Medical Disclaimer

Last updated: August 2026

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The information provided by Lumina, The Sanctuary, and their websites, materials, practitioners, guides, facilitators, and representatives is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Participation in any ceremony or traditional practice offered through Lumina is voluntary and requires you to understand the potential risks and decide whether participation is appropriate for you.

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These practices are not medical treatment​

• Ayahuasca, Bufo, Kambo, Sananga, Mambe & Ambil, and other traditional or ceremonial practices described on this website are not medical treatments and are not presented as cures for any physical or psychological condition.

• Nothing on this website should be interpreted as a recommendation to use any ceremonial preparation to treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure a disease, medical condition, psychiatric condition, addiction, or other health problem.

• Statements about traditional uses, personal experiences, or potential effects are provided for informational and cultural context. Individual experiences vary considerably, and no particular physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional, or therapeutic outcome is guaranteed.

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Screening does not replace medical advice

• Lumina uses a screening process to identify circumstances in which participation may present additional risk. Screening is intended to determine whether a guest may be appropriate for a particular ceremony based on the information provided.

• Screening is not a medical examination, diagnosis, or medical clearance.

• A screening decision does not mean that participation is medically safe for you, nor does it replace advice from your physician, psychiatrist, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional.

• If you have any medical or psychiatric condition, take prescription or over-the-counter medication, use supplements, or have concerns about whether a ceremony is appropriate for you, you should discuss participation with your healthcare provider before booking or attending.

• You are responsible for providing complete and accurate information during the screening process.

 

Medication and health conditions

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Some ceremonial practices may involve significant interactions or risks associated with medications, supplements, medical conditions, or psychiatric history. This may include, among other circumstances:

• Antidepressants and other medications affecting serotonin or monoamine pathways

• MAO inhibitors and medications with significant MAOI interactions

• Lithium and certain psychiatric medications

• Certain cardiovascular or blood-pressure medications

• Heart or cardiovascular conditions

• Seizure disorders or epilepsy

• Liver or other significant organ disease

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

• Certain psychiatric conditions or a personal or immediate family history that may increase risk

• Other conditions or medications that may not be listed on this website

 

This list is not exhaustive.

 

• Different ceremonies may have different contraindications and screening requirements. Being cleared for one ceremony does not automatically mean that you are cleared for another. For example, Kambo has its own considerations and cardiovascular screening, while Sananga has specific considerations relating to eye health. The screening requirements for one practice should not be assumed to apply to another.

• Do not stop, reduce, taper, or otherwise change prescribed medication to participate in a ceremony unless you are doing so under the direction of the prescribing medical professional.

• Lumina does not instruct guests to discontinue prescribed medication without appropriate medical supervision.

• Psychiatric and psychological considerations

• Some ceremonial experiences can be psychologically intense and may involve strong emotions, unusual perceptions, altered states of consciousness, physical distress, or temporary changes in mood and perception.

• Certain psychiatric conditions, medications, personal histories, or family histories may increase the potential risks associated with particular practices.

• If you have concerns about your mental health or psychiatric history, speak with an appropriately qualified mental-health professional before considering participation.

• Do not discontinue psychiatric medication in preparation for a ceremony unless directed to do so by your prescribing clinician.

 

Physical reactions and other risks

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Traditional ceremonial practices can produce physical effects ranging from mild to intense.

Depending on the practice, participants may experience effects such as:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Sweating

• Changes in heart rate or blood pressure

• Dizziness or weakness

• Trembling or changes in body temperature

• Headache

• Intense emotional experiences

• Altered perception or consciousness

• Anxiety, fear, or psychological distress

• Temporary disorientation or confusion

• Other unexpected physical or psychological effects

Kambo, in particular, can produce a rapid and intense physical reaction. Sananga can cause significant burning or discomfort in the eyes. Psychoactive ceremonies can produce profound changes in perception and consciousness.

The absence of a known medical condition does not eliminate all risk.

 

Emergency care​

• Ceremonial support and practitioner supervision are not substitutes for emergency medical care.

• While appropriate safety procedures and emergency protocols may be maintained at the centre, no ceremony can be guaranteed to be free from medical complications.

• If a medical emergency occurs, emergency medical services or other appropriate medical care may be required.

• Guests should disclose relevant medical information during screening so that the practicing team can make appropriate decisions regarding participation and safety procedures.

• Alcohol, recreational drugs, and other substances

• Combining ceremonial practices with alcohol, recreational drugs, or other psychoactive or contraindicated substances may increase risk.

• Guests should follow all preparation instructions provided by Lumina and the practicing team and should disclose relevant substance use during screening.

• Do not assume that a substance is safe to combine with a ceremony simply because it is legal, natural, over-the-counter, or available without a prescription.

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Pregnancy and breastfeeding​

• Participation may not be appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Anyone pregnant, believes they may be pregnant, is trying to become pregnant, or is breastfeeding should consult an appropriate healthcare professional before considering participation.

• Specific ceremonies may have additional restrictions.

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No guarantee of results

• Lumina does not guarantee any particular result from participation.

• You may experience emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, or perceptual effects, or you may experience little or none of what you expected.

• Descriptions such as cleansing, clarity, healing, reset, transformation, release, or similar terms describe traditional language, individual reports, or the intended context of a practice. They should not be understood as medical claims or guarantees.
   

We do not promise transformation.

Our responsibility is to provide clear information, appropriate screening, preparation, qualified practitioners, and a properly supported environment within the scope of the services we provide.

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Your responsibility

By choosing to participate, you acknowledge that you are responsible for:

1. Providing complete and accurate information during screening.

2. Disclosing relevant medical, psychiatric, medication, and substance-use information.

3. Asking questions about anything you do not understand.

4. Consulting your own healthcare professionals when appropriate.

5. Following preparation and safety instructions provided by the practicing team.

6. Informing the team if your health, medications, or circumstances change before your scheduled ceremony.

7. Informing the team immediately if you experience concerning symptoms during or after a ceremony.

8. Making your own informed decision about whether to participate.

If you are uncertain whether participation is appropriate for you, do not rely solely on information provided on this website. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

 

Information may change

• Ceremony protocols, screening requirements, preparation guidelines, and safety procedures may change as practitioners, local requirements, and available information evolve.

• The information published on this website is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every possible contraindication, interaction, or risk.

• The practicing team may determine that a guest should not participate in a particular ceremony even if the guest has previously participated elsewhere or has previously been accepted for another ceremony.

• A decision not to participate is a safety decision, not a judgment about the guest.

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Traditional and cultural information

• Information on this website concerning Indigenous traditions and traditional uses of plant, animal, or other natural preparations is provided for educational and cultural context.

• Traditional practices vary among communities, lineages, practitioners, and geographic regions. Lumina does not claim to represent every Indigenous tradition or community.

• Traditional use does not establish that a substance or practice is medically safe or medically effective.
   

No doctor-patient relationship

• Use of this website, participation in a screening call, communication with Lumina personnel, or participation in a ceremony does not create a doctor-patient, therapist-client, or other formal medical relationship between you and Lumina or its practitioners unless expressly stated otherwise in writing.

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Lumina is not your primary healthcare provider and does not replace your existing medical or mental-health care.

 

If you have a medical concern

• If you are experiencing a medical emergency, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

• For non-emergency questions about your health, medications, psychiatric history, or whether a particular ceremony may be appropriate for you, consult your qualified healthcare provider before making a decision about participation.

• When in doubt, ask your doctor first.