Event overview
Insights from Traditional Healing and Naturalistic Research
Drawing on over a decade of research conducted at the 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.
Biography
Dr Simon Ruffell is a Visiting Research and Knowledge Exchange Fellow at STaCS and the Faiths & Civil Society Unit. 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 has worked on several major clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics at leading universities worldwide, including at King's College London exploring the effects of psilocybin on treatment-resistant depression.
He is CEO of Onaya Health and co-founded the not-for-profit Onaya Science, researching the effects of ayahuasca in naturalistic Amazonian settings in collaboration with universities, charities, and Indigenous-led think tanks worldwide.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2025 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm |
Accessibility
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