Preparation
This page covers how to prepare for an ayahuasca ceremony: medical screening and medication, the dieta, your mindset and intention, and the practical arrangements. It is for anyone who has decided to sit in ceremony, or is still deciding. The choices and care before you arrive shape much of what follows, during ceremony and long after.
Last updated 28 October 2026.
Understand what ayahuasca is and isn’t
Before participating, take time to educate yourself about ayahuasca, its origin, how it works, and the effects it can have, both positive and challenging.
But equally important: understand what ayahuasca is not. It is not a magic pill, not a shortcut, and not something that does the work for you. Practitioners consistently find that the quality of preparation shapes much of what follows, during ceremony and long after. The brew opens a door. What you bring through it, and what you do afterwards, is where the real work happens.
Choose wisely
If you decide to drink, do so only with a trustworthy facilitator or retreat centre, ideally found through direct personal referrals rather than online reviews alone. A reliable facilitator or centre will offer clear pre-ceremony guidance and conduct a thorough medical assessment. Most importantly, they won’t try to convince or advise you to drink ayahuasca. The choice should always be yours.
Be mindful of anyone making promises of healing, visions, or specific outcomes. A grounded retreat accepts that the process cannot be predicted and avoids claims it cannot guarantee. Facilitators who are true to themselves, and to the people they welcome, create space; they don’t promise results.
Know what you drink
Inform yourself about the source and composition of the brew. The distinction between traditional ayahuasca and ‘anahuasca’ (analogous brews made with non-traditional plants) is especially relevant outside South America, where local or even synthetic substitutes are sometimes used, occasionally without full disclosure.
Be especially cautious with added plants such as toé (Brugmansia, a relative of datura): its effects are very different from ayahuasca’s, it is toxic, and it can leave a person confused and unable to look after themselves for hours or longer, sometimes needing urgent medical care. A trustworthy facilitator will be transparent about the ingredients and their origins.
Your medical history
Be open about any medications or health conditions, both physical and mental. Ayahuasca can interact dangerously with certain substances and conditions, especially SSRIs, MAOIs, stimulants, heart issues, high blood pressure, a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, or pregnancy or breastfeeding. Never stop or taper prescribed medication on your own, or on a facilitator’s advice: that conversation belongs with the professional who prescribed it. Staying on medication you need, and therefore not drinking, is a legitimate outcome, not a failed one.
Before making travel plans, make sure ayahuasca is safe for you. Any responsible retreat centre will include a proper medical assessment. If you’re unsure, consult a healthcare provider who understands both ayahuasca and your medical background.
Preparing body & mind
In the days around the ceremony, give your body and mind space to settle. Most facilitators will share specific guidelines, typically avoiding alcohol, recreational substances, certain foods, and intense stimulation. These aren’t arbitrary rules; they help you arrive more open and receptive.
Many facilitators ask for a preparation diet, usually 3 to 7 days without salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, red meat and pork, and without sex. It borrows from the Amazonian dieta, a longer practice of restriction and seclusion with plants, and its rules differ between traditions and centres. It is meant to calm the system and heighten inner awareness. If that feels too intense, a lighter ‘cleanse’ can still help: eat simple, plant-based meals, stay hydrated, eat early, get proper sleep, and reduce screen time and overstimulation.
Beyond the physical, prepare your emotional and mental space too. Practices like meditation, journalling, quiet time in nature, or talking with someone you trust can help you arrive with more calm, presence, and openness.
Setting your intention
Reflect on why you are drawn to this experience. A clear, honest intention can anchor and guide you during the ceremony and beyond. This intention might be a question, a theme, or even a gentle request to the plant itself, such as: ‘Show me what I need to learn.’ You might also take time to notice the different voices or feelings within you, some curious, some cautious, some perhaps seeking clarity or healing. Simply acknowledging these parts, without trying to change them, can bring a sense of calm and inner coherence.
Intention doesn’t need to be dramatic or perfectly articulated. It just needs to be yours. Hold it gently, though. An intention gripped too tightly becomes just another expectation, and the ceremony may have something entirely different in store.
Letting go of expectations
Approach the experience with as much openness as you can. Let go of assumptions about what should happen. Some people experience vivid visions, others feel subtle shifts. Some journeys are blissful; others are difficult and confronting. All are valid, and none are a measure of whether the experience ‘worked.’
Be cautious about consuming too many accounts of other people’s experiences beforehand. Every journey is different, and other people’s stories, however well-intentioned, can quietly shape what you expect to happen. That expectation then gets in the way of what actually does.
Rigid, fixed expectations can make integration harder. Not because expectations are wrong, but because rigid ones leave no room for what actually arrives. Try to stay curious, humble, and receptive, before, during, and after the ceremony.
Practical logistics
Plan to travel with flexibility in mind. Follow the packing list from the retreat centre. When possible, block off a full day, or more, before and after the retreat for rest and reflection. The days either side of ceremony matter more than most people expect.
Connect before you arrive
If the opportunity exists, connect with other participants before the ceremony, whether through an introductory gathering, a shared meal, or even a brief conversation. Even if that’s not possible, knowing that you’ll be held within a group, not doing this alone, can itself be grounding.
Research suggests the setting and community around ceremony matter for wellbeing and integration (Perkins et al., 2021, Frontiers in Pharmacology). The relational container doesn’t begin at ceremony; it begins whenever you first meet the people you’ll share it with.
See Safety and care for the standards worth insisting on and the warning signs to watch for, and Questions to ask before you book for what to ask any facilitator or centre.
Preparation begins with readiness.
Before the practical steps, a clear look at whether you’re genuinely ready.
Choice and expectations
Whether the decision is your own, and what you expect one ceremony could do.
Practical arrangements
Whether there is room for quieter days afterwards, and for the guidelines before and after.
Support and boundaries
Who you could talk to afterwards, and whether you would ask how to decline something or stop.
The self-check cannot determine medical suitability. Medication, psychiatric history and health conditions need proper screening with qualified healthcare professionals.