Introduction: The Allure and the Risks
Ayahuasca, a powerful plant medicine traditionally used by Indigenous Amazonian tribes for spiritual and medicinal purposes, has gained significant global attention over the past decade. Prominent figures such as Aaron Rodgers have publicly endorsed its transformative potential, but its rapid mainstreaming raises important questions about the risks and ethical considerations surrounding its use. Drawing from my experiences as a clinician who has participated in over 100 ayahuasca ceremonies in diverse contexts, this blog explores the potential dangers of ayahuasca and offers guidance for those considering its use.
The Santo Daime Years: Structure and Stigma
My introduction to ayahuasca began within the Santo Daime religion, a Brazilian spiritual tradition that integrates Christianity, animism, and shamanism. The religion benefits from legal protection in many countries, including recognition at the Supreme Court level in the United States. While Santo Daime ceremonies typically involve structured rituals with hymns, white clothing, and gender-separated seating, my experience highlighted significant challenges. My mediumship tendencies often led to energetic convulsions, which were not well understood or supported within the group’s framework. Moreover, external stigma compounded the difficulties; an employer’s perception of my participation in ayahuasca ceremonies as “unstable” led to professional threats. These limitations prompted me to explore ayahuasca in more traditional, shamanic contexts.
Ceremony in the Amazon: Beauty and Brutality
In the Peruvian Amazon, I sat with Indigenous Shipibo and Yaminahua shamans. These ceremonies, while deeply rooted in traditional practices, revealed the physical toll of such environments. The oppressive heat, relentless mosquitoes, and lack of modern comforts added layers of difficulty. In one particularly intense experience, an elder shaman’s icaro (sacred song) induced a state where I viscerally re-lived a childhood friend’s traumatic accident, convulsing for nearly 45 minutes. This left me physically and emotionally drained but also underscored ayahuasca’s potent capacity to access buried memories.
The Costa Rican Retreat Scene: When Scale Replaces Safety
My time at a large Costa Rican retreat illustrated the risks of commercialized ayahuasca practices. With over 80 participants and minimal staff, the environment lacked the intimate, careful attention needed for such vulnerable work. During one ceremony, I sought assistance while feeling as though I was dying, only to be dismissed. The retreat’s lack of professional oversight—including an unlicensed psychologist and reports of sexual assaults—exemplifies the potential dangers of inadequately managed ayahuasca settings.
Sweat Lodge in Colombia: Cultural Clash and Claustrophobia
In Colombia, I encountered another challenge during a sweat lodge ceremony. As someone unaware of their claustrophobia, I found the escalating heat and confined space overwhelming. Attempts to exit were met with resistance, reflecting a cultural disregard for Western psychological concerns. My forceful escape, while necessary for my safety, highlighted the importance of self-advocacy in potentially unsafe contexts.
Exploitation by Shamans: Integrity Isn’t Guaranteed
In some cases, shamans and medicine men exploit the vulnerability of participants. In the Sacred Valley of Peru, I worked with a well-regarded ayahuascero named Kucho who claimed to have a plant medicine to address my health imbalance. Despite paying for his assistance, he later denied knowing me, revealing a disheartening lack of integrity. Similarly, at a retreat in Ecuador, inadequate psychological screening allowed a guest with severe borderline personality disorder to manipulate and traumatize others. The retreat’s “psychologist” had only a bachelor’s degree, leaving participants without proper support. Additionally, the retreat failed to disclose that most participants were from the Czech Republic, creating significant communication barriers for non-Czech speakers like myself. This lack of transparency was dangerous, as being in a vulnerable state during ayahuasca ceremonies necessitates clear communication and mutual understanding among participants and facilitators.
Anesthesia Awareness in Tulum: My Most Terrifying Experience
The most alarming experience occurred with a facilitator named Frederic that was practicing in Tulum, Mexico. He irresponsibly combined ayahuasca with five other substances while promoting himself with multiple inflated and distorted professional titles. During that time, I personally experienced anesthesia awareness, a rare but horrifying condition in which a person is conscious yet unable to move or communicate. I was in this state for 10 hours and was left outside by myself overnight to deal with it. It was one of the most terrifying situations of my life. I felt trapped in a loop, as if I were doomed to relive all of the worst experiences of my life over and over again with no escape. The fear that I might remain in that state forever was overwhelming. This experience underscored how reckless combinations of medicines, paired with unqualified leadership, can turn spiritual vulnerability into acute psychological trauma. No one should be subjected to that level of risk in a supposed healing space.
The Research: What the Literature Confirms
Academic literature supports these concerns. For example, a systematic review by Domínguez-Clavé et al. (2019) found that while ayahuasca may have therapeutic benefits, it can also provoke adverse effects such as dissociation, emotional instability, and exacerbation of pre-existing psychiatric conditions. The study emphasized the need for proper screening and integration support to mitigate these risks. Another study by Gómez-Suárez et al. (2021) highlighted the potential for interpersonal harm in retreat settings, citing cases of unethical behavior by facilitators and inadequate preparation of participants as contributing factors.
Practical Guidance: How to Stay Safe
For those considering ayahuasca, several precautions can reduce the likelihood of harm. Research should go far beyond online reviews, which can often be curated or misleading. Speaking directly with past participants about their experiences tends to yield more reliable and unfiltered insights. It is essential to verify the training and credentials of medicine men and support staff, particularly any individuals presenting as psychologists or therapists. Many unqualified individuals now use the vague label of “facilitator” to avoid accountability or licensing standards. Ideally, ceremonies should be capped at 15 participants to allow for individualized attention and safety. Psychological screening must be thorough, especially to rule out histories of psychosis or untreated trauma that may be worsened by psychedelic experiences. Finally, it is wise to consult with a transpersonal or integration-oriented therapist before and after the ceremony to prepare for and unpack the psychological and spiritual impacts of the work.
Conclusion: Tread Carefully with Sacred Medicines
While ayahuasca offers profound healing potential, it also carries significant dangers—especially in poorly managed or unethical settings. My personal and professional experiences highlight the importance of careful consideration, thorough research, and strong support systems when engaging with this medicine. As ayahuasca continues to gain global traction, these safeguards are not optional—they are essential to ensuring that this sacred medicine remains a path toward healing, not harm.
Mike Bribeaux, LMFT, PhD Candidate in Integral Health, Founder, Warrior Child Healing
References
Domínguez-Clavé, E., Soler, J., Elices, M., Pascual, J. C., Fernández, C., Íbáñez-Casas, I., & Riba, J. (2019). Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential. Brain Research Bulletin, 126, 89-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.03.002
Gómez-Suárez, M., Romo-Parra, H., & Miranda-Ripoll, E. (2021). Ethical considerations and psychosocial risks in ayahuasca retreats: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 5(3), 143-154. https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2021.00054
