How you prepare in the weeks before ceremony shapes everything that happens inside it. This is your complete guide — diet, medications, emotional readiness, and the private 1:1 session with one of our practitioners, included with every AYA retreat.
Ayahuasca is not passive. The medicine works with whatever is present in your body and mind at the time of ceremony. A prepared body metabolises the brew safely. A prepared mind enters with intention rather than fear. A prepared heart is ready to surrender rather than resist.
Participants who spend four weeks in genuine preparation consistently report more meaningful, deeper, and better-integrated experiences than those who do not. It is also a matter of physical safety — certain medications and foods interact dangerously with ayahuasca's active compound (DMT) and the vine (which acts as an MAOI).
At AYA we guide every participant through this process with a private preparation session before they arrive. You will never prepare alone.
Before attending any AYA retreat, every participant completes a detailed medical screening questionnaire reviewed by our team. If you have any pre-existing conditions, take prescription medications, or have questions about contraindications, please reach out before booking.
Follow this schedule and you will arrive at ceremony physically clear, mentally focused, and spiritually ready.
This is the most critical part of physical preparation. Ayahuasca contains beta-carboline alkaloids that act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Combining MAOIs with certain medications — especially SSRIs, SNRIs, and stimulants — can cause a life-threatening interaction known as serotonin syndrome.
The table on the right shows the most common medications that must be stopped before participating. This is a guide only — always consult your prescribing doctor before tapering or stopping any prescription medication.
Many antidepressants and psychiatric medications require a supervised taper. Stopping suddenly can cause severe discontinuation syndrome. Speak to your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your retreat date to allow sufficient tapering time.
If you are uncertain whether your medication is safe to combine with ayahuasca, submit your medical screening form and our team will review it individually. We err on the side of caution — if there is any doubt, we will advise you to postpone.
Read our full safety & health protocols →This list is not exhaustive. Submit your full medication list via the medical screening form for a personalised review.
The dieta is a dietary and lifestyle protocol observed in the weeks before ceremony. It has two purposes: to remove foods that interact with MAOIs (physical safety) and to begin the process of clearing and sensitising the body to receive the medicine.
The dieta is a practice of respect and discipline — not just a food list. Equally important is reducing emotional stimulation: limit news, social media, and intense media in the final week. Read our full ayahuasca diet guide →
Physical preparation opens the door. Emotional preparation determines what you are able to receive when you walk through it. The weeks before ceremony are a natural invitation to slow down, look inward, and build your inner resources.
Ayahuasca does not follow your agenda. It moves towards what most needs healing — which is not always what the mind thinks it wants to address. Participants who arrive with genuine openness and a willingness to face the uncomfortable tend to experience the most lasting transformation.
Practices that support emotional readiness in the weeks before retreat:
Shipibo healing tradition · Peruvian Amazon
Your intentions are not demands. They are an honest statement of where you are and what you are reaching toward. Use these questions to guide you.
Write your intentions down. Bring them with you. Read them before each ceremony.
Guide to setting ayahuasca intentions →Every AYA participant receives dedicated preparation support before they arrive at the retreat. This is not a brochure — it is a relationship that begins weeks before ceremony.
A detailed questionnaire reviewed individually by our team. We assess your medications, health history, and any contraindications before confirming your place.
A 1:1 session with one of our trained practitioners before you travel. You'll discuss your intentions, your preparation, any fears or questions — and arrive with confidence.
Through our partnership with Nectara, participants receive access to guided preparation materials, practices, and resources in the weeks leading up to their retreat.
Nonprofit · Integration & preparation
Healing doesn't start on ceremony night — and it doesn't end when you board the plane home. That's why we partnered with Nectara, a nonprofit built by plant medicine practitioners and integration guides.
Every AYA participant receives free access to Nectara's full platform — including preparation resources, live circles, 1:1 coaching, and a genuine community of people walking the same path.
Less is more. You'll be in ceremony most nights and resting during the days. Pack lightly, bring what supports your process, and leave behind anything that will pull your attention outward.
Answers to the questions we receive most often about preparing for a retreat.
We recommend starting the full preparation process at least four weeks before your retreat date. This gives you enough time to safely taper any medications (with your doctor's guidance), complete the dietary restrictions, and prepare emotionally and mentally. The final week is particularly important for quieting the mind and setting clear intentions.
Not while actively taking SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs. These medications interact with ayahuasca's active compounds and can cause serotonin syndrome — a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. If you take antidepressants, please submit your medical screening form and allow 4–6 weeks before the retreat to taper under medical supervision.
The ayahuasca diet (la dieta) is a 2-week dietary protocol that removes foods high in tyramine — particularly pork, aged cheeses, alcohol, and fermented foods — which can interact with ayahuasca's MAOI properties. It also asks you to eliminate processed foods, sugar, and stimulants. At AYA we take the diet seriously, and all meals at the retreat centre are prepared in accordance with it.
Ayahuasca is considered safe when participants are properly screened and the retreat is led by experienced healers with appropriate medical protocols. We require a full health questionnaire from every participant. Certain conditions (heart conditions, a history of psychosis, or specific medications) may mean the experience is not appropriate for you. See our safety and health protocols page for full details.
An intention is not a demand or a wish list — it is an honest expression of where you are and what you are genuinely ready to look at. The most effective intentions are specific (not "heal me"), emotionally honest, and held with openness to receive something unexpected. We recommend writing them down, reviewing them throughout your preparation period, and bringing them with you to ceremony. Read our full intentions guide →
Alcohol should be avoided for at least two weeks before the retreat. Caffeine should be reduced gradually over two weeks and eliminated in the final week. Abruptly stopping caffeine can cause headaches and irritability, so reduce slowly. Both alcohol and caffeine can interfere with the quality of your ceremonial experience and, in the case of alcohol, may have minor interactions with the medicine.
No. You do not need any prior spiritual practice or meditation experience to participate. However, beginning a simple daily practice — even 10 minutes of stillness or journalling — in the weeks before your retreat will meaningfully help you navigate the depth of the experience. Our team provides preparation guidance and resources through Nectara to support you.
Skipping the dietary guidelines increases the risk of physical side effects and may reduce the quality of the experience. Not tapering medications correctly is a genuine safety risk. Our preparation requirements are not ceremonial formality — they are grounded in both traditional wisdom and clinical safety. If you're unsure whether you've followed the guidelines correctly, contact our team before travelling.
Book a free 30-minute call with our team. We'll answer your questions, review any medical concerns, and help you understand whether an AYA retreat is the right fit for where you are right now.
