Safety

Before speaking or booking with us, please complete our Intake Form & Health Questionnaire first. We look forward to hearing from you.

Safety

For thousands of years, indigenous people have known about the healing powers of sacred plants and medicinal fungi.

Now, scientific and medical research is discovering how plant medicines can promote well-being and personal transformation.

Nevertheless, both indigenous wisdom traditions and science acknowledge that plant medicines present very real risks.

Our staff is serious about safety. We carefully screen all applicants, take time to craft a supportive container for optimal “set and setting”, are trained in Trauma-Informed Care Facilitation, CPR/AED, Peer Support, and Wilderness First Aid.

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Medications, Physical & Mental Health Assessment

To attend a sacred ceremony or retreat with Cinco Medicos, you must agree to disclose, in confidence, any known medical conditions and/or use of any medication, at the time of booking. Before attending, guests also agree to discontinue certain medications, abstain from recreational drugs, and follow our dietary guidelines closely (see below).

By working with Cinco Medicos, you are declaring that you are in a physical and mental condition appropriate to the activities described in the retreat programs, and agree that you participate at your own risk and that we cannot accept liability for any accident or injury. You should seek professional medical advice on preparations to assure your personal safety and the overall welfare of the group.

Certain drugs and medications — listed at the bottom of this page — are incompatible with the plant medicines we offer. Thus, it is essential to stop taking certain substances and give your body time to adapt before your ceremony or retreat. Never suddenly stop taking prescribed medications (including antidepressants) without consulting your doctor.

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Code of Ethics

Currently, there are hundreds of plant medicine centers and retreats across the world, with no regulatory body to oversee them. Some have professional training. Others do not. All vary in content, integrity, ethics, and safety.

In our experience and that of many of the safety experts we have consulted, entering a plant medicine experience with no research, safety plan, or advance preparation can open the door to accidents and mistakes. These range from the mild to the severe, and from the reversible to the irreversible. The negative outcomes you can experience can include ruining your night, making yourself sick; damage to your brain, body, or both; having a scary or overwhelming journey you weren’t prepared for; increasing the likelihood of negative mental health consequences; and in extremely rare instances, death.

As a result, we have created our own Code of Ethics. We recommend you read the document and welcome your feedback.

Image credit: Anderson Debernardi

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Dietary Guidelines

Keeping a healthy diet before and after your ceremony is essential. For at least two weeks:

  • Do not take recreational drugs such as:

    • Cannabis*

    • Cocaine

    • Amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine)

    • MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, or MDEA

    • PMA

    • Dextromethorphan (DXM)

    • Opiates

    • Barbiturates

  • Do not partake in sexual activity

  • Do not eat pork or red meat

For sacred vine ceremonies, we also highly recommend:

  • No oil, salt, sugar, spices, alcohol, drugs, or other herbal or protein supplements

  • No fried foods, caffeine, red meat, pork, or dairy products

  • Eat only fresh organic foods

  • Limit whole grains (wheat, rice, barley, & others)

  • Limit fat intake & any animal products to free range eggs & vegetarian fish (not carnivorous)

  • Limit fruit

  • Eat mostly root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, etc.)

  • Eat mostly rice, lentils, quinoa, yucca, plantains

  • Some oats, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, kale, and other non-flavorful greens are okay

For sacred cactus ceremonies, please bring:
- Full water bottle with a minimum 1 Liter volume (spring water available for refills)
- Sun & Rain Protection -  wide brim hat, sunglasses & sunscreen (no less than SPF50), umbrella.
- Clothing for heat, cold, and rain (a solid rain poncho is most recommended. A yoga mat or something comfy to sit on is nice. - Warm, comfortable boots or shoes (plus sandals, optional).

PREPARATION: For sacred vine, see below. For Huachuma, abstinence from pig products for 7 days prior to and after ceremony (longer period is recommended); abstinence from sex, red meats, preserved meats, excessively salty, sweet, or fatty foods for minimally 1 day prior to and after ceremony; abstinence from alcohol and other intoxicants for minimally 3 days prior to and after ceremony. With respect to alcohol and other recreational intoxicants, it is very beneficial (but not critical) to abstain for periods longer than 3 days before and after ceremony-- especially so with respect to recreational cannabis use.

For San Pedro ceremonies, we will be fasting the morning of ceremony. Please hydrate well before arriving, and abstain from consuming any caffeinated or sweetened beverages.

During ceremony, the use of electronic devices and electronic music is not permitted; this is to offer you and the other participants the cleanest environment in which to meet the plant. Whilst we appreciate the urge of some to bring musical instruments, we also ask that out of respect to all participants and facilitators, please refrain from playing during the ceremony. Around the fire in the evening, suitable acoustic music is appreciated, but we do also ask for consideration for those who are still processing their experiences of the day. When in doubt, ask your ceremony leader for permission.


AGE: Our participants regularly range from 18 to healthy mid 70's.

SAFETY NOTES: For Grandfather, those taking lithium, Chlorpromazine or other anti-psychotic medications, and those recently treated for self-harm or harm of others are not suited to participate in standard group ceremonies. Please contact if you have any of these special concerns and still feel called to heal with this medicine -- individually-tailored treatments may still be possible after consultation with shamanic practitioner.

For those with serious or life threatening heart/hypertension disorders, the slightly accelerated heart rate common to Grandfather makes this inappropriate for participation in standard group ceremonies. Contact us for a consultation if this applies to you and you still feel called to work with the medicine. You may also look at ICEERS site here.


Those taking SSRI antidepressant medications are strongly recommended to stop usage for 3-6 weeks prior, as these medications can severely diminish the effectiveness of the medicine.

Disclaimer:

Cinco Medicos cannot be held liable for the consequences — which can be severely damaging on a psychological, physical, and energetic level — if you fail to follow our dietary advice. We reserve the right to refuse admission for any guest who has not followed these guidelines sufficiently and/or is still taking medications contraindicated to the plant medicines we serve.

* Smoking or ingesting cannabis before ceremony can dull or darken the experience, blocking the plant medicine from working fully. Cannabis can also negatively affect not just the person who used it, but other participants and the energy of the medicine circle as well.

Contraindications

Plant medicine is contraindicated for individuals with epilepsy; heart disease; alcohol/drug addictions; psychiatric disorders; personality disorders; women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or about to become pregnant; and other medical conditions, which we can discuss during our consultation call.

The following drugs and medications are contraindicated with the plant medicines we serve:

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

    • Note: Using SSRIs, serotonin agonists, or precursors with an MAOI can lead to Serotonin Syndrome, whose main symptoms may be a severe and long-lasting headache, and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more); and sometimes: rapid heartbeat, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent tremor or twitching, overactive or over-responsive reflexes, hyperactive bowel sounds, or high blood pressure. Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to shock, agitated delirium, muscular rigidity and tension, renal failure, or seizures, and can be fatal.

  • Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)

  • Appetite suppressants (diet pills)

  • Medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems; antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor-Trimeton, Compoz. These include Bromarest-DM or -DX, Dimetane-DX cough syrup, Dristan Cold & Flu, Phenergan with Dextromethorphan, Robitussin-DM, Vicks formula 44-D several Tylenol cold, cough, and flu preparations, and many others — any drug with DM or Tuss in its name.)

  • Central nervous system (CNS) depressants

  • Antipsychotics

  • Barbiturates

  • Tranquilizers

  • Alcohol

  • Amphetamines

  • Opiates

  • Herbs such as St. Johns Wort, Kava, Kratom, Ephedra, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Sinicuichi, Rhodiola Rosea, Kanna, Boswellia, Nutmeg, Scotch Broom, & Licorice Root

Please discontinue the following pharmaceuticals at least 4-6 weeks prior:

  • Actifed

  • Adderall

  • Alaproclate

  • Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)

  • Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)

  • Amineptine

  • Amitriptaline/Amitriptyline (Elavil and Endep are discontinued brands in the US)

  • Amoxapine (Asendin)

  • Aripiprazole (Abilify)

  • Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada)

  • Asenapine (Saphris)

  • Atomoxedine

  • Befloxetone

  • Benadryl

  • Benylin

  • Benzedrine

  • Benzphetamine (Didrex)

  • Bicifadine

  • Brasofensine

  • Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)

  • Brofaromine

  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

  • Buspirone (BuSpar)

  • Butriptyline

  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)

  • Cariprazine (Vraylar)

  • Chlorpheniramine

  • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

  • Chlor Trimeton

  • Cimoxetone

  • Citalopram (Celexa)

  • Clomipramine (Anafranil)

  • Clozapine (Clozaril)

  • Codeine

  • Cocaine

  • Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

  • Cyclizine (Marezine)

  • Dapoxotine

  • Depakote (Sodium valproate)

  • Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)

  • Desvenlafaxine

  • Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)

  • Dextromethorphan (DXM)

  • Dibenzepin

  • Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin

  • Diethylpropion

  • Disopyramide (Norpace)

  • Disulfiram (Antabuse)

  • Dopamine (Intropin)

  • Dosulepin

  • Doxepin (Sinequan and Adapin are discontinued brands in the US)

  • Duloxetine

  • Emsam

  • Ephedrine

  • Epinephrine (Adrenalin)

  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)

  • Femoxitine

  • Fenfluramine (Pondimin)

  • Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)

  • Fluphenazine (Prolixin)

  • Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra, Prozac Weekly)

  • Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

  • Furazolidone (Furoxone) F

  • Gabapentin (dose & medicine dependent)

  • Guanethedine

  • Guanadrel (Hylorel)

  • Guanethidine (Ismelin)

  • Haloperidol (Haldol)

  • Hydralazine (Apresoline)

  • 5 Hydroxytryptophan

  • Iloperidone (Fanapt)

  • Insulin

  • 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)

  • Lurasidone (Latuda)

  • 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/Pamelor is a discontinued brand in the US)

  • Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)

  • Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

  • Orphenadrine (Norflex)

  • Paliperidone  (Invega Sustenna)

  • Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Trinza)

  • Pargyline (Eutonyl)

  • Parnate

  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva)

  • Pemoline (Cylert)

  • Percocet

  • Perphenazine (Trilafon)

  • 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

  • Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

  • Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

  • Quetiapine (Seroquel)

  • Quinidine (Quinidex)

  • Rasagiline (Azilect)

  • Reboxetine

  • Reserpine (Serpasil)

  • Risperidone (Risperdal)

  • Salbutemol

  • Salmeterol

  • Selegiline (Eldepryl)

  • Sertraline (Zoloft) 

  • Sibutramine

  • Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

  • Terfenadine (Seldane D)

  • Tegretol

  • Temaril

  • Tesofensine

  • Theophylline (Theo Dur)

  • Thioridazine (Mellaril)

  • Thiothixene (Navane)

  • Tianeptine

  • Toloxatone

  • Tramidol

  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

  • Trazodone

  • Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)

  • Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

  • Trimipramine (Surmontil)

  • Triptans

  • Vanoxerine

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

  • Vilazodone (Viibryd)

  • Viloxezine 

  • Vortioxetine (Trintellix, formerly known as Brintellix)

  • Yohimbine

  • Zimelidine

  • Ziprasidone (Geodon)

Other words of caution:

  • 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 Benzedrine, Benzphetamine, Desipramine, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Dopamine, Ephedrine (contained in Marax, Quadrinal, and other asthma drugs), Epinephrine, Guanadrel, Guanethidine, Hydralazine, Isoproterenol, L-dopa, Metaraminol, Methyldopa, Mirtazamine, Norepinephrine Oxymetazoline, Phendimetrazine, Phentermine, Phenylephrine, Phenylpropanolamine, Pseudoephedrine, Ritalin, or Venlafaxine with MAOIs may cause a hypertensive crisis (severe spike in blood pressure).

  • Using Adderall with MAOIs can result in high body temperature, seizure, and in some cases, coma.

  • 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 and may increase seizures, especially in epileptics.

  • Using Clomipramine with MAOIs may cause high fever (hyperpyrexic crisis) and seizures.

  • Using CNS depressants with MAOIs may increase the depressant effects.

  • Using Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis.

  • Using Dextromethorphan with MAOIs may cause excitement, high blood pressure, and fever, or brief episodes of psychosis.

  • Using Fenfluramine with MAOIs may result in fever (hyperpyrexic crisis).

  • Using Kava with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).

  • Using Lithium with MAOIs may cause fever and serotonin syndrome.

  • Using Meperidine (Demerol) with pharmaceutical MAOIs has resulted in deaths from a single dose.

  • 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.

  • 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 Trazodone (Desyrel) with MAOIs may result in high fever.

  • Using Tryptophan or L-tryptophan with MAOIs may cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium agitation, memory impairment, hypomanic signs, or shivering.

  • Using Venlafaxine (Effexor) with MAOIs may result in hypertensive crisis.

  • Using Ziprasidone (Geodon) with MAOIs may cause serotonin syndrome.

  • 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 opiates with MAOIs carries a risk of respiratory depression.

  • 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 the anesthetic effect.

  • Using sleeping pills, tranquillizers (major or minor), or barbiturates with MAOIs may increase the sedative effect.

Considering the vast varieties of medications available today, the list above compiled is incomplete. You are required to inform us of every kind of medication you are currently taking or have been taken in the past.

Image credit: Luis Tamani