There are 3 steps to our medical screening process we take your safety and the safety of the group dynamics very seriously
Step 1. Please read our guide on safety and plant medicine contraindicators
Step 2. Once we receive you medical screening questionnaire, we shall arrange a consultation call
Step 3. Our plant spirit teachers will decide on what plant remedy treatments are suitable for you
At Meraya, we uphold a deep commitment to our work, especially when it comes to the sacred use of plant medicines. Whichever retreat calls to you, know that there exists a thoughtful application process and a period of personal preparation. This is our way of ensuring not only your safety but that of everyone joining in the ceremony, while simultaneously setting the stage for you to reap the profound rewards of your healing expedition with us.
Recognize that Ayahuasca is a powerful Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI), known for its fierce incompatibility with a variety of medications and substances. The mixture of Ayahuasca with such agents in your system can have dire consequences—ranging from severe injury to the unthinkable. Thus, transparency becomes your beacon; we must insist on full disclosure regarding any medications or medical histories as you embark on this voyage.
Before you can be welcomed into our sanctuary, our protocols require that any medications be phased out under the watchful guidance of your physician. This isn’t merely a formality—it’s a critical safeguard for you and for those who will share in this transformative journey.
In the weeks leading up to your encounter with Ayahuasca, a cessation of all non-prescribed pharmaceuticals is not just advised; it’s imperative—starting at least two weeks before your ceremony begins.
Let there be no shadows of doubt: if there is even a whisper of suspicion that you have partaken in any prohibited medications or substances, that you have sipped from the chalice of alcohol, or if you have strayed from the essential dietary and preparative protocols—we must, with unwavering conviction, reserve our right to refuse your participation in the ceremony. And such decisions are final, accompanied by no refunds.
Your journey to healing is sacred, and so is our commitment to the integrity of this process.
– cocaine
– amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine), ephedrine, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA
– opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, and especially opium)
– dextromethorphan (DXM)
– nutmeg
– 5-Meo-DMT
There are recorded fatalities from the combination of cocaine with MAOIs and 5-Meo-DMT with MAOIs.
Illegal or recreational drugs that can potentially be dangerous to combine with MAOIs:
– mescaline (any phenethylamine)
– barbiturates
– alcohol
– kratom
– kava
Prior to your arrival at our retreats, it is essential that any previous psychological conditions be disclosed. This level of openness allows us to tailor our approach, ensuring that we can assist you in a manner that is both safe and effective. Omitting such critical information not only jeopardizes your own well-being but could also lead to serious ramifications for other participants.
We honor the uniqueness of each individual’s journey, approaching every case with meticulous care. Should our assessment reveal that Ayahuasca may not align with your current state, rest assured, our expertise extends beyond this single modality. We are equipped to offer alternative forms of healing that do not require the ingestion of Ayahuasca, allowing for a personalized and nurturing experience tailored to support your path to wellness.
Medications containing MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) are critically dangerous when paired with ayahuasca, including when remnants remain in your system at the time of participation. A cessation of these medications is required under the supervision of your healthcare provider, incorporating a washout period ranging from a minimum of 2-4 weeks, depending on the specific medication.
Particular attention must be given to Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, and Effexor. These antidepressants, impacting the serotonin system, pose a grave risk when combined with ayahuasca and could precipitate serotonin syndrome—a condition potentially fatal.
As such, we mandate that all participants discontinue SSRI medications under their doctor’s guidance before applying for any of our retreats. The discontinuation process may trigger various side effects; hence a sufficient washout period of 2-4 weeks is vital not only for medication clearance but also for the subsiding of any withdrawal symptoms. Abrupt cessation without medical consultation is strictly discouraged. Furthermore, we stipulate a washout period of 2 weeks for those using the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum).
Individuals who are pregnant, have heart conditions, or suffer from chronic high blood pressure are deemed unsuitable for ayahuasca ingestion. Nevertheless, there are abundant avenues through which we can facilitate your healing journey, such as partaking in the ceremony sans the ayahuasca—a practice where curanderos’ healing songs catalyze profound transformation.
For those managing diabetes, it’s imperative to note that MAOIs may necessitate adjustments to insulin or oral antidiabetic medications.
Medifoxamine * Melitracen * Meperidine(Demerol) * Metaproterenol(Alupent,Metaprel)Metaraminol(Aramine)Metfendrazine(Inkazan)Methamphetamine(Desoxyn)Methyldopa(Aldomet)Methylphenidate(Ritalin)MetralindoleMianserinMilacimideMilnacipranMinaprine(Cantor)Mirtazapine(Remeron)MofegelineMoclobemide(Aurorix,Manerix)MonomethylhydrazineMontelukast(Singulair)NalbufrineNaloxoneNaltrexoneNefazodoneNialamide(Niamid)NisoxetineNomifensine*Norepinephrine(Levophed)*Nortriptyline(Aventyl)*Octamoxin(Ximaol,Nimaol)*Oxybutynin chloride(Ditropan)OxycodoneOxymetazoline(Afrin,Dimetapp)OxymorphoneOrphenadrine(Norflex)*Pargyline(Eutonyl)*P
Also avoid the following herbs for a minimum of 48 hours before and after your ceremony / retreat
St. John’s Wort (if it has been taken regularly, needs two weeks to clear the system)
Using stimulants with MAOIs is particularly dangerous and can be potentially fatal. Using cocaine, amphetamines or MDMA (Ecstasy) with MAOIs may cause a severe increase in blood pressure, increasing the chances for stroke and cerebral haemorrhage. MAOIs may make it possible to overdose on a relatively small amount of cocaine. (A fatality has been recorded involving combination of Peganum harmala and cocaine. Fatalities resulting from combining amphetamines with pharmaceutical MAOIs are recorded in the medical literature.)
Using other serotonin agonists (SSRIs) or precursors with an MAOI can lead to serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is rare but can be fatal. The main symptom of serotonin syndrome may be a severe and long-lasting headache (the same symptom as MAOI tyramine interaction) and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more) Other symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include rapid heartbeat, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent tremor or twitching, overactive or overresponsive reflexes, hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure. Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to shock, agitated delirium, muscular rigidity and high muscular tension, abnormal blood clotting and bleeding, respiratory failure, renal failure, and seizures, and can be life-threatening. This interaction can happen even if weeks have passed between stopping the SSRI and taking the MAOI. For further information on serotonin syndrome see this web page: http://www.psychotropical.com/
Using other MAOIs with Ayahuasca may result in hypertensive crisis, convulsive seizures, fever, marked sweating, excitation, delirium, tremor, coma and circulatory collapse.
Using 5-MEO-DMT with Ayahuasca or Ayahuasca analogs can be fatal. There is a documented case of fatality combining 5-MeO-DMT with Ayahuasca and another documented case of fatality combining 5-MeO-DMT with an Ayahuasca analog.
Using opiates (opium, heroin, morphine, codeine) or barbiturates with MAOIs can increase the sedative effect and result in respiratory depression. Using MAOIs with heroin or morphine can theoretically push a normal dose to the overdose threshold.
Opium (whether smoked or drunk as tea) is especially dangerous to combine with MAOIs, because it contains not only morphine and codeine, but another active alkaloid called thebaine, which can cause convulsions when combined with MAOIs, and which is also a stimulant (see above paragraph on stimulants). Painkillers synthesized from thebaine (buprenorphine, etorphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone) should also be regarded as highly dangerous to combine with MAOIs.
Using alcohol with MAOIs may cause side effects like angina (chest pain) or headaches. The headache may mask or be mistaken for hypertensive crisis caused by MAOI interaction. MAOIs can also increase the sedative effect of alcohol.
Using diuretics with MAOIs may cause a greater drop in blood pressure than normal and increase in MAOI blood levels.
Using anesthetics with MAOIs may potentiate or increase the anesthetic effect.
Using sleeping pills or tranquilizers (major or minor) with MAOIs may increase the sedative effect.
Using nutmeg (at psychoactive levels) with MAOIs can cause hypotensive crisis (extremely low blood pressure), rapid heartbeat, unconsciousness and potentially death.
Using cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) with MAOIs may result in high blood pressure, although there are unverified reports of this plant (of African and Asian origin) being used in some Ayahuasca preparations because of its minor DMT and 5-MeO-DMT content.
Using vasodilators with Ayahuasca may cause fainting (which carries the slight risk of choking on vomit) and increases the chances of having an experience in which one believes one is dying. Using vasodilators immediately after an Ayahuasca session also carries the risk of fainting or passing out.
Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects including sudden fever, extremely high blood pressure, convulsions, and death.
Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within five weeks of taking MAOIs may cause high fever, rigidity, high blood pressure, mental changes, confusion and hypomania.
Using Amitryptamine or Amoxipine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
Using Benzedrine, Benzphetamine, Desipramine, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Dopamine, Ephedrine (contained in Marax, Quadrinal, and other asthma drugs), Epinephrine, Guanadrel, Guanethidine, Hydralazine, Isoproterenol, L-dopa, Metaraminol, Methyldopa, Mirtazapine, Norepinephrine Oxymetazoline, Phendimetrazine, Phentermine, Phenylephrine, Phenylpropanolamine, Pseudoephedrine, Ritalin, or Venlafaxine with MAOIs may cause a hypertensive crisis (severe spike in blood pressure) which can lead to brain haemorrhage or stroke.
Using Adderall with MAOIs can result in high body temperature (hyperpyrexia crisis), severe increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis), seizures, and coma. (See paragraph above on stimulants)
Using Bupropion (Wellbutrin) within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects such as seizures.
Using Buspirone (Buspar) with MAOIs may cause high blood pressure and increased sedative effects.
Using Carbamazepine (Tegretol) with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexia crisis) and may cause seizures or increase seizures in epileptics.
Using Citalopram with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
Using Clomipramine with MAOIs may cause high fever (hyperpyrexia crisis), seizures, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death.
Using CNS depressants with MAOIs may increase the depressant effects.
Using Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis, hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
Using Dextromethorphan (DXM) at psychoactive levels with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome, extremely high blood pressure (hypertensive crisis), high body temperature (hyperpyrexia crisis), episodes of psychosis, and in high doses can potentially be fatal.
Using Dobutamine with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive reaction.
Using Doxepin with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
Using Entacapone with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
Using Fenfluramine with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexia crisis).
Using Fluoxedine or Fluvoxamine with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
Using Gabapentin with MAOIs may result in increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and/or seizures.
Using Horny Goat Weed with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
Using Imipramine with MAOIs may cause hyperpyretic crises, disseminated intravascular coagulation, convulsions, and death.
Using Isoproterenol with MAOIs may precipitate severe hypertensive crisis.
Using Kava with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).
Using Levodopa with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
Using Linezolid with MAOIs can cause serotonin syndrome.
Using Lithium with MAOIs may cause fever (hyperpyrexia crisis) and serotonin syndrome (see serotonin syndrome above).
Using Meperidine (Demerol) with pharmaceutical MAOIs has resulted in deaths from a single dose. Immediate onset of sweating, rigidity and hypertension can occur.
Using Metaproterenol or other beta-adrenergic bronchodilators with MAOIs may cause blood pressure elevation and rapid heartbeat.
Using Mirtazapine (Remeron) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis.
Using Nefazodone (Serzone) may result in high fever (hyperpyrexia crisis).
Using Paroxetine (Paxil) with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
Using Sertraline with MAOIs may result in severe and sometimes fatal reactions involving elevations in blood pressure, hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic instability. This drug should be ceased a minimum of two weeks before taking Ayahuasca.
Using Temaril with MAOIs may increase chance of side effects.
Using Terfenadine with MAOIs may cause an increase in MAOI blood levels.
Using Theophylline with MAOIs may cause rapid heartbeat and anxiety.
Using Tolcapone with MAOIs can stop the catalyst enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from metabolizing levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa in the periphery, and in the brain.
Using Trazodone (Desyrel) with MAOIs may result in high fever (hyperpyrexia crisis).
Using Tryptophan or L-tryptophan with MAOIs may cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium agitation, memory impairment, hypomanic signs, shivering.
Using Venlafaxine (Effexor) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis or serotonin syndrome.
Using Ziprasidone (Geodon) with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome.
Using Zoloft (Sertraline) with MAOIs has produced fatal cases of serotonin syndrome, and can also result in fever, muscle rigidity, instability of the autonomic nervous system, delirium, and coma.
Special note to diabetics: MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that you need
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If you have connected to this offering through your local team, they will share more information with you. If you choose to sign up to one of these retreats through our website, we will introduce you to your local team. These retreats are void of a hierarchical structure. We at Meraya shall share the wisdom of the Shipibo Conibo tribes and merge the practices of your local circle to work in synergy and harmony in offering you the best of both worlds in these retreat offerings.
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Introducing Mokan Noi
As of 2024, Mokan Noi has dedicated over a decade to studying and dieting with Amazonian plants, completing more than six years of dieta or apprenticeship with esteemed Amazonian plant teachers. We invite you to explore his inspiring journey.
Mokan Noi began his path of awakening in 2013, entering a 12-step rehab program after spending nearly 20 years grappling with drug addiction. His journey was anything but simple. In 2015, he ventured into the world of Ayahuasca and traveled to Gabon, Africa, to participate in an Iboga initiation with the Bwiti tribe. Still searching for answers, he arrived in Peru, where he connected with the Shipibo-Conibo tribe and began dieting plants.
Guided by the plants, Mokan delved into various shamanic classes and therapies, including Past life regression therapy, Parts therapy, Hypnosis, NLP, Energy healing and Psychology. He was initiated into multiple shamanic lineages from around the world to build a practice that would help him find peace with his addiction. Throughout his years of study, he remained clean, though he faced a few relapses. As of 2024, he has now been completely clean for eight years.
Mokan has crafted a healing program that integrates his diverse studies, supporting others in taking control of their own energies. He views addiction as a diversion from healing the shadows awakened within the psyche. Now living in the jungle of Peru, Mokan is a dedicated student of the plants, engaging in daily study, healing, and personal evolution. His passion for this path drives him to continue his studies and share his wisdom with others.