Ayahuasca Research in the Amazon: Insights from Traditional Healing and Naturalistic Research

Drawing on over a decade of research conducted at the research centre in Peru, this talk explores the insights gained from studying ayahuasca in its traditional setting. It examines the limitations of the conventional medical model in capturing the full scope of ayahuasca’s effects and the value of observational research in understanding its therapeutic potential.

Through patient stories and empirical data, Dr Simon Ruffell will highlight how traditional healing frameworks offer a more holistic perspective on mental health and well-being, challenging dominant biomedical approaches and expanding our understanding of healing.

This talk will also delve into the collaborative efforts between Indigenous healers and Western researchers, shedding light on how these partnerships are shaping the future of psychedelic science. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural context and traditional practices influence therapeutic outcomes.

Dr Simon Ruffell is Visiting Research and Knowledge Exchange Fellow at STaCS and the Faiths & Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths. He is trained across three modalities: Western medicine (as a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry), research psychology (with a PhD in Amazonian ayahuasca and mental health), and traditional plant medicine (as a student of curanderismo). He is the Chief Medical Officer of MINDS (Multidisciplinary Investigation into Novel Discoveries & Solutions), a nonprofit research organization exploring the potential of psychedelics and consciousness practices to explore the science of breakthrough insights for humanity’s greatest challenges.

Dr Ruffell has contributed to several major psychedelic research trials at leading universities worldwide. His roles have included Senior Research Associate on King’s College London’s psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression, and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Research Fellow at the Psychae Institute, University of Melbourne, investigating the potential application of botanical ayahuasca analogues. Since 2015, his work has been primarily focused on exploring the traditional psychedelic brew, ayahuasca.

He is the CEO of Onaya and co-founded the nonprofit Onaya Science, which researches the effects of ayahuasca in naturalistic Amazonian settings, collaborating with traditional healers, universities, charities, and Indigenous-led think tanks worldwide. Dr Ruffell’s work seeks to understand plants such as ayahuasca from both Indigenous and Western perspectives, aiming to generate a richer understanding of treatment modalities. He is currently training in Shipibo Shamanism under Don Rono Lopez.

This event is part of the programme of public talks and events by the Faiths & Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths.