Who is Eligible

 

Unfortunately, the Plant Medicine and/or the village is not conducive to all medications, vitamins and physical conditions.  Please let us now if you are on any medication, have any serious health problems, infectious or contagious diseases. See below also for more information about dietary restrictions, age limits, and other restrictions.

 

MEDICAL


All guests must be able to stop taking all medications, vitamins and supplements (with the exception of anti-malaria and birth control) three days prior to and after the trip. This is a strict safetly rule, and in order for the Plant Medicine  to work, it cannot be mixed with other things. There are only a few exceptions on a case by case basis. This is especially true (but not limited to) MAO Inhibitors, including St. John's Wort.


Some medications may be taken while dieting non-Ayahuasca plants. Please consult us ahead of time to discuss.


The village is not a medical facility and is not prepared for treatment of serious illness.  There is a small hospital for basic care in the village, and in case of emergecy or need of a regular doctor, we can take you on the speed boat to the city of Requena (about an hour away) or back to Iquitos. When the Medicine guidelines are followed, it is very rare to have complications.


Due to this limitation, people with the following conditions are not eligible to participate in the Ayahuasca ceremonies:


  • High Blood Pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease (or any disease including vulnerability to the heart)
  • Epilepsy (or other seizure-related conditions)
  • Infectious or Contagious Diseases
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Use of MAO Inhibitors or Anti-Depressants/Anxiety/Psychotic Medication
  • Severe Schizophrenia
  • Current Alcohol or Drug Addiction (requiring detox - please visit takiwasi.com for an Treatment Center using the Ayahuasca Plant Medicine)

However, there are many other plants that can be dieted to improve some of these conditions. Please contact us ahead of time to discuss options.


Anyone with a mental condition must consult a physician before attending, and be able to safely cease taking their medications four weeks prior to the start date of the trip, with clearance.

 

ILLEGAL DRUGS (including plant-based, such as marijuana)

 

There is to be absolutely no use of illegal drugs during your stay with us (that includes plants like marijuana). Please do not bring them and put us in that position. We believe at Infinite Light, that often the energies do not mix while working with the Medicine, and can be dangerous. Please respect us, respect the Medicine, and don't bring or do it!

 

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY


The house itself is wheelchair accessible, as we have had a quadriplegic participant several times, assisting us with modification of accommodations as time goes on. However, the boat launch and the village is a different story, and the person would need to be comfortable with the occassional out-of-wheelchair transfer. We are doing the best we can within our means, and I'm not sure if it would be considered ADA standards, but contact us and we can discuss realistically what can work.

 

TOBACCO


Tobacco (either pure tobacco or traditional cigarettes) is an integral part of Amazonian shamanism and is frequetly used by shamans and apprentices in ceremony (to purify negative energy, serve as a protector, as well as an offering to the plant spirits). The ceremony house is large, tall and airy in order to avoid getting smoky, but if you have a hyper-sensitivity to tobacco smoke, you should inform us before your trip. This is part of the spiritual work and the culture, so please come with non-judgment regarding tobacco.


SPECIAL DIETS


We are able to accommodate some special dietary needs, including vegetarian and vegan. Being that we are in the village, the food is simple and fresh for everyone, and those with special restrictions will simply have less options to choose from, though they will eat (remember there is no Whole Foods in the Amazon!) For breakfast, the main dish is eggs (hardboiled, softboiled, fried or scrambled) and for both meals (breakfast and lunch) there is always a combination of vegetables, bread, yucca, plantains, and sometimes cheese. We often have rice and beans available, as well as spaghetti at times. Remember, on ceremony day we fast for dinner (on off days people can eat out in the village.)


SEXUAL CONTACT


During your stay with us, you must be willing to abstain from sexual contact (including couples). During this time of physical and spiritual cleansing, you cannot mix your energies with that of another, including your partner. Couples can share a room but will sleep in two separate beds (trust me, after ceremony you will need the space!)We keep the space sacred, and ask that you respect these rules.


If you meet someone on the trip that you connect with, please abstain until you return to Iquitos, and remember to give yourself three days after your last ceremony to secure your energetic body is strong enough to handle the exchange.


FAMILIES AND AGE LIMITS


Families are welcome to come have the Infinite Light experience, however young children cannot participate in the Ayahuasca ceremonies. In the village, the rule of thumb is when the child has the desire to participate, and is old enough to understand what he or she is learning (generally happens after puberty). However, village kids have a lot less to purge, and the age for Western kids tends to be a bit older as the experience will most likely be more difficult to handle. Contact us to talk about your individual scenerio.

 

Click HERE to continue on to the Before Your Trip section...