Medicine

Medicine

Ayahuasca: A Sacred Amazonian Plant Medicine

Ayahuasca, the revered Amazonian plant medicine, has been used for centuries in sacred contexts by indigenous and mestizo healers across Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. This profound brew is crafted from two Amazon jungle plants: the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the chacruna leaf (Psychotria viridis), the latter containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychoactive compound that induces altered states of consciousness. In the Quechua language, «ayahuasca» translates to the «vine of the soul» or «vine of the spirits.» It is known by various names throughout the Amazon Basin, such as oni, caapi, natema, yajé, and nepe, among others.

Integration

Meeting with the medicine can be a wonderful experience in itself, but the experience itself will not mean anything if we are not committed and willing to do something with this experience for this to become a life-changing experience. Plant medicine Ayahuasca invites us to the full recognition of our true self and every part of our human sources in every dimension of being, bringing us towards unlimited freedom and human potentiality.

At ONAYA WELLNESS AND HEALING RETREATS, we care for the integration process from day one, helping you with the inner work and supporting you before and after the ceremonies, allowing you to unfold transformational practices and real ways to work with your whole self (Spirit, Mind, Heart, and Body).

A psychologist will take care of your integration process,from the moment you contact us.

Integrating the lessons gained during during ayahuasca ceremony is a lifelong process. The value of what we learn with plant medicine will count only if we are able to utilize them in our lives outside of the ceremonies and the retreat place.

At ONAYA we have a strong focus on the integrative work that starts before and after your retreat and continues, possibly, for the rest of your life. We are here to provide you with basic tools in a skilled integration support that helps to prepare you and to help maintain and enhance the positive outcomes that are very often the result of attending deep healing sessions with experienced, ethical leaders and professionals.

Meditation
Nutricion
What to expect

Our retreats are prepared under the guidance of Amazonian Peruvian Shipibo healers, combining plant medicine ceremony with supportive meditation and yoga practices, and a unique personalized integration program to support and empower every participant in their healing process over the long term.

How to Prepare

Some medications & supplements are contraindicated with ayahuasca medicine. Interaction with pharmaceutical drugs, supplements, and medications (including some over-the-counter drugs and certain herbs) can be potentially life-threatening. Others are recommended to discontinue because they interfere with the ability of the healers to observe one’s energy field clearly address root cause in the energetic work done in ceremony, and this holds true for certain energetic practices and psychedelic medicines as well.

Again, please note that it is important to discuss with your doctor and let us know of any medications and supplements you are taking upon registration to ensure your complete safety and well-being. If your medication changes before your retreat begins, you must let us know.

Dietary

Following the dietary requirements as preparation for your retreat helps you to lay the groundwork for the medicine experience, demonstrates respect for the process and commitment to your healing, and prepares your body to receive the medicine. It can also reduce the amount of cleansing needed to be done in ceremony, in order to allow the healing work to unfold more easily. In general, we encourage you to eat whole foods, limiting processed foods and foods high in salt, sugar, oils, and animal fats, along with the additional foods listed below.

Please avoid the following for at least 4 weeks prior to your retreat

Pork and pork products (including broths).
Working with other psychedelic and/or psychoactive medicines (including but not limited to cannabis, MDMA, ketamine, and all psychedelics).
Working with other healers or energetic practitioners.
Recreational drugs or substances (including alcohol).
Pharmaceutical or over-the-counter medications (unless discussed specifically and on a case-by-case basis with our intake support team during your intake process).
- Please note: some medications may require more than 4 weeks off, including most SSRI’s – please indicate any and all medications you are taking during your intake process.
- Our protocols regarding SSRI’s and other medications may vary from a strict pharmacological contraindication, as we incorporate psychological and energetic factors into our recommendations. All medications and supplements will be discussed and reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and thus it is important to disclose all of the above in your intake form.

Please avoid the following for at least 2 weeks prior to your retreat

Red Meat
Sexual and sensual activity with self and/or others.
Limiting highly processed foods.
Limiting salt and foods high in salt.
Limiting foods high in sugar & processed sugar.
Limiting foods high in oils and animal fats.
Spicy foods.
Blue cheese.
Peanuts, soy, and fava beans

Please avoid the following for at least 1 week prior to your retreat

Caffeine.
Refined sugars.
Pickled, fermented, and smoked foods.
Overly ripe foods.
Dairy.
Ice and Ice-cold drinks (cool drinks are okay).
Adrenaline-inducing activities (skydiving, extreme sports, endurance activities, getting a tattoo, horror films, etc.). Moderate workouts are okay. The general principle here is that your base energy levels or adrenaline levels should not be peaking and dropping. Think of it as trying to remain on an even keel before your retreat. This will help you maintain this even energy while you are at ONAYA too.