Plant Medicines: Shamanic Practices of the Ecuadorian Amazon

The independent study course, Plant Medicine: Shamanic Practices of the Ecuadorian Amazon, is based upon a short-term internship-collaboration with Dider Lacaze, a plant medicine specialist who has studied South American shamanic traditions in parts of the Northern Amazon for over the past 25 years. Mr. Lacaze stewards 1 hectare of land upon which he cultivates and prepares a wide range of medicinal plant species. The first emphasis of the class will be to help Mr. Lacaze manage his nurseries, gardens, laboratory, plant preparation procedures, as well as pending grant projects. Secondly, the course will compile literary research on the traditional and scientific knowledge of medicinal plants of the northern Ecuadorian rainforest. Lastly, the student will seek out and interview between 10-15 local healers about their knowledge of medicinal plant practices in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon. The course will take place in the provinces of Napo, and Pastaza, Ecuador.