Why Every Hospital Needs a Shaman | Dr. Simon Ruffell

About this episode

Dr. Simon Ruffell discusses his journey from the NHS to training with Shipibo healers and the intersection of spirituality and modern medicine.

Psychiatrist Dr. Simon Ruffell shares why he left the NHS to train with Shipibo healers in the Amazon. We talk ayahuasca, PTSD, and why Western medicine often overlooks the spiritual. He also speaks about his work with Onaya , a research organization bridging Indigenous healing and modern science. Learn more at onaya.io | Follow us @obsicast

People in this episode

Host: rana rahimpour

Guest: Dr. Simon Ruffell

Topics covered

• shamanism
• mental health
• spiritual healing
• Western medicine
• PTSD
• Indigenous healing

Keywords

• shaman
• ayahuasca
• PTSD
• spirituality
• Indigenous healing
• Western medicine
• mental health

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NHS, Onaya

Books & works: ayahuasca

Places: Amazon

More episodes of Obsicast

• Become Awake in Your Dreams: Charlie Morley on the Power & Science of Lucid Dreaming · November 14, 2025 · 1h 2m
• Psilocybin & Schizophrenia — Ben’s Story · September 26, 2025 · 1h 22m
• One Psilocybin Session Changed Everything · September 26, 2025 · 1 min
• Psychedelic Cannabis: The Hidden Medicine That Can Rival Ayahuasca — with Rich Tyo · August 30, 2025 · 21 min
• Psychedelic Healing, Iranian Rituals & Love | Dr. Ahoo Yara at Breaking Convention 2025 · August 11, 2025 · 43 min
• From Suicidal to Thriving: How Psychedelics Are Changing Lives · June 13, 2025 · 39 min