Ayahuasca FAQ

The Basics

What exactly is ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally made from two Amazonian plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and leaves containing DMT (usually Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana). The vine contains MAO inhibitors that allow DMT to become orally active. The experience lasts 4-6 hours.

For a deeper dive: What is Ayahuasca?

Is ayahuasca the same as DMT?

No. While ayahuasca contains DMT, the experience is very different from smoking or vaporizing DMT:

Smoked/Vaped DMT	Ayahuasca
5-20 minutes	4-6 hours
Rapid onset	Gradual onset (30-60 min)
Often overwhelming	Waves of intensity
Little body experience	Strong body experience
Rarely involves purging	Usually involves purging
Hard to “work with”	Can dialogue with the experience

What does it feel like?

This varies enormously. Common elements include:

• Physical: Nausea, purging (vomiting), sweating, changes in temperature perception
• Visual: Geometric patterns, vivid imagery, sometimes full narrative “visions”
• Emotional: Intense feelings - joy, grief, fear, love, often in rapid succession
• Cognitive: Non-linear thinking, symbolic/metaphorical insights, memory access
• Spiritual: Sense of connection, encounter with “entities” or presences, ego dissolution

Some people see vivid visions. Some feel mostly body sensations. Some have emotional releases without visuals. All are valid experiences.

Will I see visions?

Maybe. Many people do, but not everyone. Factors that influence visuals:

• Individual brain chemistry
• Dose
• Level of surrender vs. resistance
• Previous experience
• The specific brew
• Environmental factors

Having no visions doesn’t mean it “didn’t work.” Some of the most profound experiences are purely emotional or somatic.

Will I vomit?

Probably. Most people purge at some point, either vomiting or (less commonly) diarrhea. In traditional contexts, this is considered part of the healing - purging emotional or spiritual toxins, not just physical.

Tips:

• Don’t fight it
• You’ll usually feel better after
• It’s not as bad as regular vomiting - often comes with relief
• Some people don’t purge at all - that’s also fine

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Safety Questions

Is ayahuasca dangerous?

It can be, under certain conditions:

Physical dangers (rare but real):

• Fatal drug interactions (especially SSRIs, MAOIs)
• Heart complications in people with cardiac issues
• Accidents from disorientation

Psychological dangers (more common):

• Triggering psychosis in predisposed individuals
• Trauma activation without proper support
• Difficulty integrating challenging experiences
• Destabilization in vulnerable people

Situational dangers:

• Unqualified facilitators
• Inadequate medical screening
• Sexual abuse (documented in some settings)
• Cult-like group dynamics

With proper screening, qualified facilitation, and integration support, risks are significantly reduced but not eliminated.

What medications interact badly with ayahuasca?

Dangerous/potentially fatal combinations:

• SSRIs (all of them)
• SNRIs (all of them)
• MAOIs
• Lithium
• Tramadol and many opioids
• MDMA, cocaine, amphetamines
• St. John’s Wort
• 5-HTP and tryptophan supplements

Requires careful consideration:

• Blood pressure medications
• Heart medications
• Antipsychotics
• Benzodiazepines
• Some antibiotics

Rule: Disclose ALL medications and supplements to your facilitator. If they don’t ask, that’s a major red flag.

Full details: Contraindications Guide

Can ayahuasca cause psychosis?

It can trigger psychotic episodes in people predisposed to psychosis (personal or family history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar I with psychotic features).

For people without this predisposition, temporary psychotic-like experiences during the ceremony are possible but typically resolve. Persistent psychosis in people without predisposition is rare but documented.

If you have any history of psychosis in yourself or close family members, consult a psychiatrist before considering ayahuasca.

What if I have a bad experience?

“Bad trips” happen. Strategies that help:

During:

• Breathe slowly and deeply
• Remember it’s temporary
• Call for the facilitator
• Don’t fight the experience - surrender often helps
• Ground yourself (feel your body, the floor)

After:

• Talk to the facilitator
• Journal what happened
• Reach out to integration support
• Consider professional help if it persists
• Be gentle with yourself - difficult experiences often yield insights later

More details: Difficult Moments Guide

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Practical Questions

How much does it cost?

Varies enormously:

Setting	Typical Cost
Underground ceremony (Western cities)	$100-400 per ceremony
Retreat center (Peru, Costa Rica)	$800-3000 for 1 week
Premium retreat center	$3000-7000+ for 1 week
Santo Daime/UDV church	Usually donation-based

Expensive doesn’t mean better. Research carefully regardless of price.

Where can I do it legally?

Countries with legal/semi-legal status:

• Peru - legal for traditional use
• Ecuador - legal for traditional use
• Colombia - legal for traditional use
• Brazil - legal in religious context
• Costa Rica - gray area, no specific laws
• Netherlands - technically illegal, widely tolerated
• Portugal - decriminalized
• United States - illegal, but UDV and some Santo Daime churches have religious exemptions

Full details: Legal Status Guide

How do I find a good facilitator?

Green flags:

• Thorough medical screening
• Clear contraindication list
• Emergency protocols
• Transparent about training/lineage
• Appropriate group size (usually under 20)
• Integration support offered
• Clear boundaries (no sexual contact ever)
• Welcomes questions

Red flags:

• Minimal or no screening
• Defensive about questions
• Promises specific outcomes
• Very large groups
• No emergency plan
• Sexual advances or energy
• Pressure tactics
• Unreasonably cheap or expensive

Full guide: Red Flags

How should I prepare?

Physical (1-2 weeks before):

• Follow dietary guidelines (varies by tradition)
• Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs
• Stop contraindicated medications (with medical guidance)
• Get enough sleep

Mental:

• Set an intention (but hold it lightly)
• Journal about hopes and fears
• Reduce stimulation (news, social media)
• Practice sitting with discomfort

Practical:

• Arrange time off for integration
• Set up support systems
• Pack appropriately
• Tell someone where you’ll be

Full guide: Before Ceremony

How long will the effects last?

Acute effects: 4-6 hours

Afterglow/processing: Hours to days

Integration period: Weeks to months

Lasting changes: Variable - some immediate, some emerge over time, some fade

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Experience Questions

What’s a ceremony actually like?

Typical structure (varies by tradition):

1. Gathering - Arriving, settling in, opening circle
2. Medicine - Drinking the brew (usually evening/night)
3. Waiting - 30-60 minutes for effects to begin
4. Journey - 4-6 hours of the experience, often with music/icaros
5. Coming down - Effects gradually fade
6. Integration - Sharing, rest, often into the next day

Most ceremonies happen in darkness or low light. Many include traditional songs (icaros). You’ll usually have a mat or mattress and a bucket.

Can I talk during ceremony?

Usually yes, but minimally:

• To ask for help
• To ask for more or less medicine
• To go to the bathroom

Extended conversations are generally discouraged as they can disrupt others’ experiences.

What if I need to leave?

You always have the right to leave. A good facilitator will help you get safe if needed. Let them know if you’re struggling.

That said, the urge to leave often passes. Sometimes sitting with discomfort is part of the work. Trust yourself to know the difference.

Do I have to take more if offered?

No. You never have to take more medicine. A good facilitator won’t pressure you. It’s perfectly valid to:

• Decline additional doses
• Take a smaller dose than others
• Skip a ceremony in a multi-ceremony retreat

Listen to your body and intuition.

What if I don’t feel anything?

This happens sometimes. Possible reasons:

• Food in stomach
• Medications interfering
• Individual metabolism
• Particular brew
• Psychological resistance

It doesn’t mean you “failed.” Sometimes the medicine works in subtle ways. Sometimes a second ceremony works when the first didn’t.

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After the Experience

What is integration?

Integration is the process of making sense of your experience and applying insights to daily life. It’s often called “the real work” because ceremony is just the beginning.

Integration includes:

• Processing and making meaning of the experience
• Identifying insights and action items
• Making changes in daily life
• Working through material that surfaced
• Building on any positive changes

Do I need therapy after?

Not necessarily, but it often helps, especially if:

• The experience was very difficult
• Significant trauma surfaced
• You’re having trouble returning to normal life
• You want to maximize the benefits

Look for therapists who are “psychedelic-informed” or “integration specialists.”

How long does integration take?

Varies enormously:

• Minimum: A few weeks of processing
• Typical: 1-3 months of active integration
• Complex experiences: 6+ months
• Some material: Ongoing life work

Don’t rush it. Don’t book another ceremony until you’ve integrated the last one.

Can I do ceremonies close together?

Traditional use sometimes involves consecutive nights. But for Westerners new to this work, spacing ceremonies is generally recommended:

• Within a retreat: Usually okay with facilitator guidance
• Between retreats: At least 1-3 months for integration
• Doing more because the last one “didn’t work”: Often counterproductive

More is not better. Integration is where the work happens.

What if the insights fade?

This is common. Strategies:

• Journal immediately after, while memories are fresh
• Review your notes regularly
• Make concrete action plans
• Share with integration circle or therapist
• Accept that some things integrate unconsciously

Not everything needs to be “kept.” Sometimes the healing happens without you remembering the details.

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Other Questions

Is ayahuasca addictive?

No. Ayahuasca is not physically addictive and has low potential for psychological dependence. Most people don’t want to do it frequently - it’s demanding work.

However, some people develop an unhealthy relationship with “ceremony hopping” - using repeated experiences to avoid integration or chase peak states. This is worth examining.

Can I mix ayahuasca with other psychedelics?

Not recommended. Combinations increase unpredictability and risk. Most facilitators prohibit this. If you’re experienced with other substances, disclose this and wait an appropriate time before ayahuasca.

Is ayahuasca cultural appropriation?

This is debated. Things to consider:

• Indigenous communities have mixed views on sharing their medicine
• Some actively share it, others consider it sacred and private
• How you approach it matters (reverence vs. consumption)
• Supporting indigenous facilitators and causes helps
• Learning about the cultures of origin shows respect

There’s no easy answer. Approach with humility and awareness.

Will ayahuasca solve my problems?

No. Ayahuasca can show you things. It might help you understand yourself better. It can catalyze change. But it doesn’t do the work for you.

Real change requires:

• Integration of insights
• Daily practice and discipline
• Often: therapy or professional support
• Time
• Your active participation

If you’re hoping for a magic cure, recalibrate your expectations.

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Still Have Questions?

Explore our guides:

• What is Ayahuasca? - Comprehensive overview
• Is It For Me? - Self-assessment guide
• First-Timer’s Guide - Essential safety info
• Red Flags - Warning signs to watch for

External resources:

• MAPS - Research and education
• Chacruna Institute - Cultural perspectives
• Fireside Project - Peer support

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This FAQ is regularly updated. If your question isn’t here, we may add it in the future.