Plants
Plant Teachers of the Amazon Rainforest...

For thousands and thousands of years, humans have lived in harmony with nature, living off of the plants and animals of their environments. Their relationship with mother nature was beyond intimate, for they were connected in every way. The plants and animals were their friends, for whom they had the upmost respect. The flora and fauna provided everything they needed, including medicine.
Plant medicine is older than history, older than humankind itself, for undoubtably animals were using plants to heal before humans emerged on earth. We, as living beings, are all made of the same planetary material and we use this material, our own and of others, to live together, making up the body of Mother Earth. We share the air we breath with the plants, in a beautiful example of how interconnected we are. Humans breathe out carbon dioxide and plants breath it in. Plants breath out oxygen and humans breathe it in. Where would we be without plants?

The curanderos of the Amazon and from most every ancient culture are still intimately connected with the plants, and they still consider them friends and allies, who help them understand the true nature of reality, and how best to act within it. This is what is referred to as 'la ciencia,' the science. Plants are conscious beings, and if we respect them as our own brothers and sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers, our own children, then we can learn a great deal from them.

Ayahuasca Plant Directory
There is a great deal of information on Amazon Plants, but not enough relating to the traditional uses and methods of preparation. With this Plant Directory, curanderos will be able to update information with their own comments, translated into english by Foundation volunteers, and patients will be able to leave testimonials about their personal experiences with particular plant medicines and remedies. The directory will be in a constant state of evolution, adding more and more plants and information every week. Included in the plant information will be links to suppliers of these medicinal plants and plant remedies.

Ayahuasca Information
Of course, the Ayahuasca Foundation will be an amazing source of information regarding ayahuasca itself. The website will offer a compilation of an ever-growing wealth of data about the plant, the medicine, and the potential of healing with ayahuasca and curanderismo. Learn about everything from the botanical and biological aspects of the plant and its admixtures, to the growing of the vine, the preparation of the sacred medicine, the traditions within ayahuasca ceremonies, and the effects of the brew on the human mind, body, and spirit.
Also included in this information will be a list of online suppliers who offer the ingredient plants, with a testimonial section for people to leave their comments on the plants, and service, they recieved from these companies.

Plant Spirit Research
The Ayahuasca Foundation will fund small experimental projects regarding the sacred medicine and other aspects of curanderismo. Curanderos will contribute to local larges-scale projects as well, through networking with the Foundation. Studies regarding the chemistry and medicinal effects of plants will be kept up to date and unique studies investigating new theories within spiritual traditions will be described. We must continue to learn new things about ayahuasca, while at the same time learning what has already been observed by the masters.
Part of the Plant Spirit Research Project is a Curandero Exchange Program, where local healers can meet on a regular basis to discuss the uses of different plants and remedies, for the purpose of expanding their knowledge and better treating their future patients. This would be held at the Ayahuasca Cafe.