Is It Safe?
Ayahuasca carries real risks, and most of our safety work happens before anyone arrives. Jim, the owner of the Hummingbird since 2010, personally reads every application and screens every guest. He has done that for over 1,500 guests across 380 retreats and has never delegated it. In that time we have had no medical emergency related to drinking ayahuasca.
The most common reason we decline someone is high blood pressure. Our Working With Ayahuasca Safely page lists the full set of conditions that rule out drinking, including the medication interactions (SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol, stimulants) that make ayahuasca genuinely dangerous rather than merely difficult. There are no exceptions to that list.
For guests coming with depression, anxiety, or trauma, we use validated screening instruments alongside our own questions: the PCL-5, developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, along with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. We decline anyone scoring above a defined threshold on the PCL-5. Severe, active trauma symptoms need clinical care, and a retreat in the Amazon isn't that.
We want to be direct about what we are and are not. We are not doctors or therapists. Screening here is not medical clearance, and nothing we do replaces your own physician, particularly if you're on medication, since tapering is a decision for your prescriber and no one else. What we bring is responsibility for screening and evaluation since 2010, and a willingness to turn away people we're not confident about.
Onsite, groups never exceed ten guests, small enough for real attention. Sober support staff are present through every ceremony and stay with guests afterward, so no one is left alone while still under the effects. Our curandero, Manain, has over 45 years of experience and has worked with us for more than 8 years. If a guest needs medical attention, the nearest hospital is 45 minutes away. In a real emergency we would call an ambulance and meet it en route to shorten the time to care.
Dosing is conservative by default. Your first cup is a moderate dose meant to introduce you to ayahuasca clearly without overwhelming you. You can always drink a second time if you want to go deeper, and we'll increase your dose on subsequent nights until you reach the intensity you're looking for. No one is ever pushed to drink more than they want.
Many of the people who come to us have carried depression or anxiety for fifteen years or longer. More than 250 have joined our Immersion program, with extended stays of three to four weeks and multiple master plant dietas. This experience of working with people that have a more serious condition for a longer time has informed and shaped how we work with people to ensure their safety and well being.
More about Ayahuasca Safety →Responsible Ceremonies →
