Seven Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students abandoned their civilized, suburban comfort zones for the untamed wilderness of the Amazon Rainforest during a recent seven-day experience in Peru.

They caught piranha and cooked them for dinner, traversed a canopy walk more than 100 feet above the rainforest floor, and discussed the medicinal benefits of native plants with a local shaman.

Organized by Dr. Karen Wientjes, the trip immersed the students in Peruvian culture and provided memorable lessons about holistic health and the healing power of nature.

After spending a few days in Lima, the capital city – where they met with healthcare providers in a children’s hospital and toured the Ministry of Health exhibit of native medicinal plants like cat’s claw and dragon’s blood – the students traveled deep into the Amazon.

First, they flew to Iquitos, a vibrant city close to the Amazon River that can be reached only by plane. Students learned about the history of this community and visited a busy marketplace where raw plant and medicinal preparations were sold. Wientjes describes healthcare in Iquitos as a mix of Western medicine and indigenous plant medicine.

The group then plunged headfirst into the rainforest, traveling two hours by boat to stay in a Yagua community for four days. Students met a local shaman, who showed them the trees and plants he uses for medicine and how he prepares it.

The native healthcare approach, says Wientjes, is to treat the whole person (mental, spiritual, and physical health) and not just the ailment. Grace Shanton, a third-year DPT student, remembers it vividly.

“On our first day in the rainforest, we spent a few hours with a shaman,” she recalls. “After he taught us about the medicinal plants and their uses, he performed a ceremony to welcome us to the rainforest, remove negative energy, and provide us with protection. It was beautiful and so moving. Many of us were in tears. It was such a transformative experience and one of my favorite memories.”

Haley Hughes, a second-year DPT student, agrees. “My most memorable experience was getting so many opportunities to be outside of my comfort zone -- from walking through the treetops, exploring the depths of the rainforest and seeing so much wildlife up close, to fishing for piranhas. It was certainly a trip that I will remember forever.”

Shanton was also the recipient of a “rainforest haircut,” courtesy of the group’s guide, who trimmed her hair using a live piranha as the scissors.

Near the confluence of the Napo and Amazon rivers, students braved the canopy walk in the treetops, more than 100 feet in the air and one-third of a mile long. Their guide, Percy – a native of the region -- pointed out the plants, birds and animals and explained the complex symbiotic relationships between species. 

“Deep in the forest, you’re disconnected from civilization and immersed in nature,” Wientjes says. “It’s a sensory experience at every level that awakens a profound appreciation for creation.”

With Wientjes on her “Healthcare and healing traditions of Amazonia” workshop were students Laila Aly, Madison Hawk, Hughes, Sarah Lipscomb, Madison Locurcio, Shanton, and Hannah Singer as well as Professor Etsuko Hoshino-Browne and Leah Albaugh, Wientjes’ daughter.

A veteran of 27 years at Neumann, Wientjes launched her workshop in 2015 and has led students and alumni to the Amazon five times. The trip is voluntary and not a requirement for any course, but for her, the benefit is clear.

“The students blossom there, growing professionally and personally. The experience exposes them to another approach to healthcare and our interconnectedness with nature. It feels very consistent with St Francis. There’s no way you can leave without a sense of awe, a better understanding of our place in society and the world, and a newfound connection with nature and others.”