APRIL 2023 AMAZONIAN SHAMANIC PLANT DIET Observational Research study results

DETAILS OF THE PLANT DIET RETREAT:

 10 individuals drank the above 4 master plants twice a day x 5 days, and also participated in 2 ayahuasca rituals were they drank the brew composed by Psichotria Viridis containing N-N-dimethyltrypramine (DMT) and Banisteriopsis Caapi containing Beta -carbolines.

Individuals spent their days retreated in the Peruvian Amazonian Jungle. 

Alonso del Rio, from Ayahuasca Ayllu was the retreat and shamanic ceremonies guide. Dr. Velazquez, the main investigator, observed participants responses to such modalities, and collected information directly from them during the last 24hr of the retreat.

Upon completion, 10 participants described multiple effects, including unpleasant ones. For analysis, their descriptions were translated to  cognitive (higher order cortical functions), emotional, somatic (physical), and socio-spiritual effects and represented in the below diagrams.

Each plant affected between 11 and 47 nervous system processes involved in independent or integrated

FUNCTIONAL HEALTH 

Dr. Velazquez's observations and participants' descriptions are outlined below the diagrams.

A follow up questionnaire emailed 2 weeks later was completed by 3 individuals. Table 1 shows results and specific measures investigated. 

Uncontrolled factors: participants regimen’s rigor, personality, communication skills, medical history. Variables such as set, setting, exact plants’ dosing, guide traits, were not measured. Distinction of effects between psychedelic and non-psychedelic plants was not performed.

Lay summary

7-day Amazonian shamanic diet, with 4 non-psychedelic and 2 psychedelic medicinal plants, triggered dozens of cognitive, emotional, somatic and socio-spiritual benefits in 10  culturally and generationally different individuals. These natural modalities should be studied in functional illnesses.

Participant 1 - 38 y.o. English woman:
Cognitive processes described to have been influenced (12):
1. Control
2. Resistance
3. Questioning everything, doubts. Holding back
4. Decision making
5. Trust, certainty, confidence
6. Internal conflicts, various psychological parts, and dialogues of the mind
7. Harmonizing opposite thoughts
8. Connecting mind – body – emotions
9. Self-reassurance
10. Support (recognizing or building)
11. Nervous system reset
12. Specific to Castaño: concept and experience of abundance

Emotional processes described to have been influenced (12):
1. Fear
2. Anxiety
3. Reframing of emotions
4. Root causes of emotions
5. Emotional release
6. Damaging pattern of ignoring emotions
7. Self-love vs self- judgment
8. Shame
9. Blame, self-punishment
10. Self-esteem
11. Expressivity, emotionally and cognitively
12. Emotion-Physical connection

Somatic/Physical processes described to have been influenced (13):
1. Disembodied patterns of rush
2. Observing sensations and one’s internal processes
3. Connection with own sexuality, sexual organs, and energy
4. Embodiment: how does it feel, how is it done, what does it mean?
5. Deepening mind – body relationship 
6. Presence in the body even when is uncomfortable
7. Mind – body dialogue
8. Mind – body connection
9. Self-touch, massaging, stretching
10. Origin of aches and pains
11. Re-education about relaxation
12. Relationship with food, digestion, bowels, esophagus, mouth, gas
13. Vision

Socio-Spiritual processes described to have been influenced (10):
1. Interpersonal dynamics steaming from childhood
2. Connection with creative source, universe, nature, natural elements, ancestors
3. Spirituality, prayer
4. Social learning, seeing their patterns manifesting in one-self, using others as a mirror and teachers, noticing judgments
5. Creativity
6. Interpersonal relationships’ understanding leading to more support, compassion, respect
7. Interpersonal negotiation
8. Communication skills
9. Trust
10. Interpersonal dynamics

Participant 2 - 41 y.o. Swiss man:
Cognitive processes described to have been influenced (13)
1. Dreams and natural messengers
2. Getting used to difficult habitats, resilience
3. Relaxing mind, nervous system
4. Overcoming challenging times
5. Increased focus, clarity
6. Peace
7. Connection with oneself
8. Noticing mind cravings
9. Gratitude for one’s life
10. Damaging aspects of consumption and lifestyle
11. Delusions: seeing food
12. Dizziness
13. Specific about Castaño: positivity, abundance

Emotional processes described to have been influenced (6):
1. Emotional self-reflection
2. Sensitivity
3. Appreciation, gratitude
4. Emotional perception and relationship to thoughts
5. Stillness
6. Positive emotions

Physical processes described to have been influenced (10):
1. Pleasant feelings
2. Relaxation
3. Relationship with food, healthy eating
4. Physical cleansing, purity, lightness
5. Weight loss
6. Food savoring and appreciation
7. Hunger
8. Lack of energy, inability to perform demanding physical and mental activities
9. Burning esophageal sensation
10. Nausea, vomiting

Socio-Spiritual processes described to have been influenced (6):
1. Connection with plant kingdom
2. Understandings about the plant kingdom: "Plants have consciousness, are living beings, can connect with humans, need respect and kindness 
3. Curiosity about plant kigdom
4. Importance of community and solitude
5. Collaboration
6. Love, understanding between humans.

Participant 3 - 33 y.o. Polish woman:
Cognitive processes described to have been influenced (4):
1. Resilience 
2. Positive perception
3. Calmness
4. Specific about Castaño: abundance

Emotional processes described to have been influenced (4):
1. Role in certain relationships
2. Relationship difficulty navigation
3. Gratitude
4. Happiness 

Physical processes described to have been influenced (2):
1. Weakness
2. Difficulty walking due to fatigue

Socio-Spiritual process described to have been influenced (1):
1. Specific about Castaño: its spirit is light, strong, tall, giving. It doesn’t deplete.

Participant 4 - 38 y.o. Peruvian man:
Cognitive processes described to have been influenced (2):
1. Calmness
2. Positive break in communication

Emotional processes described to have been influenced (2):
1. Ability to cry, physical pain reduction
2. Emotional release

Physical processes described to have been influenced (5):
1. Positive reduction in chemical exposure 
2. Understanding of causes of physical discomfort.
3. Overdoing, overwork patterns cause harm (fatigue and pain)
4. Vomiting
5. Lower back pain

Spiritual processes described to have been influenced (3):
1. Communication with plants, visions
2. Trust in life, universe, plant medicines
3. Specific about Castaño: its spirit is a grandfather with corrective attitude.

Participant 5 - 52 y.o. Peruvian woman:
Cognitive processes described to have been influenced (4):
1. Realized about the impermanence of uncomfortable physical sensations.
2. Egocentric tendencies in oneself and others
3. Contradictory desires and emotions
4. Mental resistances

Emotional processes described to have been influenced (5):
1. Solving interpersonal relationship difficulties
2. Damaging patterns of certain relationships.
3. Ability to cry
4. Reformulation of relationship to crying, relief in crying
5. Specific to Ubos: sexual connection, emotional and spiritual

Somatic/Physical processes described to have been influenced (5):
1. Relationship between mental processes and physical states / health
2. Nausea
3. Pelvic pain
4. Heat in pelvic area, breasts, hands, lower back
5. Fatigue

Socio-Spiritual processes described to have been influenced (2):
1. Spiritual understanding
2. Specific to Ubos: sexual connection, emotional and spiritual.

Participant 6 - 62 y.o. Peruvian woman:
Cognitive (3):
1. Time for oneself
2. Impermanence of discomfort 
3. Worth it!

Emotional (5):
1. Happiness
2. Gratefulness
3. Sharing love
4. Compassion
5. Nervousness

Physical (3):
1. Tremor
2. Body and muscle pain
3. Specific to Ubos: Movements in the reproductive system

Socio-Spiritual (2):
1. Being sustained by nature
2. Benefits of prayer and meditation

Participant 7 - 60 y.o. Swiss woman:
Cognitive (4):
1. Doubts, questioning
2. Discipline
3. Impermanence of negative thoughts
4. I would do it again!

Emotional (0)

Physical/Somatic (2)
1. Improved chronic pelvic pain
2. Reflux, nausea, vomiting

Spiritual (0)

Participant 8 - 31 y.o. Mexican man:
Cognitive (12)
1. Handling and re-direct thoughts
2. Observing intrusive and demanding thoughts without engaging
3. Self-knowledge
4. Stillness
5. Discipline
6. Mind control
7. Reduced reactivity
8. Awareness and calm responsiveness
9. Knowing when losing ground and recovering it
10. I would do it again
11. I would recommend it to others
12. Specific to Chuchuwasi: messages in dreams

Emotional (5)
1. Reaching and feeling sadness
2. Ability to handle, release, cry.
3. Peace
4. Feeling emotions provides strength
5. Emotional control and groundedness

Physical/Somatic (6)
1. Lightness
2. Energy 
3. Desire to exercise
4. Cleansing in internal organs
5. Hunger
6. Reduced or absent bowel movements

Socio-Spiritual (1)
1. Connection with nature gives strength

Participant 9 - 30 y.o. Peruvian man:
Cognitive (9)
1. Concentration
2. Decision making
3. Mental structure
4. Mental clarity
5. Creativity
6. Materialization of ideas
7. Calmness
8. Dizziness
9. Specific to Chuchuwasi: Well defined dreams

Emotional (0)

Physical/ Somatic (0)

Socio-Spiritual (1)
1. Structure of relationships

Participant 10 - 42 y.o. Mexican man:
Cognitive (8)
1. Lucky
2. Appreciative
3. Independence from technology, relaxation, introspection
4. Learned to coexist with other animals and plants
5. Relationship between food and thoughts
6. Clear and serene thoughts
7. Directing attention
8. Observing fears
9. Conscious awareness
10. Self-reflection

Emotional (5)
1. Observing fears
2. Confronting fears
3. Missing and valuing family
4. Independence and individuality
5. Trust

Physical / Somatic (2)
1. Physical discomfort relieve
2. Confidence in the physical body’s capacity to heal

Spiritual (2)
1. Value of family
2. Self-connectedness. 

2-week follow up: Percentage of markers of integrative functional health still experienced by 3 individuals

Specific cognitive, emotional, physical and socio-spiritual processes questioned about:

COGNITIVE PROCESSES, EXPERIENCES AND REALIZATIONS EVALUATED:

1. Grounding. Presence
2. Awareness of internal physical, mental and emotional processes
3. Mental stress
4. Understanding causes of emotional, mental and physical discomforts
5. Ability to notice mental patterns (control, doubts, resistances, interpersonal dynamics)
6. Creativity
7. Positive mental states (confidence, calmness, reassurance)
8. Mind - body - emotions connection
9. Mental presence in the body
10. Sleep quality
11. Insights during  dreams
12. Resilience
13. Damaging patterns of lifestyle and consumption
14. Ability to redirect damaging thoughts
15. Self-knowledge
16. Reactivity, responsiveness
17. Catching oneself losing ground, and ability to recover it 
18. Comfort without technology
19. Detrimental effects of technology

EMOTIONAL PROCESSES, EXPERIENCES AND REALIZATIONS EVALUATED

1. Noticing and releasing trapped emotions
2. Processing, reframing emotions
3. Understanding the root causes of certain emotions
4. Finding clarity in opposite emotions, internal dialogues 
5. Realizing about internal conflicts
6. Noticing consequences of interpersonal conflicts 
7. Navigating emotions, interpersonal conflicts
8. Emotional expression
9. Emotions-physical connection
10. Emotional perception and self-reflection.
11. Ability to engaged with emotions
12. Crying and emotional expression
13. Emotional self-reflection
14. Emotional regulation 
15. Defense mechanisms awareness

PHYSICAL BODY / SOMATIC PROCESSES, EXPERIENCES AND REALIZATIONS EVALUATED

1. Physical release
2. Sexuality and sexual energy
3. Embodiment (presence in the physical body)
4. Mind - body dialogue
5. Mind-body harmony
6. Self-touch, self-soothing, self-massage
7. Causes of physical discomforts
8. Positive physical perception
9. Sense organ perception
10. Positively surprising physical perception
11. Physical relaxation
12. Healthier eating and relationship with food
13. Physical cleansing, purity, lightness
14. Weight loss
15. Impermanence of physical sensations
16. Trust in the body
17. Mental processes/ thoughts - physical connection
18. Physical discomfort relief
19. Confidence in the body's capacity to heal
20. Detrimental overwork and overdoing
21. Physical manifestations of stress

SOCIO-SPIRITUAL PROCESSES, EXPERIENCES AND REALIZATIONS EVALUATED

1. Trust
2. Connection with the creative force, universe, nature, spirituality
3. Healing power of nature
4. Interpersonal interconnectedness
5. Openness, compassion, supportive
6. Connection with the plant kingdom
7. Plants as teachers
8. Plant consciousness
9. Importance of quiet, alone time
10. Connection with nature provides strength
11. Value of and closeness with family