Ayahuasca requires a strict multi-week dieta: avoiding tyramine-rich foods — aged cheese, cured meat, fermented foods, alcohol — caffeine, and tapering off certain medications, because ayahuasca’s MAO inhibitors create pharmacological interactions with these substances. San Pedro preparation is lighter: typically 3–7 days, avoiding alcohol, red meat, and processed foods, with no equivalent pharmacological necessity. Both benefit from mental preparation and clear intention-setting.
