idealization of Indigenous traditions, the commercial use of master plants, and the lack of training among many contemporary practitioners.

The dieta is the deepest therapeutic practice in traditional Amazonian medicine. It consists of a retreat lasting several days in isolation in the jungle, during which so-called master plants are ingested ritually, following a specific dietary regimen and very strict rules governing physical and energetic practices.

This creates a space for contact with nature and with the deepest dimension of oneself, dedicated to physical and energetic cleansing in order to eliminate toxins and blockages that limit sensitivity, to expand perception, connect with repressed emotions, cleanse and strengthen the body, and connect with the sacred. This process encourages meaningful dreams, the recollection of unresolved past experiences, and deep introspection.

The dieta can be a valuable therapeutic tool for people going through an important moment in their lives: those who need to make decisions, overcome emotional blocks, heal past wounds, or embark on a path of personal growth and development.

In this moving testimonial, Theodore shares his experience at Takiwasi after years of seeking help and guidance through different therapeutic approaches, without achieving the results he had hoped for.
Through the master plants dieta, ayahuasca ceremonies, and the support of the Takiwasi team, he was able to experience a profound process of renewal and rediscovery of his purpose in life.

“I would say in that process I was looking for clarity and if what I was hoping for was here, I am leaving with something beyond the ceiling. I understand myself better, my life. I have received the clarity for the decision that I was asking about”.

Matthew Surratt, a physician and former U.S. Navy SEAL, shares his therapeutic journey at Takiwasi during the retreat for veterans and first responders. What began for him as a scientific interest in psychedelics and traditional medicines became a deeply transformative journey that challenged his expectations.

In this testimonial, he reflects on the role of purgative plants, master plants, and ayahuasca, as well as the importance of the people who supported him throughout the entire process.

“I wasn't looking for an experience to have a t-shirt at the end. I needed real medicine. I needed to find that answer from myself through something bigger than myself”.

A new issue of the Amazonía Peruana journal has been published, featuring an article in Spanish on the dialogue between knowledge systems, written by Takiwasi’s research department in collaboration with specialists in intercultural bilingual education from FORMABIAP.

García Rivera, F.A., Friso, F., Tresca, G., Tuesta Cerrón, N., Politi, M. Diálogo de saberes y educación intercultural bilingüe en la Amazonía peruana: reflexiones desde FORMABIAP. Amazonía Peruana, Volumen XXI, N.˚39, julio 2026; pp. 159-184.

The program for the World Ayahuasca Forum, organized by ICEERS in Girona, Spain, from September 9 to 13, 2026, is taking shape.

Our Research and Development Manager, Matteo Politi, will participate in this international gathering alongside several researchers who have collaborated with Takiwasi over the past few years.

The different presentations will address, from diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives, the use of Amazonian medicinal plants, vegetalismo and its relationship with mental health, as well as clinical, anthropological, ethical, and regulatory issues.

The book “Canta la Ayahuasca: Ikaros y enseñanzas de las plantas medicinales amazónicas” (Ayahuasca Sings: Ikaros and Teachings of Amazonian Medicinal Plants), by Dr. Rosa Giove, is now available in both digital and printed editions.

This unique work brings together the wisdom of Amazonian traditional medicine and its healing songs, helping to preserve and share this invaluable cultural heritage.

In Gabon, in August 2025, the First Lady laid the foundation stone for a detoxification center for people with addictions that will combine Western medicine with the country's traditional medicine, which is centered on the use of iboga, the local equivalent of ayahuasca. This is a highly innovative initiative.

Our former patient, Avel Pellé, has applied to take part in the project, drawing on both his personal experience at Takiwasi and his skills as a therapist.

The project is coordinated by the French researcher Yann Guyon, who has long advocated for the proper therapeutic use of iboga in Gabon. Dr. Jacques Mabit has been in contact with him for several years.

This November we are proposing a Therapeutic Seminar for Women with Addiction Problems, an intensive one-month program that integrates psychotherapeutic support with the ritualized use of medicinal plants from the Peruvian Amazonian tradition.

Throughout this process, participants will engage in deep physical, emotional, and spiritual detoxification in a safe, respectful environment, with close guidance and support from our therapeutic team.

For more information and to begin the registration process, please send an email to psychotherapist María Virginia Erazo: marivir@takiwasi.com

Only a few spots remain for the 5th edition of the Training in the Takiwasi Therapeutic Model, which will take place in Spanish from September 28 to October 10, 2026. Health professionals, educators, therapists, and others interested in participating can write to terapia@takiwasi.com for inquiries and registration.

This training includes resources from Amazonian Traditional Medicine and experiential workshops aimed at personal experience, as well as theoretical talks and seminars, offering a balanced and enriching experience on multiple levels.

Takiwasi is a pioneering institution in the rehabilitation of people suffering from drug addiction, combining the wisdom of traditional Amazonian medicine with modern therapeutic approaches. For over 30 years, we have witnessed profound transformations in the lives of those seeking to heal their body, mind and soul.

We invite you to be part of this change. With your donation, you are providing people with limited resources with access to a cutting-edge treatment protocol, recognized worldwide and proven effective by scientific studies. Help us continue our research and preserve the ancestral knowledge and medicinal plants of the Amazon.

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