"Gerry wanted to have a place that was safe and had clinical people and shamans all together in one place, so that people that would never go to Peru or the jungle would actually come here."\n-\xa0Dr. Jeff McNairy\nYou all know that I'm very interested in the science behind things \u2014 if someone suggests that I try something \u2014 whether it be exercise, food, or medicine \u2014 and it doesn't have science supporting its function, then I won't try it.\n\nI've recently been doing a podcast series on Rhythmia, a luxury resort and life advancement center, and the science behind plant medicines. I've had the pleasure of talking with the founder of Rhythmia himself, Gerry Powell, on the subject, and I learned so much from that interview. His whole life changed when he started studying plant medicine and how we can use it to heal subconscious trauma. It was a fascinating conversation, and it encouraged me to study the science behind plant medicine even more!\n\nThat's why I have the chief medical officer of Rhythmia, Dr. Jeff McNairy, on ONKEN RADIO (formerly NION Radio) today to share his story about discovering plant medicine, how it can improve mental health, and how meditation and breathwork are essential parts of healing trauma.\xa0\n\nWithout further ado, let's dive into our conversation.\xa0\nWho Is Dr. Jeff McNairy?\nFormerly the Head of Passages, a rehabilitation center for celebrities in Malibu, Dr. Jeff McNairy, PsyD., MPH, is now the Chief Medical Officer of Rhythmia, a life advancement center that is dedicated to helping people heal from trauma and experience spiritual enlightenment.\xa0\n\nSince Dr. McNairy started working in the healthcare field 25 years ago, he has always felt like the standard Western treatments for trauma and depression weren't the right answers. He has worked in a variety of medical environments and seen the struggles individuals have when actually trying to heal. The current Western system of healthcare is deficient in healing the population. It is more concerned with managing symptoms and using external sources for "change."\xa0\n\nBut when Dr. McNairy started treating Gerry Powell at Passages, his journey took a completely different turn.\xa0\n"He came into [Passages, and] he was wild \u2026 just a madman. I just started talking to him every day. ... And we formed this bond. And after he left, I continued to see him, \u2026 [but] he was not getting any better. \u2026 He heard about this place in Costa Rica that did plant medicine, and he was suicidal at the time \u2026 [so] I said, 'Dude, go for it because I don't know what else to do.'\u2026 [But] the plant medicine was amazing, and the shaman was amazing. \u2026 He really needed [that] to turn this corner, and it changed his life."\n-\xa0Dr. Jeff McNairy\nAt first, Dr. McNairy was skeptical. He hadn't studied plant medicine in the past, and it wasn't something that was discussed in medical school. But the results were undeniable. Jerry, who had suffered from acute mental disorders and an addiction to Demerol, had cleared out his subconscious with the help of spiritual guidance and plant medicine and was doing better than ever.\xa0\n"And so Gerry and I wanted to have a place that was safe and legal and medically licensed and has clinical people and also shamans \u2026 so altogether, one place so that people [who] would never go to Peru or the jungle would actually come [there]."\n-\xa0Dr. Jeff McNairy\nAnd thus, Rhythmia was born! Through Dr. McNairy's intense experience with the most desperate patient populations (those who suffer from addiction, acute mental health disorders, and trauma), he has seen that the only real healing can come from within. Since he started his work with ayahuasca, Jeff has seen himself and others transformed by it and has endeavored to create a safe and certified space for people to learn from plant medicine and experience its many benefits.\nWhy Plant Medicine Is Revolutionary for Mental Health\xa0\nI think it's safe to say that right now in the world,