Following the Ayahuasca diet demonstrates respect for the process, the ancestral tradition, and the medicine. It is also a commitment to yourself and your healing, as well as an exercise of discipline. It prepares your body to receive the medicine, reducing the amount of cleansing needed during the ceremony and allowing the healing work to unfold more easily while maximising its benefits.

The answer to this question depends on the retreat centre. At Avalon, we recommend starting the diet two weeks before the retreat begins, which we consider ideal, and a minimum of one week.

The core Ayahuasca dietary restrictions are alcohol, recreational drugs, pork and red meat, salt, refined sugar, caffeine, cacao, dairy, vinegar, fermented foods, citrus, onion and garlic. SSRIs need a six-week wash-out (always check with your doctor). At Avalon, we recommend following these restrictions for two weeks before and one to two weeks after your retreat.

As in many other cases, it depends on tradition, lineage, and even the specific shaman. As a general rule, we could say yes, as long as it is whole-grain bread and does not contain yeast, salt, or sourdough (tyramine)—for example, unleavened bread, buckwheat bread, natural sprouted rye bread, and some keto breads.

Yes, we recommend fresh, organic eggs. Other protein sources include lentils and beans, organic free-range chicken, and mild wild-caught fish like sole, tilapia, halibut, trout, and snapper.

According to different ancestral traditions, citrus fruits, like lemon or orange, can inhibit some of the effects of Ayahuasca.

We recommend taking advantage of the momentum after the retreat and continuing healthy habits as long as possible, including not drinking alcohol. To maximise the retreat’s benefits and ensure a long-lasting impact, follow the Ayahuasca diet for at least one week after the retreat, ideally two weeks.

Three weeks before the retreat, we will send you all the necessary preparatory information: diet, mindset preparation, packing list and ceremony guidelines. Instead of taking it as a deprivation process, we invite you to understand it as a self-love act. Just do your very best, and do not beat yourself up if you cannot follow it perfectly.