Preparing for Ayahuasca is very very important if you are going to take Ayahuasca seriously. Here is my simple guide to preparing both physically and mentally for and Ayahuasca experience which could be the turning point to changing the negative patterns in your life.
Why should you follow a diet?
There are three reasons why you should follow a preparation diet for Ayahuasca.
- It will help you avoid becoming very sick by avoiding certain foods and medications and,
- It will help Mother Ayahuasca to energetically be more effective. If you came to Ayahuasca for healing then this is a great way to increase the depth of healing and insights you will receive.
- It is a test of your commitment to the process. In some ways Ayahuasca is magical (or at least does things which we don’t yet understand) but it isn’t a ‘magic bullet’ so to speak. By that I mean you can’t expect to drink it and have a significant amount of healing if you aren’t willing to put in some effort.
- When you consider that the lessons that you learn in Ayahuasca will require commitment in order for you to execute then I would suggest to you that if you can’t or won’t take the diet seriously its more unlikely that you will be able to motivate yourself to integrate the learnings afterward.
How long should you follow a diet?
On this site I have suggested that at the very least you should follow an Ayahuasca diet for 3 days prior to your ceremony however there are a few points to think about here.
- Consider 3 days a minimum. Most places recommend 2 weeks as a good preparation time however you should also take into account the guidelines of the place you are drinking Ayahuasca.
- It’s possible that you may be taking medication for an existing condition or illness. Having any kind of pharmaceutical medication is not recommended while drinking Ayahuasca. Depending on how long these particular pharmaceuticals take to leave your system you may have to stop taking them several weeks before drinking Ayahuasca such that they are out of your system by the time you drink. Check with your doctor as to how long the meds you are on stay in your system for.
What should you avoid or promote eating on an Ayahuasca Diet?
| What food should you AVOID? | What food should you PROMOTE? |
|---|---|
| Red meat | Olive or Coconut oil but small amounts |
| Street drugs (Cannabis, methamphetamines, Cocaine etc.) | Honey |
| Alcohol | Stevia (natural replacement for sugar) |
| Spicy food | Sounds contradictory to add this in but small amounts of milk or yoghurt are OK but you should restrict it a lot if you do want to still have these. |
| Ice cream and cold drinks | Rice and/or quinoa |
| Sexual activities, including masturbation | Fish |
| Junk Food | Fruits and Vegetables (try to avoid over ripe versions though like dried fruits ) |
| Salt and pepper | Nuts |
| Lollies, sweets and chocolates | Eggs |
| Animal fats and cooking oils | |
| Caffein | |
| Animal fats | |
| Animal fats | |
| Fizzy drinks (coke for example) | |
| Dairy foods | |
| Fermented food (saukraut etc) |
What pharmaceuticals should I avoid?
The short answer is all of them. Some people think this doesn’t apply to various common pharmaceuticals but it does, even a mild ibuprofen. While ibuprofen isn’t likely to seriously harm you when drinking Ayahuasca it won’t help.
The more serious pharmaceuticals to avoid are those used for depression (eg SSRI’s) but also certain malaria medications and altitude meds are also considered dangerous. These types of medications are more serious than ibuprofen and it the worst case scenario can lead to a stroke.
Note: I am not a doctor but I have written and researched this area a lot for my own ceremonies and for this website. If you’d like to read more about the intricacies of MAOI’s and the science of how they can be exacerbated by certain foods and medications then read this post. If in doubt, check with your doctor.
Do I need to follow the diet the ceremonies are completed?
Yes yes you do. Again, if you are serious about getting the most out of your Ayahuasca experience then follow the above food restrictions afterward as well. The retreat where you drink will recommend how long but it would be normal to do 2-4 weeks.
Again, this is an important test of your commitment. Spend this time in a comfortable and relaxed environment where you can contemplate your ceremony. Be weary of heading back into any stressful situation post Ayahuasca.
Further Reading:
- Read all about some Ayahuasca Diet recipes which I’ve used to prepare for my own ceremonies in Peru.
I’m going on my first retreat in 2 weeks. This is awesome!
Thanks so much!