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NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for mental health advice. Research around psychedelics and mental health remains an ongoing field of study. Experiments should not be performed outside of accredited research settings. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t... Neuroscientist Draulio Araujo spent years investigating the antidepressant effects of Ayahuasca, an ancient combination of forest plants created by indigenous peoples. He ended up enchanted by the depth of indigenous wisdom, capable of such an unlikely discovery in nature that it seems magical. Draulio was never the same after he came across the astonishing power of ayahuasca, the medicine of the forest, worshipped by many Amazonian peoples. With a degree in physics, a post-doctorate in radiology, and a reverential respect for the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples, Draulio became a neuroscientist to try to understand the secrets of this sacrament, especially its incredible antidepressant power. Now, at the Brain Institute of Natal, he turns his attention to jurema, another sacred plant, which contains the same active ingredient as ayahuasca, DMT. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx