Ayahuasca Retreats: Effects, Risks, and Traditions

For centuries, indigenous communities have used ayahuasca in ceremonial rituals to connect with the divine, seek clarity, and heal emotional or physical wounds. Its use originates with indigenous religious and cultural traditions in the Amazon, from which its influence has slowly spread. Today, ayahuasca has gained global attention, with many turning to guided ayahuasca retreats as a structured and supportive way to experience its powerful effects.

Despite becoming increasingly known to the public, ayahuasca retreats still have an air of mystery around them, likely due to lack of historical documentation, limited research, and a complex legal status in many countries. This blog will explore the need-to-know information about ayahuasca, including the benefits and the risks, as well as the basic elements of an ayahuasca retreat.

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a sacred plant medicine traditionally used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. Some scholars argue that ayahuasca ceremonies date back three centuries, influenced by Spanish missionaries. Others believe the brew might have been used ceremonially for thousands of years. Either way, ayahuasca is known across a variety of cultures for potent psychedelic and medicinal effects.

The brew is most commonly made from two primary plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria viridis leaf. When combined, these plants create a powerful psychedelic experience.

Effects of Ayahuasca

Many who drink ayahuasca report life-changing insights, deep healing of past traumas, and a sense of spiritual awakening. This experience can often include vivid visions, heightened sensory perception, and emotional release.

As the wider world has learned more about ayahuasca, conversation has circulated surrounding its spiritual and therapeutic potential. Opinions vary on the safety and effectiveness of ayahuasca, with skeptics, enthusiasts, and many in between. To fully understand the discussion, we must dive further into the brew’s effects, both the good and the bad.

Potential Benefits

Though research is still not conclusive, there is evidence to suggest that the active ingredients in ayahuasca can provide benefits to brain function and mental health. A study from PCN Reports examined many of the potential therapeutic uses of ayahuasca, finding an association with “with enhanced cognition, mood, and spirituality.” Evidence also linked ayahuasca with the following outcomes:

• A reduction in depression symptoms
• Recovery from addiction
• Increased connection with others

However, the same report cautions that direct correlations have not yet been established, and other factors may be at play. It is also important to note that these potential effects, however positive, cannot and should not replace physical or mental health care entirely. In addition, there are key risk factors that prospective users should be aware of.

Celebrity Experiences

As ayahuasca has entered the global spotlight, more and more public figures have shared their personal experiences with this sacred medicine. Celebrities like Will Smith, Lindsay Lohan, and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, have credited ayahuasca for lasting positive changes in their outlook and quality of life. Smith has spoken of finding “the unparalleled greatest feeling” of contentment through the drug, while Lohan simply claims it “changed my life”. These high-profile stories have sparked curiosity and opened the door to deeper public interest.

Risks & Side Effects of Ayahuasca Use

Many of the risks of ayahuasca use are not fixed, but highly dependent on the brew, the setting, and the taker. Though ayahuasca has a long history of ritual use, not every ceremony is the same. Therefore, the risk factors may be heightened or minimized based on the knowledge and experience of the shaman overseeing your ceremony.

Most ayahuasca experiences are accompanied by intense physical and emotional reactions. Some of the most common short-term side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting (often referred to as a form of cleansing)
• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Heightened anxiety or emotional overwhelm
• Temporary sensations of fear or panic

These symptoms are generally acknowledged in ceremonies and accepted as a part of the healing process. However, they can pose a more serious risk to some participants than to others. Given these effects, one should only drink ayahuasca under the guidance of an experienced shaman, and should never partake of it alone.

Mitigating Risks with Proper Planning

Those with preexisting conditions such as psychiatric disorders and heart conditions should carefully weigh the risks before pursuing this kind of practice — in the wrong circumstances, the effects can be life-threatening. For those who are medically cleared, many find the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. With the right preparation, an experienced facilitator, and a safe, supportive environment, the ayahuasca experience can be transformative. This underscores the importance of proper planning before an ayahuasca retreat.

Why People Choose Ayahuasca Retreats

Proper planning is vital for a meaningful encounter with ayahuasca. This is why many choose to attend ayahuasca retreats, which are designed to provide a structured, intentional, and spiritually grounded space to engage with the medicine. As ayahuasca has become more well-known worldwide, it has led to an increase in the popularity of ayahuasca retreats. Participants in these events will drink ayahuasca in a ceremonial setting led by a shaman or facilitator. Every retreat is a little bit different, but there are some common factors that most ayahuasca ceremonies share.

Ceremony Preparations

Generally, an ayahuasca ceremony is guided by a shaman who is familiar with traditional ayahuasca use. Participants may arrive well before the actual ceremony is meant to take place, leaving time to prepare physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the experience, which usually takes place after nightfall.

If possible, participants should aim to share an honest discussion with the shaman or facilitator about their intentions and any potential concerns. The shaman will prepare the space, a process which may include prayers or ritual blessings. In some ceremonies participants may also use certain types of tobacco snuff before ingesting ayahuasca. Once preparations are finished, the shaman will invite participants to drink.

What An Ayahuasca Ceremony Looks Like

As the effects set in, the experience may be underscored with music, especially icaros, which are traditional healing songs integral to many ayahuasca ceremonies. The shaman will oversee the process to ensure a safe, conducive atmosphere. Depending on how individual participants react to the substance, the shaman may help them with unique icaros, or other hands-on techniques intended to provide personalized support through symptoms. Once the ceremony comes to a close and effects diminish, there may be further exercises or discussions to help participants decompress and unpack their journey.

Summary

A typical account of an ayahuasca ceremony includes descriptions of a grueling and uncomfortable physical experience which leads to a sense of healing and even the feeling of being changed for the better. Sean Illing for Vox Media calls his experience with ayahuasca “emotional and physical hell,” but also describes himself as “happier and less irritable” than before. Any experience with ayahuasca can be powerfully influenced by proper retreat planning and preparation. Those interested in an ayahuasca retreat should take care to do thorough research, setting the right expectations and allowing for the best possible experience.

Image: Apollo, CC-BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ayahuasca do?

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic substance that can cause one to experience hallucinations, as well as heightened emotional states. It also commonly causes physical symptoms like nausea and/or diarrhea. There is evidence to suggest that experience with ayahuasca can lead to positive mental health outcomes, though the scientific community seems to agree that more thorough research is needed.

How long do ayahuasca effects last?

The short-term effects of ayahuasca typically last from 2 to 6 hours. Proponents of the drug claim it also has lasting effects on mental and emotional health.

What are the dangers of ayahuasca?

The most prevalent dangers of ayahuasca come from lack of care in its preparation and usage. Ayahuasca can interact dangerously with certain other medications or drugs, and its effect on perception and emotion can be harmful for those with preexisting psychological conditions. However, ayahuasca will affect everyone differently, and one experience can differ vastly from another, which means much of its danger lies in its unpredictability.

What happens in an ayahuasca retreat?

On an ayahuasca retreat, a facilitator or shaman will prepare a ceremonial environment and invite participants to drink ayahuasca. The ceremony may be accompanied by traditional songs known as icaros. Once the effects of the ayahuasca wear off, the facilitator will often invite participants to share in conversation about their experience.

Is ayahuasca illegal in the US?

Ayahuasca contains DMT, which is a schedule-I controlled substance as of the 1971 Controlled Substances Act. Strictly speaking, there are only a few examples of explicit religious exemptions to this rule. Broadly, the substance can be considered illegal to consume in the US.