AYAHUASCA PRE/POST DIETA
- GUIDELINES -

Important Notes:

The MAOI Science: Ayahuasca contains natural MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. MAOIs require caution with foods high in tyramine (found in aged cheeses, fermented foods, cured meats). When combined, they can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis). Avoiding these foods isn't mystical, it's a critical, evidence-based safety protocol.

Neurological Preparation: Reducing stimulants (caffeine, alcohol) and intoxicants allows your nervous system to regulate its natural dopamine and serotonin levels. This helps prevent overstimulation and supports a clearer baseline, making your mind more receptive and less reactive to the medicine's profound effects.

• Medications & Supplements: Please contact us if you are taking any medications or supplements.
  Many are not compatible with Ayahuasca and may need to be discontinued well in advance.

• Menstruation: If you will be menstruating during your retreat, kindly inform your facilitator upon arrival.

• Pregnancy: Ayahuasca is not safe during pregnancy.
  

When your everyday diet differs greatly from the food served at the center, the gut biome shifts rapidly, which can be much more challenging, bringing up more discomforts (headaches, stomach issues) than for those who already are eating closer to a clean, simple diet. Ayahuasca works on cleaning you out physically first before it can fully work on you energetically, so by changing your diet in advance, and doing supportive detoxing, this will give you a smoother, transformative experience, allowing you to move more directly into the visions, teachings, and deeper healing the medicine offers.

Note about salt:

Traditionally, Shipibo practitioners who undertook dietas with Master Plants in the jungle also included daily fish and plantains in their meals. These foods were their primary sources of salt and electrolytes. Today, many retreat centers no longer serve these traditional daily diet additions. It’s important to recognize that without some salt and fruit during a dieta, we can be dangerously depleted of electrolytes. Also, our bodies are not adapted to this region, like those who live in the jungle. Most visitors are not acclimated to the intense heat and humidity and therefore tend to sweat more and purge more than the shamans who historically undertook these dietas—shamans historically also maintained exceptionally clean, consistent diets from childhood, unlike us in this modern day and age.

For those traveling from distant countries, these environmental and dietary differences matter. Adequate electrolytes are essential, and lacking them while sweating and purging heavily can be dangerous. Additionally, some people have health conditions that make a strict no-salt diet extremely difficult or even unsafe. One example is POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which is more common among individuals who are neurodivergent or have high stress or trauma history, which can affect autonomic regulation. Also, certain autoimmune conditions can also make salt restriction challenging. Too little sodium, can lower blood pressure too much, leading to hypotension (low blood pressure).

For these reasons, I recommend bringing a small amount of salt and electrolytes to use sparingly, only if needed—if you begin to feel lightheaded, weak, or dizzy.. A no-salt dieta is traditionally meant to keep you less grounded, allowing for clearer connection with the plant spirits. However, a very small amount of salt will not interfere with your dieta or diminish its effects. Even at large, well-known retreats in Peru, such as Arkana, a tiny amount of salt is often added to daily meals for everyone, precisely for these reasons.

For up to 2 Weeks After:
(you can finish after 2 weeks, if you did a 2-week dieta at our center)

• *No alcohol or street drugs

• No Citrus fruits (pineapple is NOT citrus so thats ok - don’t eat too much fruit, once or twice a day small amounts)

• No Avocados (each shaman has specific things like this to avoid which depends on the dietas they did themselves)

• No dairy products

• *No spicy foods

• *No red meat or pork

• No refined sugars

• No oils and animal fats

• *No sexual activity, including masturbation

• Avoid energy healing modalities (e.g., Reiki, shamanic work)

• No intense breath-work (e.g., holotropic or any deep process-inducing techniques)

• No plant medicines or psychedelics (e.g., San Pedro, mushrooms, LSD, cannabis, Kambo, Rapé)

For up to 4 Weeks After:
(If you are at the center a month or longer)

• *No alcohol or street drugs

• *No spicy foods

• No refined sugars

• No oils and animal fats

• *No red meat or pork

• No deep or energetic massage

• Avoid energy healing modalities (e.g., Reiki, shamanic work)

• No intense breath-work (e.g., holotropic or any deep process-inducing techniques)

• No plant medicines or psychedelics (e.g., San Pedro, mushrooms, LSD, cannabis, Kambo)

*Critical Reminder:

In the rare cases where past guests have ignored post-retreat restrictions, psychological and energetic consequences have occurred. If you happen to eat something you shouldn’t, it wont break your diet fully as long as you don’t eat too much of it, just continue to avoid it after.
The most critical restrictions post-retreat are:

• No alcohol or street drugs

• No sexual activity

• No hot/spicy foods

• No pork
  

Failure to adhere to these can result in what the healers refer to as the “shattering of the healing mirror”—an energetic structure delicately woven into your system during the retreat. If broken, it can cause deep emotional and energetic disruption, requiring extensive healing work to repair.

By following this dieta with care and commitment, you are honoring the sacred process you are entering and creating the best possible foundation
for healing, insight, and transformation.

For a more in-depth, weekly dieta countdown & spiritual preparation guide, we highly recommend; The Ayahuasca Guidebook,

written by our Integration Coach, Shanti.

This comprehensive resource offers an extended dieta with a clear weekly countdown, helping you understand exactly when to eliminate specific foods and medications. It also includes a packing list, recommended herbal teas, and practical guidance for both before and during ceremony. This guide is especially supportive for those transitioning from less healthy diets.

By beginning your preparation earlier, you can avoid many uncomfortable detox symptoms—such as headaches, digestive discomfort, and cravings—that often arise from sudden dietary changes. Giving your body ample time to adjust allows your ceremonies and time at the center to be more comfortable, focused, and deeply supportive of your healing journey.