The Ayahuasca Healing Retreats offer a safe and supportive space in which to explore this extraordinary "spiritual therapy," but there are, of course, some precautions that need to be taken. However, there has been no recorded evidence of physical or psychological damage caused by taking the brew. In the words of writer Terrence McKenna, "the only thing you're likely to die of is astonishment."

There are some precautions that must be taken before ingesting the tea.:

• Ayahuasca is not compatible with SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft, or other drugs that are MAOIs. If you wish to take ayahuasca you must have stopped taking MAOIs and SSRIs at least 4 weeks before coming to the retreat. However, this must be done under your physician's supervision.

• Health insurance is highly recommended – not for the intake of the brew, but rather because you will be abroad, and treating a sprain ankle (we go on jungle excursions) can be very costly overseas.

Please bring anti-histamine creams (like Benedryl, oral and injectable) in case you have allergic reactions to insect bites.