ESC: The Ayahuasca Dialogues
With the continued rise in popularity of psychedelic plant medicines, concerns surrounding sustainable harvesting methods and safe administration by practitioners are growing. The Ethnobotanical Stewardship Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assuring the sustainable and safe use of traditional plants and enriching the communities who work with them.
As we have seen in recent articles, unsustainable harvesting is a growing issue with ayahuasca, mimosa and acacia trees, iboga, peyote, and even sassafras in SE Asia. Quite antithetical to the earth-centered teachings of these plants, these harvesting methods have a devastating impact on the environment.
In order to truly heal with the planet we must not only have these experiences of higher awareness of the biosphere, but put our thoughts into action and become the stewards of nature, not its disease.
Through the ESC, we now have a unique chance to help ensure that these higher standards are met. So far the ESC has made great strides, however, a new campaign has been launched in order to kick things up a notch and bring about quicker change with the help of our community.
The Ayahuasca Dialogues is a global conversation and movement that is transforming the use of ayahuasca. Please click the image below or follow the link to learn more about this exciting and important project. Then contribute and spread the knowledge!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/esc-the-ayahuasca-dialogues
Dr. Dennis McKenna, ethnopharmacologist and ESC Special Advisor, says this about the ESC:
“The ESC has a chance to create new models for responsible use of traditional medicines. Every year, tens if not hundreds of thousands of people are going to the Amazon to experience [ayahuasca's] healing properties in ceremony. Most of these people experience profound healing change, but some people are getting hurt. If we fail to do something, we could leave the plant and its traditions vulnerable to increasing government intervention. Every negative headline is a threat to the future of this medicine.”
Dr. Rick Doblin, MAPS Executive Director & ESC board member, says:
“The formation of the ESC and start of the Ayahuasca Dialogues is a much needed effort to wisely and safely guide the expansion of the use of ayahuasca both where it was created in the Amazon and to the rest of the world.”