Frequently Asked Questions about Ayahuasca in 2024 – FAQ

Do you lose consciousness or control on Ayahuasca?

During the ceremony, you are completely lucid. You can make decisions, you can see and remember everything, you can process your thoughts and emotions, and you might even be able to walk in a straight line.

Ayahuasca facilitates a trance-like state, but doesn’t make you lose consciousness. Physically, it does become more difficult to walk and you may feel unstable moving around, though it is still possible and many people aren’t as affected in this way.

The element of control is another matter. The short answer: The idea that we were ever in control is something each one of us must give up during the course of our lives, and Ayahuasca is one plant that helps you reach this realization, which will serve you for the rest of your life.

Can Ayahuasca heal deep sadness and pain?

We are always hesitant to make statements about how ayahuasca (and other sacred plants) can help and heal people. It varies greatly and may depend on how open they are, how they process and with what frequency they will be drinking the medicine. 

What we do believe wholeheartedly is that ayahuasca helps us reconnect with ourselves, nature and others. In other words, it helps us reconnect with life. It’s really the simplest of exercises once you experience it for yourself (and it might take a few ceremonies before you notice the simplicity of it all), yet for most of us, in the world we live in and due to the way we live, reconnection with anything at all is nearly impossible. 

It really has nothing to do with rationalizing or understanding anything about what has happened to us, why it happened to us or how to “solve” situations…it has much more to do with opening ourselves up to feeling. That is, feeling the fear or anxiety and simply observing how we feel without judgment, feeling deep loneliness and darkness and then noticing the way the dawn breaks, the birds sing and nature, LIFE, continues onwards effortlessly, following the ebb and flow of a pristine river. Feeling how each and every cell in our body isn’t really “ours” at all, that we are quite simply, and entirely, made up of the air, the water, the earth, the fire and all the other raw, natural elements that surround us.

Ayahuasca, and other sacred plants, provide a new, loving, and much-needed perspective on life and are ultimately just another tool (a very sacred one, at that) that can help us navigate through difficulty, fear, sadness and pain. There’s no such thing as a magic pill and, after a ceremony or retreat, it is still up to you to remember what you learned and felt and to return to the basic truths you might have discovered during your experience. It’s up to you to continue seeking reconnection and, quite likely, help and support, which might come from drinking more medicine, going to other types of therapy, practicing self love, removing yourself from unhealthy circumstances or people etc.

When we drink medicine for our own well being, we are seeking reconnection with our frustrations, fears, energy and with the perspective we receive in the process. And, perhaps most importantly, we are seeking reconnection with nature (keeping in mind that we too are nature).

Is there Ayahuasca in Ecuador?

Yes, the ayahuasca vine grows throughout Ecuador’s tropical environments, mainly the Amazonian rainforest, though it can also grow in Ecuador’s cloudforest.
It has been consumed for centuries by indigenous inhabitant’s of Ecuador’s rainforest as well as those in neighboring countries like Colombia and Peru.

Due to a growing interest in the healing properties of ayahuasca, ayahuasca retreat centers now dot the country, offering locals and tourists the opportunity to participate in ayahuasca ceremonies. 

Below are other questions we still need to answer!

Do you have other questions not found on this page? Send us your questions.

  • What components are found in Ayahuasca?
  • Is Ayahuasca the same as DMT?
  • Is Ayahuasca a drug?
  • What is a shaman?
  • If the plants are sacred and considered medicine, why do you charge visitors?
  • Can I buy Ayahuasca?

Are there side effects to drinking Ayahuasca?

Yes, there are.

One of the physical side effects include nausea during the ritual, which lasts from about 9pm to 6am. If the nausea persists the next day, the shaman will often use other plants to help with that or provide additional spiritual and energetic cleansing.

But there are yet other side effects! One side effect is a deep state of fulfillment, thankfulness and happiness. This happens because, by taking Ayahuasca, your brain and emotions begin to function in a better way. You might see and approach life in a more relaxed way, letting go of fears and confusion.

Another side effect of the plant is a feeling of lightness, both physically and emotionally. Physically because your digestive system has purged during the ceremony.

Emotionally because, if you’ve been angry, stressed and anxious about a person or a situation, you’re going to release that burden. Drinking Ayahuasca often helps with sleep. You’ll be able to rest better because you’ll remove the inner burdens you have.

Following the experience, you might begin to remember your visions from the ceremony in your dreams, while you meditate or something during your daily life. You’ll feel them and have them present.

Finally, because Ayahuasca amplifies your senses, your taste of smell, taste and energy become more sensitive. It’s quite common to eat better after an Ayahuasca retreat. You’ll enjoy your food and be more aware of what you eat. Your body will begin requesting more nutritious and healthier food and you’ll start avoiding specific foods that may not be benefiting your body.