Background: There exists an underexploited opportunity to develop innovative therapeutic approaches to SUDs based upon the complementarity between modern and traditional health systems. Objectives: Illustrate the feasibility and potentiality of such an approach through the comprehensive description of Takiwasi Center’s treatment model and program, where health concepts and practices from traditional Amazonian medicine work synergistically with modern psychotherapy and medicine in an intercultural dialog to assist in the rehabilitation of people su"ering from SUDs. Methods: The description was built from a review of the literature, institutional data, participatory observation and unstructured interviews with sta", researchers and patients during treatment. Results: Since the foundation of the Takiwasi Center in 1992 in the peruvian Amazon, more than a thousand patients with di"erent socio-cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds have received residential treatment. We present how traditional Amazonian medicine techniques and health concepts cooperate to complement modern psychology in a therapeutic community setting and propose some hypotheses about the neurobiological, psychoemotional and spiritual healing mechanisms triggered by the program to help people identify and heal the roots of their substance misuse and addictive behavior. We also summarize quantitative outcomes during treatment showing signi#cant improvements in a wide variety of mental health indicators. Conclusion: Takiwasi Center’s program is an option for people seeking nonconventional treatment who are sensitive to traditional Amazonian medicine practices and ready to explore the roots of their addiction. From this intercultural approach, some lessons could emerge toward a broader understanding of SUDs that may result in better patient care.