Abstract:

This presentation shares insights from Onaya Science’s six-month follow-up pilot study on the mental health impact of Shipibo-led ayahuasca ceremonies for military veterans with PTSD. Forty veterans participated in five ayahuasca ceremonies over ten days, with sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety, as well as improvements in life satisfaction observed at the six-month follow-up. EEG data suggests enhanced brain flexibility post-treatment, with additional findings from ongoing microbiome and epigenetic analyses forthcoming. Beyond the study, this talk explores the broader implications of integrating traditional psychedelic practices into modern mental health care. As interest in psychedelic therapy grows, psychiatry faces increasing pressure to adapt and develop more integrative approaches that align with the transformative nature of these treatments. This presentation examines the intersection of Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary science, emphasizing the potential for a paradigm shift in mental health care to effectively and ethically accommodate the integrative and holistic demands of psychedelic treatments in modern health care settings.

Bio:

Max holds a Master’s in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology and is currently pursuing a PhD on group psychedelic therapy with Leor Roseman. Alongside his doctoral research, he conducts ayahuasca studies on veterans with PTSD at Onaya Science. In addition to his academic work, Max integrates cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy, therapeutic massage, and aspects of Traditional Medicine in his private practice (embodytherapy.co.uk), offering holistic mind-body treatments. Looking ahead, Max envisions a healing center that combines Western science, traditional wisdom, and altered states to provide ethical, transformative experiences for lasting personal and community well-being.