Addiction/Substance Abuse, Health, Psyche
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The Jungle Prescription

The jungle Prescription – Film Trailer from The Ayahuasca Project on Vimeo.

 

Premiering tonight in Canada on CBC’s The Nature of Things, (8pm EST, November 10, 2011) The Jungle Prescription tells of ayahuasca, the visionary Amazonian brew of indigenous origin and its encounter with the West, as played out through the story of two doctors. The first, Dr. J. Mabit, runs a legendary detox centre deep in the Peruvian jungle, in partnership with indigenous healers. The second, Dr. Gabor Maté, is risking his reputation trying to establish a similar program in Canada. Through the intimate stories of these doctors and their patients, we see how an ancient medicine causes cathartic, life-changing insight, and we witness the commitment of people who have devoted their whole lives to applying this medicinal knowledge.

As anticipation for the documentary grows, so has media attention. In particular, Dr. Gabor Maté has recently appeared in major Canadian media, such as CBC NewsThe Globe and Mail, The Star, and the popular CBC Radio program “The Current”, speaking eloquently, with calm, poignant passion about his work and experience with ayahuasca and addiction. Subsequent to media attention, Dr. Gabor Maté has since garnered the attention of  Health Canada, who have ordered Maté to stop treating addicts with ayahuasca.

When ayahuasca appears on mainstream television, especially a program as storied and respected as The Nature of Things, which debuted on CBC on November 6, 1960, and has been hosted by David Suzuki since 1979, there is often required a double-take, a closer look, perhaps a strange and uncomfortable fascination. Something akin to seeing your grandparents on Facebook.

However, in this case, The Ayahuasca Project; the documentary film; the entire situation – from the sweeping support and excitement of those familiar with ayahuasca, to the healthy intrigue and questions of those who may not be familiar, to significant mainstream media attention, and government involvement – has gently, with calm purpose opened and advanced the discussion and awareness of ayahuasca – in a broad context, to wide and diverse groups of people – with, importantly – utmost respect to the plant, the traditions surrounding it, and significantly, with great respect and care for the people who come, or may come, to drink ayahuasca.

Clearly there exists now the opportunity to build numerous bridges across old, deep and dark chasms, across worlds, perceptions and presumptions, beyond barriers both legal and cultural, even, perhaps, beyond belief  and beyond words to places, as Dr. Gabor Maté has described, that “enliven and invigorate our natural healing capacity”, as individuals, as communities, as nations, as a planet.

 

 

 

 

4 Comments

  1. When leaving a Methadone Committee meeting, here in London, I listened with extreeme interest to an article on Ayahuasca overcoming addiction with a 60% cure rate, I realise that Methadone is mearly a bandaide with a 10% success rate. We are about to escalate the number of clinics here in London from 5 to say 50 or 60, fully liscensed Methadone clinic with a steady stream of clientelle. Please send me data that I can present to Mayor Joe Fontana.
    Can you help?

  2. Thomas says

    I was really, really impressed with the quality of this documentary. Probably the best I’ve ever seen about drug addiction OR Ayahuasca. This is definitely a project worth supporting. It’s really a shame Dr. Mate was forced to halt his use of Ayahuasca, especially when so many lower reward/higher risk substances and activities are sanctioned in our culture without question. People are afraid of what they don’t understand. Documentaries like this help counter that fear. I have a lot of respect for the people who allowed their stories to be filmed .

  3. Cindy says

    This is absolutely fascinating! I was led here after watching Lisa Ling’s special on Netflix, googled for information on ayahuasca. I’ve had C-PTSD, but have healed a lot on my own & was curious about it curing addiction, due my son having to us methadone for the past 13 year’s. He wants to get off of it. I first seen Gabor Mate’s name stand out, I’ve been studying psychology, addiction, spirituality, etc., for 29 years & quite familiar with Gabor Mate’s work. Then I seen the above post about it healing addiction. I’m writing a book on addiction & alternative ways of healing it. I intentionally got addicted to oxycodone (my brilliant Dr, with 8 degrees knew what I was up to) to help find a solution to alternative healing. I’m don’t have an addictive type personality, felt completely safe doing it. I found 1 way I’m writing about, this is a fascinating alternative, too! That’s terrible that they made Gabor stop! We definitely need this to be available! Gabor’s no dummy, very intelligent man who’s really passionate about his work & helping others! Methadone is only a money making scam, if not used properly ( which they’re not doing). I’m off to so see if I can still watch it! This is right up my alley! Thanks so very much, for your fantastic article & website!

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