Safety Diet

This is the safety diet we ask you to follow in preparation for the Ambiwaska ceremonies.

Please read the medications section carefully as some medications are contraindicated and need longer periods of time out of your system before being able to safely go into ceremony.

Your safety is of the utmost importance for us.  

Important medical precautions

All the team who will be working at the retreat have many years of experience, in holding ceremonies and in the safe use of the medicine in its traditional context. Please note that in certain cases working with ceremonial medicine can carry health risks. If you have any heart, liver, kidney, or other serious medical problems, you should inform us at the first opportunity and discuss with a doctor who is familiar with the medicine or we have doctors we can speak to for you. 

Our priority is your safety and well-being, within ceremonies guiding you to personal healing and growth. We will provide the most secure environment to work with the medicine that we possibly can and will ensure your welfare as best we can at all times. In return we ask that you behave responsibly and do not endanger yourself or others.  

It is necessary that you agree to disclose, in confidence, any known medical conditions and/or use of any medication,  at the time of booking. By coming to this retreat, you are declaring that you are in a physical and mental condition  appropriate to the activities described in the programs and agree that you participate at your own risk and that we  cannot accept liability for any accident or injury. You should seek professional medical advice on preparations, including  vaccinations, as an example if you are coming from South America to Costa Rica you are required to have yellow fever  vaccination. This is not a risk in Costa Rica but it is in certain parts of South America.  

Certain drugs and medications have been found to not be compatible with this ceremony. It is essential to stop taking the following substances and give your system sufficient time to remove them from the body, before you begin a workshop.  It is important that you or we consult a doctor if you are in any doubt: you certainly should not suddenly stop taking prescribed medications (including antidepressants) without consulting a doctor.  

The following medications are unsafe in combination with this medicinal plant:  

· Any medication that contains MAO inhibitors. These medications are known to cause dangerous side effects when  taken in conjunction with this medicinal plant. It is critical that you stop taking these drugs six weeks before for your  system to be cleared of these substances.  

· Any medication which has an effect on the serotonin system, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors  (SSRIs) (i.e. antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, etc). Combining these medications with this medicinal plant can induce serotonin syndrome – far more severely than with foods containing tryptophan, and with  potentially fatal results. We advise you to stop taking SSRI medications six weeks prior to a workshop to allow the  system to clear in time; some of these drugs may cause side effects when you stop taking them, and you should allow  plenty of time for these to subside. You should not abruptly stop taking them without discussing the matter with your  doctor. Please note that the herbal antidepressant St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) also must not be taken  two weeks before coming to ceremony.  

· Other medications you must suspend taking are decongestants, cold medications, allergy medications,  antihistamines, sedatives, tranquillizers, amphetamines (including Adderall), some hypertensive medications,  sympathomimetic amines including pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, carbamazipine, methylphemidate (Ritalin),  macromerine, phenelanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, asarone/calamus, asthma inhalers and diet pills.  

· Although this medicinal plant has not been found to cause psychosis or other psychiatric disturbances, it can be dangerous  to those with a history of psychological problems. Please tell us, about any history of mental health problems.  

· If you have a heart condition or chronic high blood pressure please let us know immediately.

Advise on drugs and medications to avoid when working with this medicinal plant

· This is a comprehensive information page of medical, botanical and nutrition interaction guidelines provided by Ambiwaska Forums.  

· In general, it is recommend not to be taking any other strong plant medicines close to retreats. Please advise us of any other plant medicines you are using. Such as Chiric Sanango, Wayracaspi,  Toé etc.. This is because other plants may  interfere with the plants energy and provoke undesirable reactions.  

· It is important to suspend any kind of psycho-pharmacy and pharmaceutical depression treatments between four to six weeks before going itno ceremony. More specific advice is available subject to providing details of the particular  medication in question.  

· Before booking to attend a workshop, it is important that we have full disclosure of all medications/drugs and the  length of time any participant has been taking them.  

· Guests with hepatic conditions must first consult with us and provide more information about their condition. If you have tuberculosis its not safe to join. 

For women joining us:  

· It is not safe to go into ceremony when you are pregnant or while on your menstrual cycle. More information about this here.

These substance are potentially dangerous with MAOIs:  

 

- MAOIs & SSRI’s (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)

- Antihypertensives (high blood pressure  medicine); appetite suppressants (diet pills); medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems;  antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor Trimeton, Compoz (medicines which have Bromarest-DM or - DX), Dimetane-DX cough syrup, Dristan Cold & Flu, Phenergan  with Dextromethorphan, Robitussin-DM, Vicks formula 44-D; Tylenol medicines, in generals drugs with DM or Tuss in its name. 

-Methylene blue

- CNS (central nervous system) depressants - Antipsychotics - Barbiturates - Alcohol 

Illegal or recreational substances that are very dangerous to combine with MAOIs:  

- Cocaine - Amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine), MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA - Dextromethorphan  (DXM)  

Also likely dangerous to combine with MAOIs:  

- Opiates - Mescaline (any phenethylamine) - Barbiturates 

Also not recommended:  

- Kratom - Kava 

Avoid:

 

About Salt & Sodium

Although not contra-indicated on a pharmacological level, salt and sodium are traditionally avoided completely for 7 days prior to drinking medicine. If you feel your body needs some salt then we would recommend Himalayan salt or sea salt.

Salt can block the visual component of this medicine work. In this tribe we have seen it affects the absorption of the medicine, physically and psychologically, is not as deep when we have consumed salty or sodium-laden foods.

If your joining us for a week long retreat its important to know that Blue Spirit is a center that is not solely dedicated to retreats with plant medicine and thus the food will have some salt. We recommend on the days before the ceremony to eat the no salt or low salt options.

So What Can I Eat?

We recommend eating foods that are as fresh as possible and not overripe, preserved, smoked, cured, salted or spoiled in any way.

We recommend stir- fried, steamed, or raw vegetables. Millet, brown rice, quinoa, and other whole grains, especially sprouted grains, are beneficial. If you digest raw foods well, emphasize salads, raw fruits and raw juices. If you digest well chicken, fish, and other white meats, small amounts of these foods can be supportive. Occasionally a meal of deer, bison or animal proteins of these sorts in a ceremonial context before retreat is OK but not in excess.

Small amounts of dairy is OK if your body works well with this. Its important to be mindful of aging process of any food.

Be mindful of intake of Tyramine in certain Kombucha drinks, or in overripe avocados or bananas.