Whether you’re preparing for a Kambo session or sitting with sacred plants like Ayahuasca, Bobinsana, or Psilocybin, there’s something incredibly important that starts before the ceremony ever begins: the dieta.
The dieta isn’t just a set of rules. It’s a sacred agreement—a way of showing respect to the medicine, clearing the way for its teachings, and preparing your body, mind, and energy to receive deep healing.
This post outlines what to avoid before and after your journey, how long to follow these guidelines, and—most importantly—why it all matters.
Why We Dieta: A Spiritual Partnership
In Amazonian traditions, the dieta is more than just a detox. It’s a spiritual contract. It says: I’m showing up with humility and reverence. I’m willing to do my part so the medicine can do its work.
Indigenous peoples who work with plant medicines follow strict dietary and behavioral protocols, often in isolation, for weeks or even months. While our preparations may be shorter, they come from the same place of devotion.
The dieta is how we clean out distractions, clear our energy field, and invite the spirit of the medicine to work with us directly.
Foods to Avoid (and Why)
At least 3 days before (ideally 7), and 3–7 days after your ceremony, it’s recommended to avoid the following foods:
❌ Heavy or Processed Foods
Fried foods
Processed snacks
Excess salt
Spicy meals
These can stress your digestive system and make it harder for the medicine to move freely and efficiently through your body.
❌ Red Meat, Pork, Duck, and Heavy Proteins
These are dense, take a long time to digest, and are believed to “weigh down” the energetic body.
❌ Dairy
Can create mucous and stagnation in the body. Also hard to digest.
❌ Sugar and Refined Carbs
Refined sugar spikes your insulin and contributes to brain fog, agitation, and emotional imbalance—none of which support sacred work.
❌ Caffeine and Stimulants
They stimulate the nervous system in ways that counteract the grounding and clarifying effects of medicine.
❌ Fermented or Aged Foods
Especially for Ayahuasca and other MAOI-containing plants, foods high in tyramine (aged cheese, soy, sauerkraut, miso) can be dangerous or create unnecessary physical stress.
❌ Yeast, Breads, and Gluten
These can cause bloating and inflammation, which dull the connection to subtle energetic shifts.
❌ Overripe Fruits and Nightshades
Bananas, avocados, raisins, tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes are sometimes excluded depending on the lineage or practitioner. These foods can be inflammatory or energetically heavy.
Substances to Avoid
❌ Alcohol & Drugs (Including Marijuana)
These cloud the spirit and body. For many medicines, this is non-negotiable and includes THC and even some prescription drugs. Always disclose your medications to your facilitator.
❌ Prescription Medications
Some medications (especially antidepressants and blood pressure meds) can be contraindicated with plant medicines. Do not stop medications without professional supervision—talk to your practitioner well in advance.
What to Do Instead
Eat light. Hydrate deeply (at least 2 liters a day). Focus on fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Drink teas that support cleansing (like chamomile or mint). Rest. Reflect. Meditate.
Avoid Energetic Distractions
Just as important as what you eat is what you consume energetically:
❌ Scary Movies, Violent or Disheartening Media
Your nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a real threat and a graphic film. These media feed fear, trigger trauma loops, and agitate your energy field.
❌ News and Social Media
These can overstimulate your mind and distract you from your intention. Take this time to go inward, not outward.
❌ Intense Arguments or Emotional Conflict
Do your best to avoid fights, drama, or emotionally destabilizing situations leading up to your ceremony. You’re preparing your vessel.
Sexual Activity: The Sacred Pause
This includes intercourse and masturbation. Avoid it for at least 3 days before, and ideally up to 1 week after. Here’s why:
Conservation of Life Force: In traditions like Taoism, sexual energy is our creative, vital energy. Retaining it builds spiritual potency.
Energetic Entanglement: Sex intertwines your energy with someone else’s. During this sensitive time, it’s important to keep your field clear.
Pineal Gland Activation: Sexual abstinence is believed to help activate the pineal gland (“third eye”), which governs spiritual insight and intuition.
Deeper Integration: Abstaining afterward helps preserve the clarity and subtle shifts from the medicine. Too-early sexual activity can scatter that energy.
This isn’t about shame. It’s about sovereignty.
How Long Should You Follow the Dieta?
Before Ceremony:Minimum 3 days. 7 days is ideal. For more intensive plant diets, 14–30 days may be required.
After Ceremony:Continue for 3–7 days (or longer) to support integration. The more intense or mystical your journey, the more time you'll want to give your body and spirit to process and anchor it.
The dieta is an act of reverence. It’s not meant to be rigid or punitive. It’s a devotional choice that says: I’m willing to prepare. I’m willing to meet the medicine halfway.
When we choose presence over distraction, simplicity over indulgence, and sacred space over stimulation, we create the conditions for transformation.
The medicine begins to work not when it’s applied, but when we say yes and begin to live in harmony with the healing we are seeking.
