Medical Guidelines

Our healing work is based on traditional Amazonian shamanic plant medicine. The medicinal plants we use, including but not limited to ayahuasca are biochemically and energetically very powerful and do not mix well with all other substances.

Many pharmaceutical drugs, natural supplements and herbs are not compatible with ayahuasca and some medical or psychological conditions are also not appropriate for treatment with this medicine.

However, even if you cannot drink ayahuasca, there may be other plants we can use to help you, so please discuss with us before dismissing the opportunity altogether.

It is the responsibility of all guests to consult with us and their doctors about the safety of ceasing medication within the time frames required by The Garden Of Peace. Also, full disclosure of medical conditions past and present are mandatory at the time of application for a retreat or ceremony.

Below is a list of SOME medical conditions, pharmaceuticals and supplements that are not compatible with drinking Ayahuasca. Please speak with us and your doctor if your condition is not listed.

We highly recommend all guests get a full medical checkup prior to working with us, including an ECG to screen for any heart function abnormalities as these can be undetected until you test for it. If you are traveling we can recommend a local doctor to do this.

Medical conditions not suitable for treatment with Ayahuasca.

• Schizophrenia

• Bipolar disorder

• Other dis-associative conditions including antisocial, suicidal tendencies and mood disorders

• Serious heart conditions

Pharmaceuticals and Supplements not to be mixed with Ayahuasca

We require all guests to refrain from taking any pharmaceuticals or supplements during their stay unless it has been approved by us on special circumstance. Some medications need to be stopped well in advance (at least 1 month) of drinking Ayahuasca or other Master Plants. Different substances require longer to clear from your system so please speak with us and consult your doctor to establish how long you need to stop taking them before working with us and what the side effects may be when you do so.

These are some of the medications particularly contract-indicative with ayahuasca.

• SSRI’s (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)

• amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine)

• antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)

• appetite suppressants (diet pills)

• medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems

• antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor-Trimeton, Compoz, etc.)

• CNS (central nervous system) depressants

• antipsychotics

• alcohol

Herbs and supplements not compatible

• St. Johns Wort

• Kava

• Ephedra

• Ginseng

• YohimbeSinicuichi

 

Specific drugs that should not be combined with Ayahuasca:

Actifed
Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Benadryl
Benylin
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Buspirone (BuSpar)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)
Chlor-Trimeton
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Cocaine
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
Cyclizine (Marezine)
Desipramine (Pertofrane)
Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Disopyramide (Norpace)
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Ephedrine
Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
Loratadine (Claritin)
Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
Meperidine (Demerol)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
Orphenadrine (Norflex)
Parnate
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Phenergen
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Procainamide (Pronestyl)
Protriptyline (Vivactil)
Pseudoephedrine
Quinidine (Quinidex)
Salbutemol
Salmeterol
Selegiline (Eldepryl)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Tegretol
Temaril
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Yohimbine