Description |
1 online resource (1 video file (77 min.)) : sound, color |
Summary |
The Sacred Science is a groundbreaking documentary that captures an unprecedented glimpse into the ancient healing practices of the Amazon rainforest's medicine men, or shamans, whose unique knowledge of indigenous plants and rituals is threatened by deforestation, modernization and ecotourism. The region's traditional healers have knowledge of a vast catalogue of natural plant medicines and practices that have been time-tested for centuries, but are little-known outside the rainforests and may soon be lost forever. A large number of the synthetic medicines we know today were discovered in these rainforests. However, less than 5% of Amazonian plants have been examined for their healing potential. The Sacred Science follows eight people from the developed world with a variety of common and serious ailments who embark on a challenging, one-month healing journey into the heart of the Amazon jungle. Working with a handful of shamans experienced in the harvesting and preparation of traditional plant medicines, as well as ritual exercises, these men and women seek to overcome Parkinson's disease, cancer, alcoholism, diabetes and depression. Ultimately, five of the patients return with measurable improvements, exceeding the expectations of many. Never before has such a candid, in-depth account of these traditional practices been caught on film. The Sacred Science is a provocative call both to look deeper into these traditional methods and their potential benefit to humankind, as well as to preserve the forests and ancient cultures for the treasures and knowledge they possess |
Notes |
Streaming video file |
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Originally produced by The Video Project in 2011 |
Credits |
Editors, Nick Polizzi, Dan Bailey, Brock Bertloff, Margaret Polizzi ; cameras, Dan Bailey, Brock Bertloff, Michelle Zulauf, Nick Polizzi, Alberto Martinez ; music by Tunng |
Notes |
Soundtrack in English and Spanish with English subtitles; closed-captioned in English |
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Description based on online resource; title from website description (Kanopy, viewed March 18, 2020) |
Subject |
Indians of South America -- Medicine -- Amazon River Region
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Traditional medicine -- Amazon River Region
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Shamans -- Amazon River Region
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Healers -- Amazon River Region
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Indians of South America -- Ethnobotany -- Amazon River Region
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Medicinal plants -- Amazon River Region
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Traditional medicine.
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Shamans.
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Medicinal plants.
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Indians of South America -- Medicine.
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Indians of South America -- Ethnobotany.
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Healers.
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Amazon River Region.
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Genre/Form |
Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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Nonfiction films.
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Feature films.
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Documentary films.
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Documentary films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Feature films.
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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Documentaires.
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Films autres que de fiction.
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Vidéos pour personnes handicapées auditives.
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Form |
Streaming video
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Author |
Polizzi, Nick, film director, film producer, cinematographer.
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Bailey, Dan, film producer, editor of moving image work, cinematographer
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Bertloff, Brock, editor of moving image work, cinematographer
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Polizzi, Margaret, editor of moving image work
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Martinez, Alberto (Sound mixer), cinematographer
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Zulauf, Michelle, cinematographer
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Three Seed Productions, production company.
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Tunng (Musical group), composer (expression)
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Video Project, publisher.
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Kanopy (Firm), film distributor.
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