Medical & Legal Disclaimer

Medical Disclaimer

This Is Not Medical Advice

After the Third Cup is not a medical resource. Nothing on this site is medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This site is not operated by doctors, licensed therapists, or medical professionals.

Information provided here is:

• Educational in nature
• Based on practitioner experience and research
• General information that may not apply to your specific situation
• Not a substitute for professional medical evaluation

Consult Healthcare Professionals Before Ayahuasca

Before considering ayahuasca, you must speak with qualified healthcare providers:

• Your primary care doctor: To rule out medical conditions and drug interactions
• A psychiatrist or mental health professional: To assess psychiatric risk, especially if you have a history of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe mental illness
• A therapist with experience in psychedelics: To prepare psychologically and plan integration
• Your medication prescriber: If you take any medications, especially psychiatric medications

Be completely honest about your mental health history, medications, and any concerns. Professionals need full information to help you stay safe.

Serious Mental Health Risks

Ayahuasca May Not Be Safe If You Have:

• History of psychosis or schizophrenia: Ayahuasca can trigger or worsen psychotic episodes
• Bipolar disorder: Especially untreated bipolar disorder. Ayahuasca may trigger manic episodes.
• Severe depression with suicidal ideation: Increased vulnerability to crisis during integration
• Dissociative disorders: Ayahuasca can intensify dissociation and disconnection from reality
• Serious trauma you haven't processed: Without professional support, ayahuasca may re-traumatize
• Active addiction or substance use disorder: Talk to addiction specialists first
• Untreated PTSD: Prepare with a trauma-informed therapist before ceremony

These are not absolute contraindications, but they require serious professional assessment beforehand. Many people with these conditions have had safe, healing ayahuasca experiences. But it requires preparation, right support, and often professional involvement.

Common Psychological Risks

• Psychological crises: Some people experience overwhelming emotions, anxiety, or panic during or after ceremony
• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts: Processing difficult material can continue after ceremony
• Existential crises: Confronting big life questions in new ways
• Relationship disruption: Insights about relationships may lead to necessary but difficult changes
• Spiritual crises: Questioning beliefs and worldviews
• Integration struggles: Difficulty applying insights to daily life

Physical Health Risks

Medical Conditions That Increase Risk

• Heart conditions: Ayahuasca raises heart rate. Heart disease increases risk of complications.
• High blood pressure: Ayahuasca can temporarily elevate blood pressure
• Seizure disorders: Some compounds in ayahuasca may lower seizure threshold
• Liver disease: Your liver metabolizes ayahuasca. Compromised liver function increases risk.
• Pregnancy: Ayahuasca has not been studied in pregnancy. Risk is unknown and potentially serious.
• Breastfeeding: Unknown if compounds pass into breast milk. Generally not recommended.

Common Physical Effects

• Nausea and vomiting (purging): Expected and often considered part of the healing. But dehydration is real risk.
• Diarrhea: Ayahuasca acts as a purgative. Can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
• Increased heart rate: Temporary but can be uncomfortable or risky for those with heart issues
• Muscle aches and pain: Common the day after ceremony
• Headaches: Especially if dehydrated
• Sleep disruption: Many people sleep poorly for days after ceremony

Medication Interactions

Critical: Do Not Mix With These Medications

Ayahuasca contains compounds that interact dangerously with certain medications. Do NOT use ayahuasca while taking:

• SSRIs or other serotonergic antidepressants: Risk of serotonin syndrome (serious, potentially life-threatening)
• MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors): Severe and potentially fatal interactions
• Tramadol: Risk of serotonin syndrome
• Stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, etc.): Dangerous combination with ayahuasca's cardiovascular effects

Do not stop medications without medical guidance to use ayahuasca. Talk to your prescriber about timing and tapering strategies if you want to consider ayahuasca.

Use With Caution

These medications may interact with ayahuasca. Discuss with healthcare providers:

• Other antidepressants
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antipsychotics
• Blood pressure medications
• Diabetes medications
• Any herbal supplements or over-the-counter drugs

Facilitator Safety

Real Risks From Irresponsible Facilitators

• Sexual abuse: Documented cases of facilitators exploiting vulnerable people during or after ceremony
• Financial exploitation: Pressuring people to pay for unnecessary "additional" ceremonies or treatments
• Psychological manipulation: Using spiritual language to justify unhealthy behavior or isolation
• Medical neglect: Not responding appropriately to medical emergencies during ceremony
• Lack of training: Not knowing how to manage psychological crises or medical complications
• Mixing other substances: Adding other drugs or substances without informed consent

Red flags for unsafe facilitators: See our Red Flags Guide for specific warning signs. Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Integration Risk

The ceremony itself is often the easy part. Integration is where most people struggle and where support is critical.

Integration Without Support Is Risky

• Isolation: Processing profound experiences alone is harder and riskier
• Spiritual bypassing: Using ceremony insights to avoid dealing with real problems
• Relationship damage: Radical insights without skillful action can destroy relationships
• Loss of motivation: Some people struggle with motivation and purpose after ceremony
• Continued crisis: Without support, crises can deepen rather than resolve
• Reckless decisions: Quitting jobs, ending relationships, or making major life changes impulsively

Professional support (therapy, integration coaching) and community (integration circles, support groups) are essential. This is not optional. This is as important as the ceremony itself.

Legal Considerations

Ayahuasca's Legal Status

Ayahuasca's legal status varies significantly by country and region. We cannot provide legal advice, but here's what you need to know:

United States

• DMT (the active compound) is Schedule I: Illegal to possess, manufacture, or distribute
• Plant material may be legal: Depends on interpretation (some argue the plants themselves are legal)
• Facilitating ayahuasca ceremonies is legally ambiguous: Some facilitators operate in legal gray area
• Risk of legal consequences: Real but enforcement is inconsistent

Other Countries

Ayahuasca is legal in some countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia) where it's traditionally used. It's prohibited in others. Research the laws where you plan to use ayahuasca.

Know Before You Go

• Research local laws: Where is ayahuasca legal? Where is it illegal?
• Understand the risks: Both legal and personal
• Get advice from an attorney: If you're concerned about legal implications
• Tell someone where you're going: For safety and in case of emergency

Not a Replacement for Medical Care

If you have a medical or mental health condition, ayahuasca is not a replacement for treatment.

• Depression: Get therapy and/or medication. Ayahuasca may supplement this, not replace it.
• Anxiety: Work with a therapist. Ayahuasca can be destabilizing without professional support.
• PTSD or trauma: Work with a trauma-informed therapist. Ayahuasca can help, but only with proper preparation.
• Addiction: Professional treatment (rehab, therapy, support groups) is essential. Ayahuasca alone is not enough.
• Bipolar disorder, psychosis, or other serious mental illness: Maintain professional care. Don't use ayahuasca as a substitute.

Honest Reality Checks

Ayahuasca Will Not:

• Cure your depression (though it may help you understand it)
• Fix your relationships (though it may help you see what needs fixing)
• Make your trauma disappear (though insights can start healing)
• Give you purpose (though it may help you clarify your values)
• Solve your problems (though it may show you what to work on)

Ayahuasca Will Require:

• Months of integration work after ceremony
• Honest self-reflection and behavior change
• Professional support (therapy, coaching)
• Community support and connection
• Willingness to do unglamorous daily practices
• Patience with yourself (healing is slow)

Crisis Resources

If you're in crisis or considering harming yourself, do not use this website. Get help now.

View all crisis resources for more options.

Summary

Ayahuasca can be a powerful tool for healing. It can also be dangerous. Both of these things are true.

• Get proper medical and psychological screening
• Work with reputable, experienced facilitators
• Prepare thoroughly (physically, psychologically, spiritually)
• Commit to integration work (this is where the real healing happens)
• Get professional support (therapy, coaching) during integration
• Build community (you can't do this alone)
• Be honest about risks and your own vulnerabilities

This disclaimer exists because we care about your safety. Please take it seriously.