How long does ayahuasca last?

Effects usually begin 30 to 60 minutes after drinking and last about four to six hours.

Where do you hold ayahuasca ceremony?

At Heal, in Baja California, Mexico.

What is the difference between ayahuasca and psilocybin?

Both act on serotonin receptors, but people often describe them differently. Ayahuasca is often described as more emotional and visionary, and psilocybin as more reflective and embodied. Ayahuasca is a brew, and psilocybin is a measured dose.

Plant Medicine

Ayahuasca

Q: What is ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of Psychotria viridis. The vine contains MAO inhibitors that make the DMT in the leaves active when taken by mouth.

An Amazonian brew of vine and leaf. Held as ceremony in Baja California, Mexico, with the same preparation and integration as every Ceremonia retreat.

Ayahuasca preparation in ceremonial setting

What it is

Ayahuasca is a brew made from two plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of Psychotria viridis. The vine contains MAO inhibitors that let the DMT in the leaves work when you drink it. People in the Upper Amazon have used it ceremonially for centuries, and traditions including the Shipibo, Shuar and Ashaninka developed the brew, the medicine songs and the ceremonial container.

We are not a lineage of those traditions, and we do not claim to be. We hold ayahuasca as a sacrament, and we say where the practice comes from. More on how we think about this.

Where we hold it

DMT is a Schedule I substance under federal law. Heal takes place in Baja California, Mexico, held as ceremony.

Heal runs at Yandara Retreats, in Pescadero near Todos Santos. It is a one-week retreat with three ceremonies, and it starts with the same steps as every Ceremonia retreat: a free connection call, then your application and medical intake. See the Baja retreat center.

Jo Ann Forristal, a family nurse practitioner, is on site during the retreat, and our nurse practitioner reviews every medical intake.

What the research shows

Ayahuasca research is earlier than psilocybin research. For depression it rests on a single small randomized trial, and no large trial has been done.

Depression (Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019). In 29 people with treatment-resistant depression, MADRS scores were lower than placebo at days 1, 2 and 7. Day-7 response was 64% vs 27%. Published in Psychological Medicine.

Ayahuasca is not FDA-approved for any condition, and this study did not evaluate Ceremonia. See the science on ayahuasca.

Who it is not for, and medications

Ayahuasca has stricter requirements than psilocybin, because its MAO inhibitors can interact with many medications and some foods. Combining them can cause serotonin syndrome or a dangerous rise in blood pressure, and both are emergencies. That is why screening is not optional.

Many antidepressants, along with tramadol, dextromethorphan, lithium, stimulants, MDMA, St. John’s wort and 5-HTP, do not mix with ayahuasca. Your prescriber leads on any medication. Never stop or change one on your own. Tapering often takes one to two months, and our nurse practitioner reviews every intake. We also ask you to avoid certain foods, such as aged cheese and cured meats, in the days before.

We say no when taking part would not be safe, including a history of psychosis, bipolar I disorder, serious heart conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and recent or active suicidal thoughts that need crisis-level care. Our nurse practitioner decides each case. More on screening and medications.

After ceremony

The ceremony is a doorway. What you do in the weeks after is the work. Ask us on your connection call how integration works after Heal. See how it works.

Wondering if this is right for you?

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