PRE/POST DIETA
- GUIDELINES -
Master Plant Dieta
Before and After Your Retreat
Preparing your body, mind, and spirit for an Ayahuasca retreat and Master Plant Dieta is an essential part of the healing process. This traditional “la dieta” preparation helps create the physical and energetic conditions needed for deeper connection with the plant medicine.
The dieta is a physical, emotional, and energetic commitment that supports purification and sensitivity to the medicine. These dietary guidelines can be followed for at least three days before arriving at the retreat, although beginning several weeks in advance is strongly recommended for best results. A longer preparation period allows the body to gradually detox and release common stimulants and dietary habits. This often leads to a smoother ceremony experience, reduced physical discomfort, and a more grounded healing process. It may also help ease common withdrawal symptoms such as headaches or fatigue from coffee, sugar, alcohol, or processed foods.
Following the dieta before and after your retreat supports a more stable integration process and helps maintain the clarity, balance, and insight gained through the Master Plant Dieta experience.
Pre-Retreat Dieta
At Least 2 Weeks Before Arrival:
Please abstain from the following:
All natural/plant medicines and psychedelics (e.g., San Pedro, mushrooms, LSD, cannabis, Kambo, etc.)
All street drugs (e.g., cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, etc.)
Sexual activity of any kind, including masturbation
Caffeine and all stimulants
All dairy products
Alcohol
Pork
Garlic / Onions
Spicy Hot Peppers
At Least 1 Week Before Arrival:
Eliminate everything written in the list above, plus:
Red meat
Citrus fruit
Sushi
Avoid canned anything and dried fruit
Chocolate
Excess salt (keep minimal if necessary for health)
All oils (if needed, use a very small amount of olive or coconut oil)
Caffeine, Carbonated & Alcoholic beverages (including sodas, energy drinks, seltzer, and non-alcoholic beer)
Anything processed or smoked or with food additives / supplements / vitamins
Aged & Fermented foods (e.g., kombucha, yeast, kimchi, vinegar, soy sauce)
No intense breath-work (e.g., holotropic or any deep process-inducing techniques)
Refined sugars and sweeteners / Junk food and processed snacks and drinks
*Note: No Rape’ is to be used during your time at our center as this will interfere with the master plant dieta.
Post-Retreat Integration Dieta
Healing continues long after the retreat has ended. The post-dieta helps anchor and integrate the work done in ceremony. Reshin Nika may give you a personalized post-dieta protocol depending on the master plant you dieted and the length of your stay at the center. As a general guideline, guests who stay for two weeks typically follow the post-dietafor two weeks afterward, while those who stay for 1 month or longer follow the post-dieta for one month after leaving the center and returning home.
For 1 Week After:
Follow all the food restrictions for 2 weeks-below, plus..
Stay on the dieta as listed below up to two weeks, you can add back a little salt - Reshin says its also ok to have a little bit of coffee after leaving the center
Protect the crown of your head from direct sun and rain
(Your crown chakra is more open)Avoid ice, or very cold drinks (too shocking for the system)
No deep or therapeutic massage (try not to hug or touch anyone)
No intense physical exercise (gym, heavy cardio, weightlifting)
No energy work as a practitioner
Up to 2 Weeks After:
(you can finish after 1 week, if you did a 2-week dieta at our center)
*No alcohol or street drugs
No Citrus fruits (pineapple is not citrus but its too acidic - don’t eat too much fruit, once or twice a day small amounts)
No Avocados, nuts, or too much oil (can use olive or coconut oil sparsely)
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.
We welcome you to reach out with any questions about our retreats, ceremonies, or Master Plant Dietas. Our team is available to provide information and support as you consider this important step. To apply, simply complete the retreat application and begin your journey of healing, personal growth, and transformation in the Peruvian Amazon.
Recommended Preparation Resource: The Ayahuasca Guidebook
For a more in-depth understanding of Master Plant Dieta preparation and spiritual readiness, we recommend The Ayahuasca Guidebook, written by our Integration Coach, Shanti (aka Sharon Davis).
This comprehensive guide offers a structured, week-by-week dieta preparation plan, including a clear countdown for gradually eliminating specific foods and substances before your Ayahuasca retreat.
It also includes practical preparation tools such as a packing list, suggested herbal teas, and supportive guidance for both the pre-ceremony and ceremonial process. This makes it especially helpful for those transitioning from more conventional diets into the discipline of a Master Plant Dieta.
Beginning your preparation earlier allows the body and nervous system to adjust more gradually, helping to reduce common detox symptoms such as headaches, digestive discomfort, and cravings. This supports a smoother transition into ceremony and a more grounded, focused healing experience in the Peruvian Amazon.
🌿What to Eat / Pack for Travel + On-the-go (Dieta-Friendly Snacks)
Here are snack / travel-food ideas that are generally compatible with dieta guidelines — easy to carry, simple on digestion, and avoid problematic ingredients.
Fresh fruits (non-citrus/acidic, not overly ripe) — apples, pears, firm fruits, etc. (be sure to eat or dispose of all fruit before landing in Peru, they do not allow any fruit coming into their country and even have “fruit sniffing dogs” which can smell any fruit in your bags or luggage, and will force you to remove them).
Plain rice cakes or plain (unsalted, unflavored) whole-grain crackers / rice cakes.
Raw nuts and seeds (unsalted, unflavored) — almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
Homemade “energy balls” or simple homemade trail-mix (nuts + seeds, with a bit of plain nut butter) — good for protein and stable energy.
Plain cooked grains (if you can prepare or to purchase at airport) — e.g. plain rice, quinoa, oatmeal — light, easy to digest.
Light cooked vegetables or fresh salads with non-canned chicken or fish (steamed or boiled) at airport.
Herbal teas or plain water — stay hydrated, and avoid stimulants (caffeine, sugary drinks).
Plain nut butter in small sealed containers.
Helpful Teas & Calming Remedies: Reshin Nika approves the use of chamomile tea during the retreat. In the days leading up to your journey, and while traveling, calming herbal teas such as passionflower and mint may be helpful. Passionflower is commonly used to support relaxation and restful sleep, while mint can ease mild digestive discomfort.
Some guests also choose to bring activated charcoal capsules for travel-related discomforts such as headaches, stomach upset, or detox-related reactions, as well as mild altitude-related symptoms. These can act quickly for some people. As always, please listen to your body and use any remedies mindfully.
🌿 Why These Snacks Work for Plane / Travel + DietaPortability & Shelf-Stability: Many of these — nuts, seeds, rice cakes, nut butter — travel well and don’t require refrigeration.
Digestive Gentleness: Whole grains, plain produce, and lightly prepared veggies or grains are easy on the digestive system, especially before ceremonies.
Avoid Conflict with Ayahuasca MAOI Effects: By avoiding tyramine-rich foods, fermented or processed items, caffeine, alcohol, and heavy foods, you reduce risk of negative interactions.
Energy & Sustenance Without Overload: Nuts, seeds, plain grains give sustained energy — helpful for travel days and the physical demands of arriving at a jungle retreat with limited food options.
🌿What to Avoid (on the Plane/Travel) for a Dieta
To minimize digestive load, tyramine-risk, and energetic interference, it’s wise to avoid:
Processed, packaged, or highly processed snacks or anything canned (chips, cookies, candy, processed meats)
Foods with added salt, sugar, or artificial flavorings
Aged or fermented foods (cheese, cured/smoked meats, fermented soy products) — due to tyramine risk.
Strong hot spices, oils, fried foods, or rich fatty foods
Caffeine, chocolate, stimulants, alcohol
Dairy products and heavy meats (pork, red meat)
🌿Sample “Travel Snack Kit”
Apples or other firm fruits (pack securely in a zip-lock bag) – Easy to digest and refreshing.
Plain rice cakes or whole-grain crackers – A light carbohydrate source with no additives.
Small bag of raw, unsalted nuts and seeds – Simple protein and sustained energy.
Small jar of plain nut butter – Nourishing and easy to pair with fruit or rice cakes.
Herbal tea bags + an empty water bottle – Helpful for hydration and calming the nervous system during travel.
Plain cooked rice, oats, or quinoa (sealed) – A grounding, filling option during long travel days.
Carrot sticks or lightly cooked vegetables (if available) – Gentle fiber and easy on digestion.
Water (and optional coconut water) – Hydration is essential; avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks.
