"I have a long-standing interest in natural products, and in the potential for plant-derived medicines leading to the discovery of new modalities in health and healing. The integrative, cross-disciplinary perspective that characterize the Center make it the ideal venue in which to pursue research and education in the area of botanical medicines and natural products." Dr. McKenna brings more than 25 years experience in biosciences, biochemistry and pharmacognosy to the Center for Spirituality and Healing, where he is a senior lecturer on topics that include ethnopharmacology and botanical medicines in health care. Dr. McKenna earned his Master's degree in botany at the University of Hawaii in 1979 and his doctorate of botanical sciences at the University of British Columbia in 1984. Since that time, his wide-ranging experience includes serving as the Director of Ethnopharmacology at Shaman Pharmaceuticals and as senior research pharmacognosist for Aveda Corporation in Minneapolis, Minn. He is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Natural Products Research and editor-in-chief of two publications: The Natural Dietary Supplements Pocket Reference (INPR, 2002) and Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements (Haworth Herbal Press, 2002). He serves on the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council and the Editorial Board of Phytomedicine, the International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology. he is the author or co-author of more than 35 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. McKenna has special interest Ethnopharmacology, botanical medicines, natural products and drug discovery and medical applications of psychedelic agents.
Articles by Dennis McKenna:
A Neurobiological Theory of ‘The Fall’
Posted by Dennis McKenna • Category: Neurosciences, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Medicine, Psychology, PsychiatryDennis McKenna
In the book ‘Left In the Dark’, a culmination of over fifteen years of independent research into human evolution, the authors postulate that the universal myth of a pre-historic Golden Age is a racial memory that reflects our primate evolution in an arboreal, rainforest environment in which humans possessed mental and psychic abilities that have since become lost or atrophied in the profane ages that followed.
The Scientific Investigation of Ayahuasca – A Review of Past and Current Research
Posted by Dennis McKenna • Category: Pharmacology, Biochemistry, ScienceBy Dennis McKenna, Charles Grob & Jace Callaway
A biomedical investigation of long-term hoasca drinkers by the Medical Studies section of the UDV (Centro de Estudos Medicos).
Ayahuasca and Human Destiny
Posted by Dennis McKenna • Category: Mythos, OverviewsDennis McKenna
One of the most profound and humbling lessons that ayahuasca teaches – one that we thick-headed humans have the hardest time grasping – is the realization that “you monkeys only think you’re running things.”
