Sustainable and Authentic Ayahuasca Retreat in Peru
Our team of Shipibo healers and Western facilitators have carefully designed our Peruvian Ayahuasca Retreats to offer the best experience we can to our Guests. We have put a lot of focus on community and integration, which we consider to be very important aspects in the healing process. We also provide our guests with the opportunity to learn about the fascinating Shipibo culture through classes on Arts, Crafts, Language, and History. During the retreat there will also be plenty of one-on-one time with our healers and facilitators, who will help guide you through your Peruvian Ayahuasca Retreat experience.
Ayahuasca Retreat
Our 12 day Ayahuasca Retreats include 7 Ayahuasca ceremonies and our 7 day retreats include 4 ceremonies. We are often asked by our Guests if they should come for a 12 day or 7 day retreat. From our experience, we suggest 12 day retreats if you have to do deeper work with the Medicine as 7 ceremonies will give our Maestros more time to work on your mind and body. If you are suffering from any kind of trauma, depression, addictions, or any other physical/mental state that is affecting your every day life, it is much better to allow yourself time to connect with the Medicine on a deeper level. Being a first time Ayahausca traveler, we also suggest 12 day retreats as the first couple of ceremonies you will probably be getting to know the Medicine and learning how to work wit it. We usually suggest 7 day retreats if you want to reconnect with Ayahausca (refresh your previous experiences), search for creativity, resolve minor life challenges or ask for guidance from the Medicine. In any case, you are the best judge of your own situation and we leave this to your own intuition and judgement. Just objectively observe the problem(s) that you want to work with and ask yourself if 4 ceremonies will be enough. Our Maestros always do their best, but if you come to treat a life long condition for a one week retreat, they can only do so much.
Dietary Preparation
Preparations for our Ayahuasca Retreats in Peru begin weeks in advance, starting with following a traditional Ayahuasca diet. This diet will prepare you for your journey by cleansing your body. This ensures that you will get the most out of your experience by minimizing things like digestive upset. Your commitment to this diet will also show the seriousness of your intention and your respect for the medicine, which are crucial in developing a strong relationship with the spirits of the plants.
The diet is not something to take lightly. You can get very ill and can experience a wide array of unpleasant experiences, physically, energetically and spiritually if you disrespect the plants, or disregard these guidelines. We advise you to start your diet at least two weeks prior to the retreat. We also strongly recommend that you keep dieting for two weeks after the last ceremony to give the Icaros and the plant medicines you will have received enough time to fully integrate into your being.
“it is the journey that is the true destination” ― Rik Boers
Ayahuasca Dietary Guidelines
You Can Download our Dietary Guidelines Here
Please abstain from the following foods and substances prior to, during and after your ayahuasca retreat.
Six to Eight Weeks Before Ceremony
- Some medications can present a serious danger to your health in combination with Peruvian Ayahuasca. This espescially true of anti-depressant medicines but is by no means limited only to them. Medications can include prescription and over the counter items. See our Medical guidelines & Medication policy.
Two Weeks Before and After Ceremony
- Pork
- Marijuana
- All street drugs (cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine, etc). These drugs in combination with Peruvian Ayahuasca can present a serious danger to your mental and physical health. See our Medical guidelines.
- Alcohol
Peruvian Ayahuasca and Sexuality
When you connect with another personal in a sexual way, you share very deeply with that person and there is a great deal of energetic exchange. That exchange may cause you to “absorb“ energies from another person, which may not be in line with your own healing and transformation. So, to maintain the integrity and the momentum of your healing it is very important that you keep your energy to yourself. Additionally, it is recommended that men avoid all ejaculation as there is great power in reserving the sexual energy to increase and strengthen your healing process. Therefore we strongly recommend no sexual activities of any kind, including masturbation for two weeks before, and two weeks after ceremony.
One Week Before and After Ceremony
- Salt and pepper. (We recommend a small intake of salt every 3 days).
- Chilies or other hot peppers.
- Refined sugars and sweets.
- Caffeine.
- Cacao, cocoa, and chocolate.
- Dairy produce, including cheese.
- Red meat.
- Oils and fats (use very sparingly).
- Carbonated beverages (including diet soda), energy drinks, non-alcoholic beer.
- Fermented foods (such as tofu, saurkraut pickles, etc).
- Overripe, bruised, and dried fruit.
- Protein extracts, powdered protein supplements and shakes.
- Yeast or yeast-based supplements
Additional Restrictions
- Please avoid synthetic soaps, perfumes, toiletries, etc. during retreat.
- We recommend not to use any prescription or non-prescription drugs during the retreat if possible (please read our Medical Guidelines & Medication Policy for more information).
- Women in the first three days of their menstruation traditionally do not participate in ceremony. This is not rooted in any disrespect for the feminine. It is only because the energy is very strong at this time and the body is already in a natural cycle of cleansing. To ensure you get the full benefit of your time here and are able to complete your ceremonies without interruptions, please take this into consideration when choosing the dates of your retreat date.
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The rules and recommendations on this page are for your own benefit. They are put in place so you can get the most out of your Ayahuasca retreat. They cleanse the body, the mind and the energetic system for an optimal healing experience. They encourage you on how to take conscious steps towards a very profound experience. Please take them seriously. If you are not willing to adhere to them, Pachamama Temple is is very likely not the center for you. If you find yourself willing to remove these things in your life for a short period of time in order to gain insight and healing, Pachamama center will welcome you with open arms. We will do everything that we can to reward your devotion and hard work and provide you with all that you need to make a truly transformative journey of your ayahuasca retreat Peru.
Participating in the Brewing Process
We always brew our own medicine for our Ayahuasca Retreat Peru and only use the traditional and pure form of the brew – Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaves. We encourage guests to get involved in the process, under the guidance of our experienced Shipibo Ayahuasqueros.
The process begins by pounding the Ayahuasca vine until it is fibrous. Then we clean the Chacruna leaves with fresh water and layer the two plants in pots. We boil the brew for several hours until it reaches the right consistency. While the medicine is brewing we send prayers and intentions into the pot. Participating in the full process gives you the opportunity to drink medicine that you helped to brew. The intentions, love and prayers that you put in during the cooking process help open you to the deeper healing Ayahuasca can provide.
The Medicine of Sacred Icaros
The Ayahuasca ceremonies begin with drinking the brew. Shortly after drinking the medicine, the shamans will start to sing Icaros, which are ancient and sacred medicine songs that have been handed down by the Shipibo Shamans for many generations. These songs are used in ceremony for many purposes. One of their most important functions is to evoke the spirits of the plants who aid the Shamans in their healing work.
Icaros can also be sung to enhance or subdue the effects of the plant medicine, clear bad spirits and energies, or protect the participant during and after the ceremony. Our experienced healers know many songs and everyone of them will sing just the right Icaro for each guest, in every ceremony, based upon their specific needs for that moment.
Listen for Yourself
Download a free mp3 of Maestra Rosa singing a healing Icaro.
*The word Icaro is believed to be derived from the Quechua verb ikaray, which means “to blow smoke in order to heal“. All medicinal plants have their own songs and the plant spirits teach their healing Icaros to the shamans during dietas, extended periods during which they adhere to a very strict plant dieta in order to open themselves up for the teachings of the plants.
Cleansing with La Purga
Some important elements of the Ayahuasca ceremonies are cleansing and purification. One of Ayahuasca’s nicknames is La Purga, which literally means to purge. Almost everybody who takes part in an Ayahuasca ceremony goes through the process of bodily cleansing.
Experiencing Deep Healing
For centuries, the indigenous tribes of the Amazon have used Peruvian Ayahuasca as a powerful tool for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and awakening. The Ayahuasca experience is truly unique to each and every person as it enables us to make a direct connection with the deepest parts of our subconscious mind, establishing a profound connection with our inner realms and higher self. Many of us are getting lost in this modern world. We forget or neglect to take time to reflect upon our lives, decisions, and traumas. Ayahuasca reopens the window into our soul and shows us who we are, why we came to this earth and, last but not least, she shows us who we can become. Truly getting to know yourself is like coming home.
Ayahuasca like many other entheogens, also has the potential to give us a truly mystical experience. A direct connection with God, Allah, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, or whatever name you want to use to describe the Mystery. Many report feeling completely one with all life on Earth and beyond. They go past their personal ego existence and get a true sense of the whole, understanding that we are all connected as one. Saying this is one thing, but feeling it is something else. These are the kinds of experiences that have the potential to change your life. Many report that decades after their experience they still remember it like it was yesterday.
“Once you glimpse the truth about yourself, your understanding will be complete, and you can finally be at peace.”
― Rachel Hartman
Integration
One of the most important aspects of working with Ayahuasca and other plant medicines is taking what we experience in ceremony and integrating it with our day to day lives. What do we do with our experiences once we get home, back to normal life? How do we make sense of all the visions and insights that came to us, some confusing and maybe even frightening, others loving and beautiful?
We at Pachamama Temple think this part of the journey is often neglected by other retreat providers, and it is one of the areas where we strive to make a difference. We will reach out to you during the retreat with certain tools, ranging from meditation and yoga, group sharing circles, art workshops and supportive personal attention to assist you with integrating your lessons. Of course there will come a time to go home. In order to keep our support going beyond our gates, we invite our guests to stay in touch and our team will make themselves available for online help and advice.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” – Buddha
Meditation
Meditation plays an important part in achieving this goal by increasing your body awareness and giving you tools to reach deeper states of relaxation. Meditation promotes healing on many different levels. On a physical level it helps the body to increase serotonin levels, which can improve mood and behavior. It lowers high blood pressure, and also lowers the level of blood lactate, which can reduce anxiety attacks. It helps to decrease tension related pain, discomfort and dysfunction that can manifest in issues such as tension headaches, muscle and joint aches, ulcers, and insomnia. These are just a few of the benefits received from this practice. The Ayahuasca experience has some similarities to deep meditation, in that both allow your spirit to wonder. The medicine can assist you in accessing a part of your mind that is usually closed off. By training your mind, through the particular practice of meditation shown to you at the retreat, you are able to access this part of your mind, with daily practice and perseverance. This is also a skill that you can have when you are home from the retreat, which can help you to reconnect to the positive attributes you experienced during your stay with us.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Managing Expectations
Many people who come and drink Ayahuasca for the first time have unrealistic expectations. They might expect to see mind-blowing visions, have incredible insights or be healed almost instantly during their first ceremony. Ayahuasca retreat is not a quick fix. Healing often takes place on deeper levels that we are not always aware of, and it takes time. Letting go of these expectations can be difficult. We do not always get what we (our ego) want from the Medicine. Those who are more experienced will tell you that the medicine gives you what you need, rather than that what you want. This often only becomes clear in hindsight. It’s also very possible that in the process of confronting your shadows, your mood will become low. As with all healing often we feel worse before we feel better. The key to a successful journey, in our opinion, is the ability to surrender to the medicine and to develop a trusting relationship with Mother Ayahuasca.
“A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect”
―Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Retreat Schedule
Pachamama Temple 7 Day Ayahuasca Retreats
***Please note that all times are estimated, and activities are subject to change due to unpredictable issues that arise due to weather, illness, etc.
Day 1
11:00 Collection outside Los Gavilanes Hotel
11:30 Arrival at Pachamama Temple and room allocation, meet the maestros
12:00 Group meeting – Introduction to staff and tour of temple grounds
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Group meeting – agreements, rules & guidelines
16:00 Ayahuasca vine preparation
19:00 Group meeting – ceremony conduct
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, time for introspection and relaxation
21:00 First ceremony
Day 2
08:00 Traditional cleansing vomitivo
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Brewing Ayahuasca
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Individual consultations with the Maestros
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, time for introspection and relaxation
21:00 Second ceremony
Day 3
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Sharing Circle
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Shipibo market
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
20:00 Dinner & camp fire
Day 4
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
11:30 Introduction to Rapé medicine
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Shipibo history and culture lesson with Maestro
15:00 Q & A with Maestros
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, time for introspection and relaxation
21:00 Third Ceremony
Day 5
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Art workshop
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Fourth ceremony (closing protective Arkaneo ceremony)
Day 6
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Sharing Circle
13:00 Festive traditional Shipibo meal with the Family
15:00 Boat tour (weather permitting)
20:00 Dinner & camp fire
21:00 Fire ceremony
Day 7
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Group meeting – Integration
11:30 Taking group pictures
13:00 Lunch
14:30 Depart for los Gavilanes hotel
Pachamama Temple 12 Day Ayahuasca Retreats
***Please note that all activities are subject to change due to the needs of retreat guests and any other unpredictable issues that arise due to weather, illness, etc.
Day 1
11:00 Collection outside Los Gavilanes Hotel
11:30 Arrival at Pachamama Temple and room allocation, meeting the Maestros
12:00 Group meeting – Introduction to staff and tour of temple grounds
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Group meeting – agreements, rules & guidelines
16:00 Ayahuasca vine preparation
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Group meeting – ceremony conduct
20:00 The story of Pachamama
Day 2
08:00 Traditional cleansing vomitivo
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Brewing Ayahuasca
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Individual consultations with the Maestros (part 1)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, time for introspection and relaxation
21:00 Second ceremony
Day 3
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
11:30 Introduction to Rapé medicine
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Tips from Maestro – “How to get the most from your ceremony”
15:30 Individual consultations with the Maestros (part 2)
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, time for introspection and relaxation
21:00 Third Ceremony
Day 4
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Sharing Circle
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Shipibo Market
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
20:00 Dinner & camp fire
Day 5
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Q & A with Maestros
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Fourth ceremony
Day 6 – Laundry, bedsheet & room cleaning
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Art workshop
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Fifth ceremony
Day 7
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Shipibo culture lesson with the Maestro
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Sixth ceremony
Day 8
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Sharing Circle
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Boat tour (weather permitting)
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
20:00 Dinner & Camp fire
Day 9
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Traditional Shipibo embroidering workshop
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Seventh ceremony
Day 10
08:45 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Flower bath
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Group trip to the river for a swim (weather permitting)
17:00 Plant medications (Tanti rao & Marika)
19:30 Meditation in the Maloka
20:30 Preparation for ceremony in the Maloka, quiet time for relaxation
21:00 Eighth ceremony (closing protective Arkaneo ceremony)
Day 11
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Closing the sharing Circle
13:00 Festive traditional Shipibo meal with the Family
14:30 Relaxing/free time
20:00 Dinner & camp fire
21:00 Fire ceremony
Day 12
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Group meeting – Integration
11:30 Taking group pictures
13:00 Lunch
14:30 Depart for los Gavilanes hotel
Why choose Pachamama Temple
- In Pachamama, we are a group of individuals who do this work sincerely, from our hearts and with love. Our only motive is to be in service of the Medicine and help those in need of healing, just like we were helped sometimes before on our journey. Many Ayahuasca Retreats in Peru are owned solely by business-oriented Westerners who often keep most of the profits for themselves. Pachamama Temple works closely with the local community and our healers have a big share in the organization and are proud owners of the land that the Temple is built on. We don’t just employ these remarkable people. Instead we have decided to work with them on a basis of equality. Pachamama Temple is built in the Shipibo homeland which means our Shamans don’t have to leave their families and loved ones for months at a time just to make a living in the jungle of Iquitos.
- The location of our temple was chosen by Maestros themselves, and wholeheartedly embraced by our common vision. The attraction of deep jungle nature might not be fully present at Pachamama temple, and occasionally we might experience some noise and light pollution from the neighbouring Pucallpa and surrounding villages.
We realise that there is a tendency to approach an Ayahuasca retreat as a means of escape from our busy lives and problems. We want to cut ourselves out from everyday life, close our eyes to all surrounding problems and issues, hide deep in the jungle and dive into our psychedelic journey to the unknown! We immerse ourselves into the beauty of nature and jungle life, we glorify fascinating Shipibo people as forest spirits, free from problems and life struggles, living in harmony with nature, with their environment, and deeply in peace with themselves. This is far from reality and in Pachamama, we decided to take more of a “cold shower reality check” approach to our healing. After visiting our Maestros in their real environment for the first time, we discovered the reality that most of Shipibo people (as well as the rest of Peruvians in Pucallpa) live in. Poverty, lack of basic hygiene and means to provide for their families is the daily existence for these people. Despite their limiting circumstances, they still find the strength to face every day with love, joy and laughter, and provide healing to all those in need.
Hiding this reality behind exotic leaves and flowers of the thick jungle getaway is, in our opinion, simply an unfair and unethical thing to do. We stayed together to face our common challenges and joys as fellow humans.
In Pachamama we don’t hide from shadows and we believe that the same should be applied to our healing path. We offer you a retreat with no boundaries where you can face your deepest self, as well as develop compassion and understanding towards others. Apart from the transparency, our location gives us incomparable ability to dive in to modern Shipibo’s life and their environment as it is. We did not take them from their life, we became a part of it instead. We live in the community as a family and offer you nothing less than a home full of love and warmth. Isn’t that what Ayahuasca and healing is all about? Isn’t that the change in the world we want to see? To stand strong as a community in brotherhood and set our differences apart? Honest and supportive to our neighbours and friends, in exchange for their wisdom and healing. We would like to be clear that in all stated above, we do not wish to disregard or criticise other retreats as many of them offer legit and beautiful spaces in nature including the deep work with plant medicines, and for many, that might be the way to go. We simply try to present our beliefs to you in a transparent way and hope it will resonate with your understanding of our modern world and the healing path within it. - You are safe and well looked after as healing itself is our biggest motivation. English speaking facilitators are available 24 hours per day with help and support always available if you need it. Our program allows you an individual approach and a lot of personal time with our healers and they are happy to guide you through your Ayahuasca journey.
- Pachamama Temple’s Ayahuasca brew is purely made from only Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna plant. There are no other additives as we want to keep the most traditional recipe. Every cup of Ayahuasca we serve to our Guests is cooked here at the Temple and our Guests get the chance to witness and help with the brewing process. During this time, you have a chance to ask our Maestros whatever Ayahausca brewing questions you might have.
- For the quality of services we offer to our Guests, we are well under the price of other establishments who organise retreats for the same duration. We run this retreat because we believe in a certain set of values, not to get rich. Our main drive and motivation is healing, rather than profit.
“Our true nature is divine and eternal. Our true purpose of life is to awaken and realize that permanent divinity that is within us.”
― Amit Ray, Enlightenment Step by Step
SOI KANO Shipibo school
Video Testimonials
Erik’s Ayahuasca Retreat Experience at Pachamama Temple
Maria Johanna’s Ayahuasca experience at Pachamama Temple
Marleen’s Ayahuasca Retreat Experience at Pachamama Temple
Mark’s Ayahuasca Retreat Experience at Pachamama Temple
WRITTEN TESTIMONIALS
COMPASSIONATE HEALING
COMPASSIONATE HEALING
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
When you are looking for a good place to experience the Ayahuasca medicine I definitely recommend Pachamama Temple. I encountered a 12-day retreat there in July 2016. In this little paradise down the suburbs of Pucallpa, peace and relaxation is to be found. The beautiful surroundings were perfect to forget where I came from for a while, to connect with the people around me there and to concentrate on a healing journey. The loving facilitators who among others guided me trough the process are devoted and experienced, which constantly made me feel I was in good hands with them. And then there are the maestros and maestras, who made the whole adventure so special! They care for their guests while using all the abilities and knowledge they have, using for instance plant medication or singing personal Icaros. It’s also cool to learn about their colorful Shipibo culture during the workshops they provide, which are integrated in the program. I enjoyed the atmosphere at Pachamama, the excellent food they serve and the loving family who were so welcoming. Also the city of Pucallpa is nice to spend some time as you will not meet loads of tourists. I enjoyed discovering the streets and markets to experience the life of the friendly locals. In the end I wasn’t done with the place at all, but of course I had to catch my flight back. So surely this wasn’t the last visit… Maybe next time I’ll meet you there?
Michele L. Spann
HEALING AT PACHAMAMA TEMPLE
HEALING AT PACHAMAMA TEMPLE
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
Wow. What an amazingly inspiring, enlightening, and life changing trip. I may have done ten years worth of healing in one week. No amount of psychology or rehab could have have achieved what this trip to Peru has. I did some intense deep healing. Ayahuasca has opened my eyes to so many layers of my existence. Peeling away the layers that no longer serve me. Shining a light on the darkness and empowering me to embrace it and sit with it so I can free myself from it and move forward towards healing and growing into my true authentic self. I let go of so much pain. Pain I have been carrying with me for years. Words cannot describe what I went through these past ten days and the beauty and healing I underwent. . Don’t get me wrong, it was not all pretty lights and fluffy clouds, I faced alot of my issues and traumas and stared them dead in the eyes. I went to battle and can honestly say I won. It was not easy, but growing never is. At some points I thought I may have been losing my mind. But I wasn’t. It’s all part of the process. I left feeling many emotions but mostly, I am much lighter and more equipped to deal with life. My time at Pachamama Temple was a very sacred experience that I will carry with me for eternity. I met some wonderful people that I hope to have in my life forever. Not to mention the structure of the temple itself is remarkably done. A true place of love and healing. I want to thank Pachamama Temple, Dominik and Eric for making this opportunity very real. I felt truly and utterly supported by both of you. The amazing family of shamans for their loving and inviting personalities and their beautifully healing icaros. To all the workers there that made sure the temple is clean and their smiles everyday. To the cooks who worked tirelessly to make sure we had food in our bellies. To all my friends and family who have stood by me all these years and never gave up. And most of all, all the people that donated to my cause and made this trip possible! From the depths of my heart thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Shawnee Letendre
COMING BACK TO ME
COMING BACK TO ME
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
I guess most of us have experienced the feelings of “I am not worthy”, “I can’t do that”, “I’m not capable enough” etc. in our lives. At my stay at the Pachamama Temple, I found out that these “lower” frequency feelings are not originating from my true higher self. During my stay at this wonderful retreat with these loving people I was able (during the Ayahuasca ceremonies) to distinguish these lower frequencies as a separate kind off entity feeding on these energies. It was clear to me that these entities can only survive and stay with me when I can produce enough energy for them to live on. These entities actually try to lure you into these lower emotional feelings and then feed on it. This awareness came to me during a pretty rough ceremony in which I was overwhelmed with feeling sorry for myself, feeling unworthy etc. When I was in this energetic trap I could suddenly see a kind of energetic creature, entity clinging to my energetic body. The moment I spotted it, it tried to hide and it went upward from my chest to my throat. I kept following it upward and when it came near my throat I became really sick and needed to purge. When I looked in my bucket, I saw this jellyfish looking “creature” dying there. I saw its energy pattern slowly fading to nothing. Man, what a relieve was that! Since this healing experience I noticed that I am so much more confident, sure about my capabilities, and knowing I can do anything I want as long as I give my best. We are all Capable! We are all love created! We are all gods and goddesses! We are worthy! We are powerful creators! We will change our future! We are the future! We are the ones we have been waiting for! Thank you Pachamama Temple for this healing experience!
Erik Wienk
I WILL BE BACK
I WILL BE BACK
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
Hillel Goral
PACHAMAMA TEMPLE
PACHAMAMA TEMPLE
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
Hello, my name is Sergio and I attended a ayahuasca retreat at the Pachamama temple in July of 2016. I have drank ayahuasca before in the Netherlands, where I live, but it was quite a different experience in Peru. Two weeks before the retreat I started to follow a traditional diet, as recommended by the temple. This was intense but really helped me to prepare myself for my journey. During the retreat, every morning and evening, each individual got different plant medications prescribed by the healers. You also get to enjoy several flower baths, they smell really nice! And of course at night the ceremony starts. If I can give any advice it is to not have any expectations when you drink ayahuasca. It is a process and you need to have faith in yourself, the spirits of the plants and creation as a whole. Every unnecessary thought can block your experience. This was really hard for me. As the mind is a tool to create it can also create problems. You cannot think yourself out of your thoughts and you have to let things go. So if you FEEL like you are struggling in life and that you need to discover a deeper part of yourself, if you are looking for healing of the body, mind and spirit, Pachamama temple is a great place to visit. I love you all and I have got hope for this planet. Now let’s create 
Sergio Carta
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ALL MY FRIENDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ALL MY FRIENDS.
5 STARS (RETREAT GURU)
Testimonial for Pachamama Temple I have just returned from Pachamama Temple, and the first thing I want to say is that I would wholeheartedly recommend undertaking ceremony here. This is a place I would definitely bring friends. Taking Ayahuasca, if you haven’t before, is a powerful and sacred undertaking so it’s important to find a place where you will be safe and cared for; Pachamama Temple is such a place. If you have journeyed before and wish to find a place that can support you through a more integrated process, that cares for you between ceremonies with healing support, herbal drinks and medicine as is needed and advised, massages, daily flower baths, attention to well-being, and contact with the Maestros to help with questions and concerns, then look no further. While the center is new, the guiding Maestros who come from an ancestral line of curanderos, carry a collective ability to negotiate the Ayahuasca-ceremonial space that is truly authentic in its connection with the medicine of Ayahuasca. While I have done several Ayahuasca retreats before, this one was the most integrating and healing. It was not only profoundly healing, like 10 years of therapy rolled into one night, but also utterly clarifying. I came with a ball of confusion, a lifetime of karmic knots resonating into a complex set of impossible conditions in my business concerns and personal life that I literally didn’t know how to untie or work out, even with all my decades as an accomplished meditation teacher, therapist, director of a non-profit, training facilitator, and so on. Mother Ayahuasca clarified pretty much everything at great depth, helping me understand how my current impasse was connected to very early abuse, which she helped me get clear in ways that I was never able to in therapeutic and meditative process. Once I got home, I was able to very quickly enact a number of needed changes with clarity, strength, firmness, kindness; all of which have been astonishingly liberating. I was only able to do this because of her gift of clarification, purification, and healing, which included going deeply into generational trauma, and healing some of where it began through literally contacting ancestors and transforming their trauma also. She, (Ayahuasca), showed me many, many things about the world in its current crisis, especially what is happening now in the U.S.A which has troubled me deeply. She helped me into a deeper understanding and process with the energetics of world events, so I can work in alliance with her. She is ancient, she is working with us now to raise our vibration, to clean out the karmic residue and she is on a mission! I feel honored to be one of her millions of conduits, to have tasted her – Pachamama – and to know her inordinate power, her depth intelligence, she knows it/ us all, the DNA of our bodies, but she is also us reaching out for our alliance. She will help guide us through these terrifying times, and we are in turn can help her, protect her, love her, vouch for her, be truly loyal servants for her. So don’t hesitate a moment longer to come into this experience and deep relationship with the most primal, intimate, and powerful intelligence of Ayahuasca-Pachamama. If you have the time, money, and ability to do so, go ahead and book your journey now. Really, for me, there is no other teacher (and I have been to many) who can help like Mother Ayahuasca. She is the master Guru, the master therapist, the master oracle, and the great healer and liberator. And Pachamama Temple is a great place to land your body for this journey into your own truth and your deepest heart. There, they will guide and look after you. These are my experiences I share with you. Yours will be unique to you. If, and hopefully when you come, do be careful to have no expectations, but know your journey will be right for where you are, and what is possible and needed at that time. I just want to sign off with deep gratitude to all that made my journey possible at Pachamama; Founders Dominik, Mama Rosa, Maestra Maria, Maestro Felicano, Maestro Gilberto, Maestro Genero, Maestro Luis, and of course Erik who is the glue holding all together, David, and so many more. Thank you to each and everyone. Marie O’Connor (USA)
Marie O’Connor
Most important 2 weeks of my life
I have recently completed a two weeks retreat at the Pachamama temple in Pucallpa, Peru and would like to share my experience which was, needless to say, life changing. The place itself is one with no ego, with facilitators and shamans that perfectly fit into that frame. Everything and everyone there is oriented solely on the individual’s healing process and towards making our journeys easier and more understandable. The facilitators, as well as the shamans (who live on or close to the property) are always available for private consultations and advice and are not mystified or kept in the “ceremony/maloka space bubble”. I went through several ceremonies, first of which was chaotic due to my lack of experience and knowledge on how to approach and work with the medicine or how to cope with a “heavy” journey. I have learned (again with the help and advice of caring facilitators and shamans) that setting your intentions before the ceremony is as important as the diet. Please do not mix expectations with intentions since intentions are as prayers and come with humbleness whereas expectations can only create disappointments as we cannot possibly comprehend the spectrum of Ayahuasca’s artistry, nor should we try to do so. Best advice I could give is to surrender with faith and trust and try to surf on the waves of Her energy without fear or resistance. At the end of the day and no matter how we interpret, understand or not understand the journey, She knows what She is doing and is there to help you. In my case, I found the dosage the be of crucial importance and as with any other medication, even a tiniest bit quantity wise can make a difference and thus, start your journeys with small doses and give Her space to show you the dosage She is comfortable to work with. Furthermore, my approach to shamans changed from one with subtle scepticism and latent prejudices to one of pure respect and I soon learned to treat and approach them with utmost love, respect and humbleness which was exactly what I received from them, regardless of my initial approach. They deserve the same respect that you would render to a physician who would be operating on your heart, since they do the same, but on an energetically and obviously, more subtle level. Mending broken hearts and minds without knives and stitches. Without stitches, however, does not mean less painful. The traditional doctor will give you an anaesthesia where in this case, you must face many dark sides of your brain and even though you will be safe and warm in the maloca and surrounded by loving people, the journeys can be very hard and exhausting, surfacing traumas and fears that were buried deep in the subconscious creating behavioural patterns and making us into adult auto pilots, contributing all our miseries to something or someone external. The shamans and their icaros guided me through the choppy waters of Ayahuasca, however, the work was mine to be done. The most important and by far the hardest ceremony I went through (I soon learned those are the most life changing and should be embraced as blessings) was the one that went deep into the subconscious and put a spotlight on the very source, the nucleus of the patterns that made me come to Pachamama in the first place. The patterns that made me addictive to being unhappy and judgemental to myself and everyone around me. The medicine took me to the deepest pits of my subconscious mind, where the God given, long time ago forsaken and forgotten child had been timidly hiding from childhood traumas and fears. I saw this child that in a subtle and gradual, but at the same time, aggressive and violent way, got banned from my own existence in a storm called life. It was now in exile, surrounded and safely guarded by many layers ego that dwell as it’s guards, making sure it does not escape from this life long night mare. It was sitting there in the darkest and most unreachable corner of my subconscious being and Ayahuasca, armed with the light of consciousness and teamed up with extremely powerful and experienced shamans, confronted all those guards, took the child by the hand and showed me the divine within. The divine we all came with. I felt as if a tumour had been removed from my soul. A physical ease from heavy burdens that I have been carrying for so long, that I actually became accustomed to their weight. I do realise that the ceremonies serve merely as guidelines and that Ayahuasca is not a gold fish or a fairy with a magic wand. For me, the work begun with the following morning, with the first negative thought that was in the service of the old patterns. The only difference is that that morning, I could actually recognise it as such, instead of attributing it to my personality. We cannot fight our patterns without the light of consciousness and in Pachamama temple, I received all the light I needed. The whole atmosphere of the place seemed like from another dimension. The food was healthy, delicious and prepared with love, I tried fruits I never knew even existed ???? There are innocent and unspoiled children running around the property (Shaman’s kids I realised afterwards), people are caring in a genuine way, conversations are real and friendships for life. The support I got goes beyond anything I have ever experienced in this life and I highly recommend it to all of you brave enough to face and fight that which does not belong to you.
ANA MACA
Pricing & Payment
Our 12 Day Ayahuasca retreats cost $1750 US and $1050 for 7 Day retreat Dates and Booking.
What’s Included
- Pickup outside the Los Gavilenas Hotel on day one.
- Seven Ayahuasca ceremonies over the 12 day retreat/four ceremonies over the 7 day retreat.
- Accommodation in a private room.
- Experienced facilitators to guide you throughout the retreat with processing and integrating your healing experiences.
- All food and drink – a delicious simple diet suitable for working with Ayahuasca.
- Vomitivo (purging ritual) to rid the stomach of some toxins.
- Opportunity to participate in brewing Ayahuasca.
- Individual consultations with the healers to discuss your experiences and healing process.
- Flower baths.
- Individually prescribed plant medicines.
- Meditation classes.
- Art workshop.
- Shipibo embroidering workshop (12 day retreats only)
- Fire ceremony.
- Shipibo language and history classes.
- Traditional Shipibo BBQ.
- Traditional festive Shipibo meal with the community.
- Sharing circles.
- Access to the Shipibo market (all items are at an additional cost and payments go directly to the merchant)
- Laundry service.
- Translation from Shipibo / Spanish to English.
- Workshops facilitated in English.
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.”
― Robin Sharma
Payment Terms & Cancellations
An initial deposit of 50% of the retreat price in US dollars confirms your reservation. The final instalment with remaining 50% of the price is due at least 4 weeks before your retreat.
*All payments go through our online booking agent Retreat Guru.
* We accept payments via credit card and PayPal. Credit card payments are made during the online booking process. If you select to pay via PayPal, we will issue you an invoice after your medical screening questionnaire has been approved. If you have made a credit card payment and we can’t accept your booking because the questionnaire shows medical contraindications, your payment will be fully refunded as quickly as possible.
*We offer you the option of paying a deposit of at least 50% of the program cost to confirm your reservation. You can also pay the full price of the retreat cost when booking. Your balance must be paid in full at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the retreat to guarantee your reservation. If you make a deposit with a credit card, we will charge that card automatically for the outstanding balance 4 weeks prior to the start of the workshop.
*Payments are only refundable provided we have a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice prior to the start of a workshop. Any refunds given will incur a $ 50 US administration fee. You may change your workshop reservation to another date at no cost or transfer your payment(s) to another participant, provided that this participant has been approved to attend a workshop and provided that it is a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the start of the workshop.
*If your original payment was made with a credit card, any refund will be credited back to the card originally charged.
*For cancellations within 6 weeks of the start of a workshop, payments will only be refunded if we can fill your place in the workshop. We will try our best to do so! However you will still be able to transfer your deposit to a future retreat or to another participant who is approved to attend.
*If you cancel more than 6 weeks before the retreat starts you will receive a full refund, however the refund will be issued in USD. If the currency of your bank/credit card is not in USD then the refund will be converted to your own currency using the exchange rates on the day of the refund. Due to the constant fluctuations of exchange rates, it’s possible you might receive slightly more or slightly less than you originally paid in your own currency.
Dates & Booking
| Dates | Upcoming Retreats | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Dates | 7 Days Ayahuasca extra days |
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Closed |
| Open Dates | 12 Days Ayahuasca extra days |
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Closed |
Our Screening Process
Pachamama Temple welcomes people of all nationalities and religions who feel called to work with the Medicine. We hope to welcome positive and sincere people who have an open-heart and an open-mind and are interested in spiritual development and healing their mind, body and soul. All our retreats are facilitated in English. Our twelve day retreat is well suited for people who are fairly new to working with Ayahuasca as well as for those who have experienced Ayahuasca before and wish to immerse themselves deeper into the Medicine and Shipibo culture.
Unfortunately, Ayahuasca is not suitable for everybody. There are some exceptions where we will not be able to accept a booking due to certain psychological and physical conditions or potential medical contraindications. For more information read our Medical Guidelines and Medication Policy below. All applicants must complete a comprehensive medical screening and psychological questionnaire to identify any potential complications. If you would like to be pre-approved before booking, please complete our pre-screening questionnaire.
Although healing is always the main focus of working with Ayahuasca, we feel this retreat is not suitable for people who are dealing with chronic or terminal illness and need extensive medical care. As much as we want to accommodate everyone in need of healing, unfortunately we don’t have the means to provide this level of care and would not be able to ensure your needs would be met. We also advise Guests who are dealing with very severe emotional trauma to always talk with their doctor or therapist about attending an Ayahuasca retreat and contact us before booking so we can discuss your individual case in detail.
Medical Guidelines
You Can Download Our Medical Guidelines Here
As an Ayahuasca healing centre, the safety and health of our Guests is our priority and biggest concern. Our Ayahuasca medical guidelines are set in order to be sure that you start your retreat in safe and healthy conditions. For this reason, it is necessary that you inform us, in 100% confidence, about your mental and physical health and any use of medication at the time of your booking with Pachamama Temple. We work with a Senior Nurse who supervises all the questionnaires in order to make sure you are safe to embark on your Ayahausca experience. Please read the information on this page carefully to ensure your own safety, discuss your retreat with your doctor in relation to your personal health condition and contact us if you have any further questions.
Physical Health Conditions
* If you have any high blood pressure or a cardiovascular heart condition you can not participate in ceremonies. Ayahuasca can elevate the blood pressure and increase heart attack risks.
* If you have diabetes there is more risk involved with the absorption of Ayahuasca. The use of the MAOIs present in Ayahuasca can alter blood sugar levels via hypoglycemic effects. MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that is needed by your body. People with severe unstable diabetes should not take Ayahuasca because of this risk. People with less severe diabetes should contact us prior to booking a retreat to discuss the particulars of the case including the possibility of a modified dieta and approach.
* If you or an immediate family member has a history of epilepsy and/or seizures, you must inform us prior to booking a retreat. Use of Ayahuasca, if not properly managed and monitored, can induce a seizure if you have a prior family history of epilepsy.
* If you have a liver or kidney condition there is more risk involved with the absorption of Ayahuasca. The liver and the kidneys play essential roles in the metabolism of exogenous and endogenous chemicals. Ayahuasca contains harmine and related alkaloids, which act as inhibitors of monoamine oxidase. This inhibition activity occurs in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. If a participant has various monoamines still present in their system from diet, environmental exposure, medical condition, or use of pharmaceutical or illicit drugs, these would accumulate in the presence of an MAOI and would add further stress for the liver and kidneys.
* If you have a hypothyroidism condition, it is generally safe to partake in the use of Ayahuasca; however, you must inform us of your condition, so that we can closely monitor your dosage during your course of Ayahuasca. You also may continue using your hypothyroid medication (synthetic hormones, such as synthroid) during your retreat experience without complication.
* If you have tuberculosis you must not take Ayahuasca.
* Apparently, there are no contradictions that we know of with pregnancy and drinking Ayahuasca, however, there is not enough medical research to support this and as a centre that cares about the safety and well-being of our Guests, we would not like to take risks with any possible pregnancy complications that might affect mothers to be or their babies. In order to avoid any possible contraindications, we do not advise pregnant women to attend our retreats.
Mental Health Conditions
* If you have a (family) history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia you should realise you are at an increased risk for the expression of these conditions and their symptoms and you must inform us about this. It is also possible that Ayahuasca can unmask such symptoms in predisposed individuals. If you contact us we will look into the possibility of participating in a retreat on an individual basis.
* If you suffer from depression Ayahuasca has shown good abilities to heal people. Please inform us when booking to discuss your personal case. The use of antidepressants and Ayahuasca can be a dangerous combination. If you are using any antidepressants it is very important that you stop using them before attending the retreat. You will need to stop using this medication on time to give your system sufficient time to remove them from the body. Please read our medication policy for more information.
Illegal or Recreational Drugs
Using stimulants with MAOIs is particularly dangerous and can be potentially fatal. Using cocaine, amphetamines or MDMA (Ecstasy) with MAOIs may cause a severe increase in blood pressure, increasing the chances for stroke and cerebral haemorrhage, making it possible to overdose on a relatively small amount of cocaine. (A fatality has been recorded involving combining Peganum harmala and cocaine. Fatalities resulting from combining amphetamines with pharmaceutical MAOIs are also recorded in the medical literature). Using other serotonin agonists or precursors with an MAOI can lead to serotonin syndrome. The main symptom of serotonin syndrome may be a severe and long-lasting headache (the same symptom as MAOI tryptamine interaction) and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more) Other symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include rapid heartbeat, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent tremor or twitching, overactive or over-responsive reflexes, hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure. Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to shock, agitated delirium, muscular rigidity and high muscular tension, renal failure, seizures, and can be life-threatening.
Illegal or recreational drugs that are dangerous to combine with MAOIs: Cocaine, Amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine),MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA, Dextromethorphan (DXM), Opiates, Barbiturates, Kratom, Kava.
Smoking marijuana before the Ayahuasca ceremony may possibly darken the overall experience acting as a blockage for the visionary plant to manifest in its full potential. Given the general amplified sensitivity of all participants of an Ayahuasca session, marijuana can sometimes negatively affect not just the person who used it, but also potentially other participants’ experiences as well as the overall energy level of the medicine circle. Again, this is a rather “grey zone” and may vary from case to case, however, we do not recommend marijuana usage prior/post to our retreats.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You should seek professional medical advice on preparations prior to travelling to Peru. Taking vaccinations is something we will leave to your personal preference as travelling to Peru might include slight risks of contracting malaria, dengue fever etc. We have never had a single case of any of these diseases and have not heard of anyone contracting them since the temple was founded, however, cannot guarantee that it will not happen. For drinking Ayahuasca, it would be better to have a body clean from vaccines/pills, however, this decision will be entirely up to our Guests to decide. For the safety and well-being of all Guests, if we suspect that street drugs or alcohol have been taken immediately prior to arrival at the Temple, we reserve the right to refuse admission to participation. We need to offer this advice and insist on these conditions in order to assure your personal safety and the overall welfare of the group. By coming to our retreat, you are declaring that you are in a physical and mental condition appropriate to the activities described in the workshop programs, and agree that you participate at your own risk. Pachamama Temple cannot accept liability for any accident or injury.
Medication Policy
You Can Download Our Medication Policy Here
All medications taken within the past year must be disclosed in confidence to Pachamama Temple prior to completing the registration process. Failure to do so will put you and your health at risk. In general, one should not be taking any other substances or medications, (including herbal medicines) when taking Ayahuasca or dieting other medicinal plants, both for your safety and not to interfere with the efficacy of the plants or their energies. All prescription medications, certain supplements, and illegal drugs should be ceased at least 2 to 8 weeks prior to drinking Ayahuasca, depending on the specific type of medication or supplement. Synthetic hormones taken for hypothyroidism are an exception. You may continue to take your hypothyroid medication during your course of Ayahuasca, but are still required to inform Pachamama Temple that you are taking the medication. Many over the counter medications, such as antihistamines, require only 48 hours of non-use prior to Ayahuasca, although we still recommend ceasing them 2 weeks in advance. Specific medications, such as MAOIs and SSRIs, pose substantial health complications in conjunction with Ayahuasca and therefore require a longer cessation period. Please consult the comprehensive list below for detailed descriptions of specific medications and the recommended cessation period. And remember, always consult your doctor when ceasing any prescription medication. Some medications have moderate to serious withdrawal effects, so added time might be necessary to safely ween yourself off your medication(s). When consulting your doctor, please inform him that you will be taking a reversible MAOI.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): 4 – 6 weeks prior to ceremony.
Ayahuasca is a very potent natural MAOI and should not be used in combination with other MAOIs. Combining MAOIs can lead to complications in the regulation of neurotransmitters and digestion, such as hypertensive crisis, convulsive seizures, fever, delirium, coma, and circulatory collapse. Withdrawal symptoms are possible when ceasing prescription MAOIs, so it is important to consult a doctor as to how to taper off one’s dosage. Why? Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme responsible for clearing certain neurotransmitter chemicals from the brain. When the activity of this enzyme is inhibited, the brain has more norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine available to send important messages and regulate mood states. This enzyme is also important in the digestive process.
Medications: Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil(phenelzine), Emsam, Eldepryl, and Zelapar (selegiline), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Aurorix and Manerix (moclobemide), Pirazidol (pirlindole)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): 6 or 8 weeks prior to ceremony, 4 weeks after ceremony.
The combination of Ayahuasca (an MAOI) and SSRIs is potentially life-threatening. Any medication which has an effect on the serotonin system, such as SSRIs can induce serotonin syndrome in conjunction with Ayahuasca. It is extremely important that you give the medication enough time to leave your system and give yourself time to adjust to not being on your medication as side effects from stopping your medication may arise. Prozac requires stoppage 8 weeks prior to drinking Ayahuasca due to its longer half-life. All other SSRIs require 6 weeks. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first. Why? Ayahuasca is an MAOI which allows for certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, to become more available in the brain. SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. The combination of these two substances will cause an excess and/or overload of serotonergic activity in the central nervous system and peripheral serotonin receptors.
Medications: Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro and Cipralex (escitalopram), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil and Seroxat (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine),Zoloft and Lustral (sertraline)
Other Anti-Depressants: 6 weeks prior to ceremony, 4 weeks after ceremony
Anti-depressants other than SSRIs, such as serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs), serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), norepinephrine inhibitors (NRIs), norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs), noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs), and serotonin modulator and stimulators (SMSs) can pose serious complications in conjuction with drinking Ayahuasca. If combined with an MAOI, one can have one can have an overload of the neurotransmitter leading to serious health complications. It is extremely important that you give the medication enough time to leave your system and give yourself time to adjust to not being on your medication as side effects from stopping your medication may arise. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first. Why? Ayahuasca is an MAOI which allows for certain neurotransmitters to be more available in the brain. Other anti-depressants also alter brain neurochemistry leading to possible serious health complications when combined.
Medications: SNRIs: Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Fetzima (levomilnacipran), Ixel and Savella (milnacipran), Effexor (venlafaxine), SARIs: Axiomin and Etonin (etoperidone), Serzone and Nefadar (nefazodone), YM-992, YM-35,995 (lubazodone), Desyrel (trazodone), NRIs: Strattera (atomoxetine), Edronax (reboxetine), Vivalan (viloxazine), NDRIs: Wellbutrin and Zyban (bupropion), TCAs: Elavil and Endep (amitriptyline), Evadene (butriptyline), Anafril (clomipramine),
Norpramin and Pertofrane (desipramine), Prothiaden (dosulepin, dothiepin), Adapin and Sinequan(doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Prondol (iprindole), Feprapax, Gamanil, Lomont (lofepramine), Pamelor (nortriptyline), Insidon (opipramol), Vavactil (protriptyline),
Surmontil (trimipramine), TeCAs and NaSSAs: Asendin (amoxapine), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Lumin, Bolvidon, Norval, Tolvon (mianserin), Remeron (mirtazapine), SMSs: Viibryd (vilazodone), Brintellix (vortioxetine), Anti-depressant or other drug containing MAO inhibitors or SSRIs, i.e. Prozac, Seroxat, Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil, Welbutrin (bupropion) also sold as Zyban as aid therapy to the urge to smoke – or similar medication.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants (and sleeping pills): 3 to 4 weeks prior to ceremony
CNS depressants, such as certain anti-anxiety medications and sleeping aids, should not be used in conjunction with Ayahuasca due to serious health risk. The use of Ayahuasca can increase the depressant effects of CNS depressants leading to slower brain activity, heart rhythm, and respiration. CNS depressants include benzodiazepines, sleep medications, and barbiturates. CNS depressants have a shorter half-life and therefore can be ceased 3 weeks prior to drinking Ayahuasca. Dependency on CNS depressants can arise easily, so withdrawal symptoms may arise when ceasing your medication. Please consult your doctor for help.
Medications: Benzodiazepines: Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alpazolam), Halcion (triazolam), ProSom (estazolam), Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications: Ambien (zolpidem), Lunesta (eszopiclone), Sonata (zalepon),Barbiturates: Mebaral (mephobarbital), Luminal Sodium (phenobarbital), Nembutal (pentobarbital), and any other barbiturate.
Other prescription and non-presription medictions: 2 to 3 weeks prior to ceremony
All other medications like antihistamines, decongestants, asthma inhalers, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, drugs with high content of caffeine and appetite suppressants (diet pills).
Herbs and herbal medications: 2 to 3 weeks prior to ceremony
Also avoid the following herbs as they may cause cutipado, or in other words interfere with the plants energy and provoke unwanted reactions: St. Johns Wort, Kava, Kratom, Ephedra, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Sinicuichi, Rhodiola Rosea, Kanna, Boswellia, Nutmeg, Scotch Broom and Licorice Root.
Antibiotics: 1 to 2 weeks prior to ceremony
Antibiotic therapy may cause potentially adverse reactions with the use of Ayahuasca.
Please contact us if you have any more questions.