Communication in Indigenous Villages Language Diversity in the Heart of Acre When we venture into indigenous villages in Acre, you’ll encounter natives who may not speak Portuguese fluently; they communicate in their natural language. As organizers, we act as more than guides—we are stewards serving the shaman and village leaders. While the entire community converses in Portuguese, our role is to relay to travelers all the wisdom and knowledge that the shaman imparts during their stay in the village. This goes beyond being mere translators; we see ourselves as conduits, ensuring that the richness of the shaman’s teachings is fully understood by those embarking on this transformative journey. Our commitment is to bridge the linguistic gap, allowing you to absorb the profound insights shared by the shaman and community leaders. Thank you for your understanding as we facilitate this cross-cultural exchange.

Precautions for Using Ayahuasca

**Medication Precautions for Ayahuasca Participation**

Before participating in ayahuasca ceremonies, consider the following medication risks:

1. **Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs):**
– Discontinue under doctor’s supervision. Combining with ayahuasca can be dangerous. Allow sufficient time for your system to clear these substances.

2. **Serotonin System Medications (Including SSRIs):**
– Cease use under healthcare guidance. Combining with ayahuasca may result in severe or fatal serotonin syndrome. Plan discontinuation with your doctor, allowing ample time to clear these substances.

3. **Herbal Antidepressant St. John’s Wort:**
– Do not take within two weeks of ceremonies. Interaction with ayahuasca can lead to adverse effects.

4. **Gradual Discontinuation and Professional Consultation:**
– Avoid abruptly stopping any medication without consulting your doctor. Allow ample time for side effects to subside.

By following these guidelines and consulting with healthcare professionals, you ensure a safe and transformative ayahuasca experience.

**Medication Precautions:**

1. **MAOIs:**
– Discontinue under doctor’s supervision. Combining with ayahuasca can be dangerous.
2. **SSRIs:**
– Cease use under healthcare guidance. Risk of serotonin syndrome.
3. **St. John’s Wort:**
– Stop two weeks prior. May cause adverse effects.
4. **Consultation:**
– Avoid stopping any medication abruptly. Consult your doctor.

General Guidelines:

– Discontinue decongestants, cold/allergy meds, sedatives, tranquilizers, amphetamines (Adderall), some hypertensive meds, sympathomimetic amines, carbamazepine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and diet pills.
– Disclose any mental health conditions. Pregnant individuals and those with heart conditions or high blood pressure cannot participate.

**Drug and Alcohol Use:**
– Avoid other drugs or substances to prevent reactions and interference with ayahuasca’s effects.

**Application Requirements:**
– Provide a complete list of all medications and their durations before attending.

By following these guidelines and consulting healthcare professionals, you ensure a safe and transformative ayahuasca experience.

Psychological and Health Considerations

– Individuals with a history of psychological problems should exercise caution and disclose any mental health conditions.
– Pregnant individuals and those with heart conditions or chronic high blood pressure cannot participate for safety reasons.

Additional Precautions

– Avoid using other drugs or substances to prevent unwanted reactions and interference with ayahuasca’s effects.
– After your application and medical details are received, specific requirements will be provided.
– A complete declaration of all prescriptions and drugs, along with their duration of use, is required.

By following these guidelines and consulting healthcare professionals, you ensure a safe and transformative ayahuasca experience.

Family History of Severe Mental Illness

– Individuals with a family history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depersonalization should be aware of heightened susceptibility. Participation should be cautious and at their own risk.
– Ensure:
1. No direct history of mania, psychosis, or depersonalization.
2. No prior medication for these conditions.
3. Not currently on any psychiatric medication.

– Inform us if you have a family history of severe mental illness for individual assessment.

Drugs to Avoid with MAOIs:

– **Other MAOIs**
– **SSRIs**
– **Antihypertensives**
– **Appetite Suppressants**
– **Asthma, Bronchitis, or Other Breathing Medications**
– Antihistamines, cold medicines, sinus medications, and allergy medications (e.g., Actifed DM, Benadryl, Robitussin-DM)
– **CNS Depressants**
– **Antipsychotics**
– **Barbiturates**
– **Alcohol**

By following these guidelines and consulting healthcare professionals, you ensure a safe and transformative ayahuasca experience.

Drugs to Avoid with MAOIs:

**Combining illegal or recreational drugs with MAOIs can be extremely dangerous:**
– Cocaine
– Amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine)
– MDMA (Ecstasy)
– MDA
– MDEA
– PMA
– Dextromethorphan (DXM)
– Opiates
– Mescaline (any phenethylamine)
– Barbiturates

**Specific pharmaceutical drugs to avoid:**
– Stimulants
– Antidepressants
– Antipsychotics
– Antihypertensives

Additional Guidelines:

– Inform retreat organizers about any drugs or substances consumed to ensure a secure and productive experience. This enables us to provide appropriate assistance and attention throughout the retreat.

By following these guidelines and consulting healthcare professionals, you ensure a safe and transformative ayahuasca experience.

Avoid:

**Medications:**
– Actifed
– Adderall
– Alaproclate
– Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
– Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
– Amineptine
– Amitriptaline
– Amoxapine (Asendin)
– Atomoxedine
– Befloxetone
– Benadryl
– Benylin
– Benzedrine
– Benzphetamine (Didrex)
– Bicifadine
– Brasofensine
– Brofaromine
– Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
– Buspirone (BuSpar)
– Butriptyline
– Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)
– Chlorpheniramine
– Chlor Trimeton
– Cimoxetone
– Citalopram
– Clomipramine (Anafranil)
– Codeine
– Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
– Cyclizine (Marezine)
– Dapoxotine
– Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)
– Desvenlafaxine
– Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
– Dextromethorphan (DXM)
– Dibenzepin
– Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin
– Diethylpropion
– Disopyramide (Norpace)
– Disulfiram (Antabuse)
– Dopamine (Intropin)
– Dosulepin
– Doxepin (Sinequan)
– Duloxetine
– Emsam
– Ephedrine
– Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
– Escitalopram
– Femoxitine
– Fenfluramine (Pondimin)
– Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
– Fluoxetine (Prozac)
– Fluvoxamine
– Furazolidone (Furoxone)
– Guanethedine
– Guanadrel (Hylorel)
– Guanethidine (Ismelin)
– Hydralazine (Apresoline)
– 5 Hydroxytryptophan
– Imipramine (Tofranil)
– Iprindole
– Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, Propilniazida)
– Iproclozide
– Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
– Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
– Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)
– Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
– L dopa (Sinemet)
– Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
– Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)
– Lithium (Eskalith)
– Lofepramine
– Loratadine (Claritin)
– Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
– Medifoxamine
– Melitracen
– Meperidine (Demerol)
– Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel)
– Metaraminol (Aramine)
– Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
– Methyldopa (Aidomet)
– Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
– Mianserin
– Milnacipran
– Minaprine
– Mirtazapine (Remeron)
– Moclobemide
– Montelukast (Singulair)
– Nefazodone
– Nialamide
– Nisoxetine
– Nomifensine
– Norepinephrine (Levophed)
– Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
– Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
– Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
– Orphenadrine (Norflex)
– Pargyline (Eutonyl)
– Parnate
– Paroxetine (Paxil)
– Pemoline (Cylert)
– Percocet
– Pethedine (Demerol)
– Phendimetrazine (Plegiline)
– Phenergen
– Phenmetrazine
– Phentermine
– Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo Synephrine)
– Phenylpropanolamine (in many cold medicines)
– Phenelzine (Nardil)
– Procarbazine (Matulane)
– Procainamide (Pronestyl)
– Protriptyline (Vivactil)
– Pseudoephedrine
– Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
– Quinidine (Quinidex)
– Rasagiline (Azilect)
– Reboxetine
– Reserpine (Serpasil)
– Risperidone
– Salbutemol
– Salmeterol
– Selegiline (Eldepryl)
– Sertraline (Zoloft)
– Sibutramine
– Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
– Terfenadine (Seldane D)
– Tegretol
– Temaril
– Tesofensine
– Theophylline (Theo Dur)
– Tianeptine
– Toloxatone
– Tramidol
– Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
– Trazodone
– Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
– Trimipramine (Surmontil)
– Triptans
– Vanoxerine
– Venlafaxine (Effexor)
– Viloxezine
– Yohimbine
– Zimelidine
– Ziprasidone (Geodon)

**Herbs to Avoid:**
– St. Johns Wort
– Kava
– Kratom
– Ephedra
– Ginseng
– Yohimbe
– Sinicuichi
– Rhodiola Rosea
– Kanna
– Boswellia
– Nutmeg
– Scotch Broom

Additionally, avoid the following herbs: 

Here is the list formatted properly:

**Herbs to Avoid:**
– St. Johns Wort
– Kava
– Kratom
– Ephedra
– Ginseng
– Yohimbe
– Sinicuichi
– Rhodiola Rosea
– Kanna
– Boswellia
– Nutmeg
– Scotch Broom