
Safety Considerations Regarding Ayahuasca
At Inner Flight Retreat, our top priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants in our ayahuasca ceremonies. To achieve this, we conduct a thorough medical screening to assess any potential risks, including physical conditions such as heart problems or liver failure, and psychological conditions like psychosis or bipolar disorders.
While ayahuasca has been shown to have numerous benefits for psychological well-being, it can also have negative effects on individuals with certain mental health conditions. For this reason, we must screen all participants to ensure their safety and avoid any potential adverse reactions.
In addition, we advise all participants to follow the ayahuasca diet and refrain from taking any prescription or herbal supplements that could have negative interactions with the MAOIs found in ayahuasca. We also recommend that participants speak with their doctor before stopping any medication.
At Inner Flight Retreat, we believe in the transformative power of ayahuasca, but we also understand the importance of safety and responsibility in its use. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants to explore the healing potential of this powerful plant medicine.
Contraindications
Psychological:
Ayahuasca is widely recognized for its positive psychological impact, but it’s important to note that individuals with certain psychological conditions, such as schizophrenia or psychosis, may experience negative effects from its use. Therefore, individuals with such conditions must refrain from participating in ayahuasca therapy. It is also essential to exercise special caution with individuals who have a history of suicidal ideation or dis-associative episodes.
Physical:
It is important to note that individuals with high blood pressure, cardiac disease, or advanced liver disease should exercise caution when considering ayahuasca consumption. Ayahuasca has been known to elevate blood pressure, and as such, individuals with pre-existing heart conditions are at an increased risk for complications. Additionally, due to the liver’s role in processing ayahuasca, individuals in advanced stages of liver disease may be at risk for added stress to their liver function. We advise that anyone with these conditions speak with their healthcare provider before considering ayahuasca consumption.
Mental Health History:
Providing complete and accurate information about any previous or existing mental health conditions is of utmost importance, irrespective of whether an individual is taking medication or not. This information should be shared with the practitioner to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Safety Considerations Regarding Kambo
People with any of the following are not recommended for treatment:
- Pregnancy or chance of being pregnant
- Drug consumption within two weeks before or after treatment (including MDMA, MDA, ecstasy, molly, heroin, ketamine, and party drugs)
- If you are menstruating at the time of treatment, Kambo may cause the flow to increase.
- Breastfeeding women
- Chemotherapy or have had radiation treatments within six weeks before or after Kambo treatment.
- Patients recovering from surgery
- Seriously low or high blood pressure that requires medication
- If you have a chronic illness, please get in touch with us beforehand to plan out the best path for you. This medicine will likely greatly support you.
Have you had any of the following (current or past):
- Serious heart problems, heart disease, bypass, or enlarged heart
- Organ Transplant, stem cell
- Serious mental health imbalance – please discuss with us if you are in question
- Stroke
- Brain hemorrhage
- Aneurism or blood clots, or medication for varicose veins
- Addison’s Disease, kidney or liver disease
- Epilepsy