The Sacred Science (2011) User Reviews

Technically decent effort with vast implications.

[nicorbit · 8/10 · 7 November 2014]

This review will sound somewhat personal because of my sincere interest and involvement in the subject matter: I took part in an Ayahuasca Weekend (3 ceremonies) with shamans trained in Peru by Ricardo Amaringo and I also frequently use my own plant mix in a smokable blend (including a famous tryptamine dubbed "The Spirit Molecule" ;) ) that contains Ayahuasca leaves, mullein and cannabis.

Therefore, although my experiences with actual trained shamans are very few, I claim to know a bit about such Altered States of Consciousness.

With that being said, it becomes obvious that the negative reviews written before this one are akin to people who are virgins discussing the pro's and con's of Sex, if you catch my drift ;-)

To claim that using such psychoactive substances is "to fool yourself"... well... is TO FOOL YOURSELF indeed !

The very point of those psychedelics (check the etymology of that term, btw) is that they dissolve sub-conscious barriers and personality structures to confront your own "Deeper Truths", to see Who and What You truly IS.

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence that explain simply and elegantly HOW and WHY Ayahuasca and other traditional plant remedies WORK (not on ALL cases, but on many !). One only needs to NOT BE close-minded about it (...) and do proper research ;-) It is related to the limbic system, allostatic load, and so on.

So, to talk a bit about the film itself, although it is not perfect, I found that it was apparently a sincere effort with notable qualities.

I recommended it to plant medicine lovers and skeptics alike, even though it is very clear that such topics are very hard to apprehend without a personal experience.

Which explains the obvious polarity in the reviews on different sites...

Overall recommended, especially as it is not excessively long.

Gives new perspective

[iilnitskiy · 8/10 · 7 April 2015]

There's actually not so much science in the movie. And I must say, the critics, criticizing the methods used by the healers in the movie and comparing them to the official science and medicine, have their point. However, it's very natural for the people, who have nothing more to expect from official medicine, to try whatever they can to save their lives. They have hope (thanks God), and the movie shows that it's actually possible to cure or at least ease the decease with such alternative methods. Even if not for everyone, on a set of people shown in the film the results are rather impressive.

Maybe it's just so good filmed, that the healers don't look like people, making a big buck on very sick and desperate people. They actually look like people who are not only trying to help and heal, but also like people, who truly believe in their methods and the power of Amazon nature.

And the psychological transformations of the patients are also very convincing and I found them remarkable.

The movie shows life in a camp, located in the middle of pure, stunning Amazon nature, which is a whole adventure by itself already.

Having watched this, I found myself thinking about preciousness of life, of nature, about willingness to help, about will to be cured, about finding peace, about reasons for being sick or healthy, about readiness to care for the others and so on. If this is something, that interests you too, then I think you will like this movie.

Interesting Point of View for the Desperate

[burnsker · 6/10 · 28 February 2015]

This documentary gives a different point of view. It's not a tale of the miracle of modern medicine and it's not an hour long commercial for a quack's "alternative" cure. It's simply following some first world sick people as they attempt to heal themselves using herbalistic traditions in Peru.

So to that point, the film was kind of boring to watch. I wish there was a little more history about herbalism or the people of the area.

But the film is simply interviewing and following those who in their little camp. The healers and the sick. 8 people and a few shamen (and a budding shamen).

It was cool to see what could happen in this setting. In the thick of the jungle rather than an expensive resort or meek hospital.

I think this film can give people a realistic perspective. The treatment seemed to work for things that we already know is reversible/salvagable such as type II diabetes, IBS, mental health issues and some neuromuscular disorders. If I had these problems and couldn't find an answer -- this would also be my last resort and I would take the chance!

Unfortunately, as we could all predict, this stuff didn't seem to help more serious conditions.

But if I had a cancer, did everything I can, and was just at my wit's end -- a trip such as the one documented would definitely change my life perspective and would be worth while. Not necessarily for my disease, but just for myself as a human who desires self-actualization and to live the rest of my life with rich, beautiful perspective!

I give this 6 stars. It wasn't too bad. It was authentic. Can spark some conversations. And the point was to reveal that there is no "science" to this, which is unfortunate. The creators hope this film can encourage MORE scientific documentation on healing arts.

I wouldn't give it more stars because it's not exactly a thriller. I would only watch this when bored (which I did. watched while I was cleaning my room). Wouldn't make the intent to watch this for fun or educational purposes. Only if I were leading some sort of healing arts conference or class or something.

yep. That's my 2 cents.

Well Worth Viewing

[charmadu · 9/10 · 14 November 2013]

Of course there will be no shortage of those who say this film "doesn't prove anything". Although I can't imagine anyone here (USA) welcoming this line-up of medical conditions. My husband died recently of lung cancer. My father is on hospice and unlikely to live much longer. And I've worked more than 13 years in various medical settings in California (primary care health clinic, dialysis clinic, HIV/STD public health clinic). From that perspective, this film gave me a feeling of peace and hope. The healing came about not just because people were in nature, taking traditional herbal treatments, eating healthy food, not sitting all day in cars or in front of screens, and breathing (relatively) fresh air. This was not a rich hippie spa. People were staying in individual huts and solitude and silence were essential key components. They had to face themselves, including their demons. Quite a contrast to our old "war on cancer" campaigns. Even when physical conditions didn't reverse, the emotional healing was obvious. This was not a revivalist tent command "HEAL" atmosphere. The patients were not promised any magical cure and they were all free to leave whenever they wished. I appreciated the courage and integrity that the film makers showed in continuing on when others would have decided to stop and scrap the project entirely. The fact that death was treated in an honest and respectful way was again quite a contrast to the typical HMO atmosphere.

It's taken a long time for a film like this to finally emerge. But look how long it's taken something as ancient as acupuncture to become "acceptable" by large HMO's. (Where it will be enthusiastically touted to help you tolerate your chemotherapy.) Is it any wonder that people have decided to SEEK HELP ELSEHERE? I can only hope there will be more films like this to come.

Not Science, not even cool

[relativitydrive · 1/10 · 16 October 2013]

Spoiler Alert! Both this review and your watching of the trailer will give you all you need to know. Don't watch unless you have no more toenails to cut.

Unfortunately after having watched the whole thing the only review one can write while maintaining personal integrity is that this is a long-winded route to a non science, dangerous and stupid project and its conclusion.

Why it was even called what it was remains a mystery: Science or Sacred had nothing to do with this dangerous attempt to look at the rain forests and drug targets.

Yes, I feel we should protect the Amazon and its like properly. Yes, most drugs used are based on things found in nature. Yes, science can't explain everything. Yes, people want alternatives.

This journey of 8 people into the rain forest to be separated from their usual environment and given uncontrolled, unknown, unproven, unsafe drug cocktails made from random flora sounds a great idea but as you get into the film the premise and the outcome become obvious within 5 minutes. 8 sick and very sick people who shun modern medicine put their health and lives on the line to follow semi-religious pseudoscience - they even take psychoactive drugs to fool themselves.

The outcomes are so poor as to be laughable. There is no controlling of any factor and you can probably guess, like I did, that if you give people from the 1st world, exercise, relaxation, fresh air, simple and proper food for 30 days in a supportive environment where they are the centre of attention they're going to feel and act better regardless of the actual binary outcomes.

Only one 'positive' outcome was reported. The other 200 or so are not because nothing happened. They lie and repeat lies about modern medicine while ignoring its incredible successes.

I would like to see the people who took one person out there who had a really bad time (not going to spoil it completely for you but it is the worst outcome you can imagine) to task. Sick people without proper medical facilities is a disaster and no amount of justification after the fact can make up for it: "It would have happened this way even if..." is probably not what the actual medics said.

So, if you want to see people in the rain forest eating and drinking and allowing the admittedly sincere locals trying to help then go for it.

If you on the other hand want to progress humanity, save MASSIVE amounts of suffering and lives, don't watch this or fund stupidity and donate to Cancer research or its ilk.

Takes advantage of the weakest at their weakest

[imdb-487-881561 · 27 October 2014]

One of the reviewers claims to have worked in medical "settings" in one form or another for many years. She(?) is also in awe of this movie and it is not difficult to understand why. She tells us. She has endured and still is enduring the traumatizing personal drama that is to face death. Her words also tell us what is cruelly wrong about this documentary.

First of all, modern science is fundamentally different from "traditional" healing in that it removes randomness by means of the scientific process. If acupuncture (or whatever other "traditional" practice) is ever considered to have merit in modern medicine, it is because it will have been tested formally, with rigor, and found to deliver specific outcomes. Furthermore, were acupuncture ever to be found able for (again) specific purposes, it would not show that "traditional" medicine was right all along. It would simply show that modern medicine is able to separate fact from fiction... to everyone's benefit.

Second, there are many afflictions (e.g. appendicitis) that modern medicine cures routinely even though they were deadly until only a few decades ago. Our grandparents saw their peer die for comparatively very little. The forest was always there, the wizards and incantations were always there, acupuncture was always there, and so were the corpses.

Are there limits to science? Evidently.

Are there faults on how those of us in modern societies participate in the medical establishment, whether as practitioners or patients? Absolutely.

Is it consequently the case that we should turn to voodoo when we are faced with a disease that forces us to prepare for the most frightening journey? Clearly not. It is repugnant to even suggest it because it reveals a desire to profit from despair.

And this is what this documentary shows. Desperate people being taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable.