How does this plant work as a medicine to cure mental illness?
That's a deep question! From my own personal standpoint from working at a plant medicine retreat center and having various friends and aquaintances in the plant medicine community, I can at least tell you that the medicine itself doesn't cure mental illness. Rather, it's a tool that people can use to heal themselves.
That is, it's not a passive experience that you just sit back and let happen in front of you. It takes work and effort in order to uncover and deal with whatever it is that may be troubling you.
It's not just for curing mental struggles either. It can be for deeper self awareness, a spiritual connection, life advice, and other mental struggles that I wouldn't classify as illnesses.
Does this project have a reliable research team for that?
There is
a healthy body of research being done on the topic of Ayahuasca, but perhaps more importantly, at least in my mind, is that there are many accounts from people all around the world who personally attest to their own transformations and experiences on
YouTube as well as
AyaAdvisors (pick any retreat center and start reading the reviews). And after experiencing what I've personally experienced, as well as hearing firsthand accounts of people from many different cultures telling such beautiful and touching stories after their own plant medicine experiences, that's all the research I need.
or have you produced the medicine?
The goal of the project isn't for us to produce the medicine, but rather, to bring people to shamans (plant medicine facilitators) who have been trained in this method of traditional Amazonian healing for thousands of years, if not longer (perhaps prior to recorded history).
It's my strong belief that the more people around the world who are introduced to plant medicines, the better off we all are, and after going through my own transformation, it's my goal to share that with as many people as possible. And my role, as I see it, is to connect the people who are looking for healing, discovery, and transformation with the people who practice this method of healing and are loving, respectful, and safe in their methods.
Is there anything else I can answer for you?