#9: Dr. Dan Engle Reframing the Western Medical Paradigm

With a background in psychiatric medicine, neurology, advanced ayahuasca dietas, psychedelic integration, and neurocognitive restoration, Dr. Dan Engle is one of the most unique and important voices in the psychedelic movement today. As founder of Full Spectrum Medicine and author of the new book The Concussion Repair Manual, Dr. Dan brings together a deep understanding of both the medical world and the psychedelic experience with an eye toward therapeutic personal transformation.

Psychedelic Times founder Joe Mattia spoke with Dr. Dan recently at a mutual friend’s float studio, and their conversation ranges from Dan’s fascinating personal story of ayahuasca dietas in the jungle to his return to the Western world to advance the cause of integrative, soul-centered healing.

 

Sponsors:

Dr. Bronner’s was founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third- generation master soapmaker. He used the labels on his superb ecological soaps to spread his message that we must realize our unity across religious & ethnic divides or perish: “We are All-One or None!” Still family-owned and run, Dr. Bronner’s honors its founder’s vision by continuing to make socially & environmentally responsible products, and by dedicating our profits to help make a better world.

 

The Temple of the Way of Light is an ayahuasca center in Peru that opened in 2007. Their team of indigenous Shipibo healers represents over 250 years of experience practicing the ancient art of ayahuasca shamanism. The healers are supported by highly trained and experienced Western facilitators, who act as a critical cultural bridge between the healers and guests. The Temple was founded on the philosophy that an atmosphere of genuine care and compassion provides the optimum conditions for healing.

Show Notes:

The grassroots psychedelic movement [9:00]
The powerful data from psychedelic research [12:00]
The broken medical system [14:00]
Psychiatry [15:00]
Sustainability [8:00]
Finding your truth [18:00]
Ayahuasca and dietas in the jungle [20:30]
Returning to civilization [26:30]
Being an emissary from the forest [29:30]
Full Spectrum Medicine [30:00]
Western allopathic medicine [32:20]
Pharmaceuticals [34:30]
Detoxification and healing [37:30]
Ibogaine addiction treatment [43:00]
Drug policy and ibogaine experiences [50:00]
Exploring the shadow [54:00]
Being True to You [55:50]
Preparation and integration [58:00]
That place inbetween worlds [61:00]
Kambo [62:00]

Selected Quotes:

On balancing vision and action:

“It can be easy, particularly in the medicine space, to have the grand vision and to see the meta view, but it’s just as important- if not more important- to actualize that and move it into this 3-dimensional reality in the most effective way.”

On returning to civilization after intense ayahuasca dietas:

“I had married the medicine path so to speak, and I didn't have much of a desire or interest to come back to this way we collectively live in the West. But then I realized that if I was to be of support and a positive impact to the greatest degree that I could be, then it was probably not going to be just hanging out solo in the jungle. It was going to be coming back to potentially be a voice to bridge the psychedelic medicine community with the psychiatric medical community. If we do choose to see the right place that psychedelic medicines have in the unfolding potential of health care moving forward, then it’s helpful to have people who can speak from both perspectives.”

On jungle medicine:

“When we know that the pharmacy of the entire jungle itself, and the river system itself, with the soil and the animals and the plants and the fish and everything is this buffet of potential options for someone’s healing protocol, then all of these things are used synergistically.”

On Deanne Adamson’s program Being True to You:

“The program that Deanne has created with Being True to You does turn the whole addiction frame on its head. It encourages a shift from the victim role into an empowerment role. To be able to say “Ok, this experience that I’m going through is my journey towards personal development and towards a more whole, integrated self.” Some people choose the doorway of depression, some people choose the doorway of chronic anxiety, some people choose the doorway of chronic pain… we all have our own hero’s journey that we’re going through. And it is a liberating frame to be able to try on… all of a sudden, now it puts us in the driver’s seat.”