Medical Precautions
and Warnings

...for those considering cleansing or healing
with Ayahuasca

It is important to know that, in some cases, the consumption of Ayahuasca can bear health risks. Advance dietary preparation is required for safety and optimal effectiveness.  The facilitating staff and traditional healers of Amazon SpiritQuest are experienced in the safe administration of Ayahuasca in its traditional ceremonial context and are expert in facilitating the complex experiential integration around the ceremonial experiences. Your safety, welfare,  holistic healing and positive transformation are our highest priorities.  We therefore provide these guidelines for your information.

If you are taking prescription medication (including antibiotics), are subject to high blood pressure, have a heart condition, or are under treatment for any health condition, consult your physician about the use of temporary monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).

Medical consultation is especially important if you are taking Prozac, Paxil, Welbrutin, Effexor, Zoloft or other antidepressants affecting serotonin levels, i.e.serotonin selectie re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). These medications generally require a period of up to six  weeks to completely clear the system and must be reduced gradually. Some may clear the system in a shorter period of time.  We recommend you consult your physician about the risks of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor in conjunction with your medication.  Based on growing anecdotal reports, Ayahuasca seems to provide deep-rooted and often-lasting relief from many common forms of depression.  In many cases, individuals do not feel they need to return to pharmaceutical antidepressants after intensive short-term treatment with Ayahuasca.

Non-prescription medications such as antihistamines, dietary aids, amphetamines and derivatives, and some natural herbal medicines, i.e. those containing ephedrine, high levels of caffeine, or other stimulants, may also cause adverse reactions. We recommend that you discontinue all such medications, drugs, and herbs for at least one week prior to and following work with Ayahuasca.

Menstrual period: Women are not permitted by the shamans to drink Ayahuasca during the flow of their menstrual cycle. This is an ancient ceremonial prescription based not in sexism but rather in safety concerns. We are unable to make exceptions because it is strict rule observed by shamans of both sexes. Please advise us if you believe your cycle may commence during your scheduled SpiritQuest work. It is possible we can find compatible alternatives.

We do everything possible to assure that your shamanic work at the SpiritQuest Shamanic Sanctuary ceremonial retreat center is safe and fulfilling.  Therefore we require full confidential disclosure of known medical conditions and all medications/drugs/herbs in current use as a condition of registration for Ayahuasca SpiritQuest. This is a necessary measure to help assure your safety and welfare.

You are solely responsible for taking appropriate health precautions. Each individual assumes all risk and liability in their use of plant medicines encountered during SpiritQuest workshop retreats.


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