DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
Into the
Heart of the ForestA plant healing center deep in the Peruvian Amazon, grounded in the ancestral knowledge of the Shipibo people. Eight days. A lot of plant work. And the most rested, re-energised, physically strong I have ever felt.
I arrived feeling a bit skeptical, burnt out, tired — and carrying some physical issues including persistent back muscle pain. I decided to go on my own. I typically worry for others around me and get concerned with their wellbeing rather than my own, so I took the adventurous road alone, with very little expectation and, admittedly, some skepticism.
The people at Ani Nii Shobo never left me feeling alone. They prepared me to understand the journey I was about to embark on — in full detail — and offered all the support so that I would feel comfortable and open to the experience.
I'd been to healers and shamans in Mongolia and Cambodia before — one who slapped my entire body while chanting and pounding my face lightly to release old toxic energy from a past relationship. I knew something of this world. But this was different. This was inside the living Amazon.
After eight days and a great deal of plant work with Mama Ida — who you will see in the video below — I have never felt so fresh, re-energised, and physically strong. The back pain was gone. Something deeper had shifted too.
Unfortunately, there are now many places surfacing across Peru and Brazil claiming to be authentic when in fact many are simply tourist traps that do not respect the sacred ancestral traditions. This matters. Ani Nii Shobo is not one of those places. It is real, it is rooted, and the people there carry this knowledge in their blood.
Each journey is deeply personal and everyone reacts to the plant differently. I see it as a tool — one that can be used for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. But I want to be clear: I won't go too far into my own experience here, because the journey is something very personal. When I felt ready, I knew. And readiness is everything.
The Dieta — How the Work Is Done
Shipibo Ancestral Medicine · Upper Amazon
Ingested as extracts or infusions, applied as cataplasms, vaporised, used in baths, smoked with tobacco, or prepared as boiled preparations. The plant kingdom offers many doors.
For a dieta to be effective it is accompanied by light, fat-free meals: fish, plantains, rice, fruits, vegetables. The body becomes a clean vessel. Simplicity is preparation.
Ayahuasca ceremonies are held at night — the most important shamanic ritual in the Upper Amazon. Through the Icaros, the shaman calls the spirit of Ayahuasca to clean, empower, and reconnect.
The Ayahuasca brew is a powerful detoxifier — la purga, the purge — that allows one to access contents that remain in the unconscious mind, providing healing for the body and mind alike. Through the Icaros, the shaman calls the spirit of Ayahuasca, and other plants and animals, to clean our bodies, empower our thoughts, and reconnect with one's spiritual essence.
Everyone learns something different — about themselves, or what they want to change. The plant knows.
Some go for psychological healing — releasing old patterns, trauma, and things that have kept them stuck.
Others use it to develop complex ideas — from raw creative instinct into strategic, structured thinking.
For some it opens new creative pathways — deeply attuned to sustainability, the environment, the power of nature.
Some come to build life timelines — to find structure and clarity in a world that has become too chaotic to navigate alone.
Others find the strength to quit harmful habits — substances, toxic relationships, patterns that no longer serve them.
And some arrive simply for the body — for physical healing that conventional medicine has not been able to offer.
"Listen to your body. Let it tell you when it feels ready. Never force it. The plant knows."
Another aspect that makes this place sacred — in my view — is their NGO, Nii Juinti, founded for the sole purpose of preserving traditions and protecting the children of this indigenous community. Their education ensures a deep respect and preservation of heritage: lessons in traditional plant medicine, skills in woven needlework textiles, woodwork, traditional cooking, and ecological care.
During my stay I attended several classes offered by volunteers and met many of the children — smiling, eager, proud to talk about their culture and their love of nature. And Mama Ida sat quietly in the corner, weaving.
If you would like to help keep their spirit alive for generations to come, please consider making a donation.
If you are curious about the healing properties of Ayahuasca — reach out.
I encourage anyone who is curious or interested to contact Jose or Andres at Ani Nii Shobo at contact@aniniishobo.org — let them know you heard about them from Leila, and they will gladly guide you with much more detailed information.
“ La medicina de este pueblo es un saber milagroso que debe prosperar, un verdadero tesoro de la naturaleza, que toca el corazón y nos sana, que enciende la esperanza y nos invita a crear desde el Amor, todos juntos, un nuevo mañana para la humanidad”.