Anti-drug Ayahuasca

Dr. Jacques Mabit is a French doctor specializing in traditional medicine, who defines himself as “an academically trained therapist, a doctor who practices a part of healing”. He runs Takiwasi, the research center he founded, in Tarapoto, in the upper Peruvian Amazon, a small town which, thanks to its geographical location, offers a great diversity of ethno-medicinal traditions.

Familiar with the practices of the healers he met on his travels, this veteran of humanitarian action (Doctors Without Borders) arrived in Peru in 1986 to conduct research into the traditional medicines of the Amazon basin. In the course of his studies with shamans, the doctor came across Ayahuasca, a liana that healers and sorcerers claim to have knowledge of. A “master plant” from which they extract a hallucinogenic drink, and which they hold in great respect.

Unwilling to take “drugs”, the doctor nevertheless decided to experiment with the “Liana of the soul” to try and understand.

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Préparation de l’Ayahuasca

Tarapoto, Pérou. Preparation de l’Ayahuasca au centre d’étude des médecines traditionelles de Takiwasi.

Jeune curandero

Etat de San Martin, Pérou. Orlando, un jeune curandero de Tarapoto, replante au pied d’un arbre, une bouture de Banisteriopsis Caapi. (Ayahuasca).

Centre Takiwasi

Takiwasi center

Tarapoto, Peru. Takiwasi center. Once every week, Takiwasi personel and patients, proceed to the ceremonial ingestion of Ayahuasca.

Takiwasi center

Tarapoto, Peru. Patients in detoxification cure and therapists, during group discussions at the Takiwasi Center.

Bénédiction d’un nouvel hôtel

Pucallpa, Pérou. Cérémonie pour la bénédiction d’un nouvel hôtel, par le chamane de la communauté Shipivo (Guillermo Arrevalo).

Dr. Jacques Mabit and Dyonisio Santos

State of San Martin, Peru. Orlando, a young Tarapototo Curandero transports cuttings from the Banisteriopsis Caapi (Ayahuasca) liana to replant them in the Selva.

Tronçon de liane pour l’Ayahuasca

Tarapoto, Pérou. Centre Takiwasi. Tronçon de liane Banisteriopsis Caapi (Ayahuasca).

Dr. Jacques Mabit

Tarapoto, Peru. Doctor Jacques Mabit, a French doctor installed in Peru, heads the Takiwasi Center dedicated to the study of traditional medicines and the rehabilitation of drug addiction by treatment with Ayahuasca.

Takiwasi center

Tarapoto, Peru. A patient in detoxification treatment (alcohol) at the Takiwasi center during an interview with the center psychologist.

Centre Takiwasi

Tarapoto, Pérou. Centre Takiwasi. Prise ceremonielle d’Oja de sangre ou Ayar Panga, une liane dont le jus, puissament émetique, est utilisée lors des purges qui précèdent la prise d’Ayahuasca, et accompagne le traitement des toxicomanes.

Centre Takiwasi

Bénédiction d’un nouvel hôtel

Pucallpa, Pérou. Cérémonie pour la bénédiction d’un nouvel hôtel par le chaman de la communauté.

Vente de plantes médicinales

Tarapoto, Pérou. Etal d’un Herboriste sur le marché. Les pratiques médicales traditionnelles intègrent des hallucinogènes (cactus san pedro, tabac, etc).