Ayahuasca can catalyze deep healing. But it’s not a fit for everyone – and pushing ahead without the right support, health, or preparation can do more harm than good.
This guide outlines who should not attend an ayahuasca retreat, based on clinical guidance, firsthand accounts, and risk reports tracked by Best Retreats.
If you’re unsure whether now is the right time, read this first. It could save you from a painful mistake.
🧠 1. People with Certain Mental Health Conditions
🚫 Avoid if you have:
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia or psychosis
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Severe PTSD without support in place
- Untreated major depression with suicidal ideation
Ayahuasca can destabilize people with fragile psychological foundations — and worsen symptoms.
“I thought the retreat would heal my depression. Instead, I came home suicidal and disoriented.”
— Guest report submitted to Best Retreats, 2024
Note: Even centers with therapists often lack the infrastructure to handle a full psychiatric crisis.
💊 2. People Taking Certain Medications
⚠️ High-risk interactions:
- SSRIs and MAOIs (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin)
- Antipsychotics
- Benzodiazepines
- Heart medications (beta blockers, etc.)
- Recreational drugs or recent psychedelics
Combining ayahuasca with these can lead to serotonin syndrome, cardiovascular complications, or seizures. We’ve documented cases where guests collapsed due to poor screening.
Never taper meds without medical guidance.
❤️ 3. People With Certain Medical Conditions
Avoid ayahuasca if you have:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Heart arrhythmia or cardiovascular issues
- Liver or kidney disease
- Epilepsy
- Recent surgeries or autoimmune flares
Most retreats are in rural areas with no immediate access to hospitals. If you require ongoing monitoring, it’s not worth the risk.
😓 4. People in a Crisis or Big Transition
Ayahuasca is not a shortcut through heartbreak, divorce, or existential dread. If you’re:
- Fresh out of a breakup
- In grief or mourning
- Facing addiction withdrawal
- Without emotional support
…it’s better to stabilize first.
“I drank in the middle of a divorce and left feeling more fragmented than before.”
— Guest comment from our post-retreat survey
🙅 5. People Who Expect a Miracle or Instant Fix
If you’re hoping for:
- A vision that tells you your life purpose
- Instant healing without work
- An escape from reality or responsibility
…you’ll likely be disappointed — or harmed.
Ayahuasca demands participation, humility, and serious post-retreat integration. The medicine reveals, but doesn’t fix, anything for you.
🤲 6. People Without Support After the Retreat
If you don’t have:
- A safe space to land
- A therapist or mentor
- Time off for integration
- A sober, grounded community
…your healing may unravel after you return home.
Many guests report anxiety spikes, insomnia, panic attacks, or disorientation for weeks after. That’s not failure — it’s the medicine asking for your continued participation.
✅ Who Is a Good Candidate?
- Physically healthy adults without major psychiatric risk
- Off medications that conflict with MAOIs
- Spiritually curious but grounded
- Open to long-term integration work
- Supported by therapy, community, or family
If that’s not you yet – it’s okay. Healing doesn’t have a deadline.
🧠 Final Word: The Most Responsible Choice Might Be “Not Yet”
Saying “no” – or “not right now” – can be the most powerful decision you make.
At Best Retreats, we don’t push you to book. We don’t even offer it. We exist to give you the clearest information so you can trust your own timeline.
The medicine will be there when you’re ready. The only real mistake is rushing in when your system is saying “pause.”
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