As the diet progresses, the relationship between the patient and the spirit of his diet plant intensifies. Gradually, the teaching delivered by the master plant helps the patient to understand the true meaning of his disease, promoting a real awareness. In parallel with this work of acceptance, the plant acts directly on the vital energy of the patient and administers to him his healing power. The goal of this treatment is the renovation and harmonization of the various energies that constitute the patient, be they physical, psychical or spiritual. There are two types of Diet, the Healing Diet and the Learning Diet. The Healing Diet is the initial step in making the changes necessary for any future learning.

Healing Diet

The cleansing or healing process is the longest phase and may not have any result at all. This is because different parts of our being are at stake, the physical body, the spiritual body and the mind. The majority of diseases reflect imbalances between these different forms of energy. It is necessary to clean and harmonize them so that the subject can increase his skills, his life force and find his center. The Diet initiates the necessary changes in the life of the subject, so that he raises his consciousness, develops his capacity for love and brings harmony into and around himself. For this it is necessary to obey certain rules of life and accept certain restrictions to find this balance:

Dietary Restrictions

The Diet period is mainly vegetarian with the exception of fish and chicken. The traditional Diet dish consists of grilled fish accompanied with boiled green bananas (boca chico platano). Red meat or pork are prohibited, as well as dairy products, fermented products, industrial foods, salt, hot peppers, sugar, spices, aromatic herbs, garlic, onion, shallot, oils, and most kinds of fruit. Quite simply, it is better to favor “neutral” and bland food such as starchy food, grains, boiled and raw vegetables. Meals are served once twice a day and in reasonable quantities. Sometimes even a period of fasting may be required, to leave the master plant a maximum amount of space. The food then becomes secondary and the patient is fully involved in his Diet process. This practice implicitly leads to overcoming his addictions and changing his relationship with food.

Behavioral restrictions

The use of alcohol and drugs of all kinds (with the exception of tobacco) is strictly forbidden because it can have dramatic consequences on the physical and mental health of the patient.

Medical restrictions

It is not possible to follow medical treatment when starting a diet. By this we mean both chemical drugs but also herbal medicines example St. John’s wort in the form of herbal medicine, or ingestion of aromatherapy etc. Their chemical composition of plants carries the risk of incompatibilities.

Social Restriction

It is strongly recommended during a diet process to isolate oneself as much as possible in a natural, calm, favorable place for self-examination and rest. By penetrating more deeply into his diet, the dieter will be more sensitive to the energies of others which may compromise its connection with his plant. Privileging moments of silence and meditation create conditions conducive to introspection. In the same way the consultation of media such as movies, books, social networks and internet are to be avoided as much as possible. These media, often marked by emotions or conflicting messages, have a potentially negative impact on the diet’s progress.

Sexual Restrictions

The channeling of sexual energy is a fundamental part of the Diet process. Like the tantric system, it is based on the sublimation of energy through its various centers (chakras). To work with the master plants it is essential to abstain from all sexual practices, including masturbation (avoid as much as possible any sexual thoughts). This ascetic approach is nevertheless a prerequisite for the healing energy and the teachings transmitted by the plants to become well rooted. Failure to comply with this rule nullifies all efforts made to date, but it is above all a real danger to the health of the patient. Indeed, the Diet engages our own physical and psychic energy in a subtle and sensitive process. Since we follow a treatment with the master plants, succumbing to a sexual act can destroy our psychic and physical balance, and lead us to madness or even death. Once the Diet is complete, it is “closed” by the healer. A new period of abstinence is also necessary (the post-diet).

THESE RESTRICTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE STARTING A DIET PROCESS. PARALLEL, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSULT IN DETAIL FOOD AND MEDICINAL CONTRAINDICATIONS FROM AYAHUASCA CONSUMPTION.

Post Diet

Post-dieting is a necessary step in order to deeply assimilate teaching and / or healing. It is accompanied by less restrictive measures than the Diet and allows for a smoother transition into everyday life. In this way, energy channeled during the Diet or after work with Ayahuasca takes an active part in the patient’s life. It gives him the impetus to initiate the necessary changes. The duration of the post-dieting can range from one week to one year (in the Quechua tradition) and usually varies according to the type of Diet performed and its duration. In our Western societies, the social context can sometimes be a handicap and we may be tempted not to respect this so important post- dieting period. Keep in mind that this period demands very little compared to the effects that this work will have in your lives and those of your loved ones. Decisive changes that will make you more human than ever.

When we return to our life, relationships, or work, it is not uncommon to experience a shock. A period of rehabilitation will necessarily follow, which is why it is important to proceed in stages to integrate the work done. The goal is not to reproduce our former behavior or fall back into our harmful and limiting trends. The Diet offers us the opportunity to see profound changes in our lives so that they become part of our life. Respect of the post-diet is to take into account the efforts made to bring about a change and see its benefits come alive.

The integration stage begins with progressive rehabilitation. The following scale is given as an indication. It may vary according to the duration and type of diet performed and must be expressly established by the healer.

• As of day two:you can reintroduce a little salt, lemon, sugar and oils. The meal can be more varied with bread, fruit, vegetables, chicken or fish
• As of day four :condiments (peppers, garlic, onions, mustard, …), desserts, chocolate
• After a week:dairy products, fermented products (tofu, cheeses), cold drinks, ice, sorbets
• After two weeks:sexual activity of any kind including masturbation
• After one month:red meats, alcohol in moderation (avoid as much as possible the strong alcohols of the type whiskey, rum, cognac, etc…)
• After two months: pork. This is a special case. Its energy is incompatible with plants, so it is best to banish it completely from ones diet when considering other diets later.
• Taking drugs is strongly discouraged. Since alcohol is also a drug, it must be consumed in moderation.

Don’t forget to read our special chapter providing lots of hints on this subject 10 commitments after diet, retreat and spiritual workshop

Diet of Learning

To take the path of knowledge with a master plant is a way of life. This could be compared in intensity to friendship or even to a relationship. Thus along the path of the subject the relationship with ones master plant evolves as his consciousness and his relationship to the world changes. When the relationship is fulfilled, the presence of the master plant manifests itself as much at the physical, psychic and spiritual levels. It is the step of the stricter “Diet” where the initiate submits to a fast accompanied by meditation in isolation following his healing process. Traditionally apprentices isolated themselves in the forest for a year in a “tambo” (hut), without any contact with the outside, feeding on the bare minimum.

To embark on the path of learning is a decision that must be carefully thought out. The initiate who wishes to become a maestro (master / healer accomplished) must measure the sacrifices to which he will consent and the devotion he will have to fullfill all the rest of his life. To be a maestro is to be a medicine man, fully aware that being a healer implies the gift of self, a discipline of life, and respect for the diet. Non application of these rules will have the same consequences as when a diet process is not respected.The imbalance may be such that some maestros have abandoned their spiritual path or have had to restart from the beginning. Healers may also be confronted themselves with physical and psychological disorders that can lead to madness or even death.

The initiate who wishes to become a maestro will have to choose with care and discernment the referent maestro with whom he will carry out his apprenticeship. It is thanks to a relationship of mutual trust and a convergence of values that the referring maestro can transmit his knowledge in a positive way and guide his apprentice on the path of learning.

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Master Plants as Diet Plants

If we try to imagine the family of Amazonian master plants, we could find in the center Ayahuasca, Tobacco, Coca, Datura, which we can call “visionary plants”, and around these plants the extended family represented by master plants. master plants such as Piñon Blanco (Jatropha Curcas L.) or Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) are also visionary plants with teaching and healing qualities, but to access the visionary world of their medicine it is necessary at the beginning to use Ayahuasca or Tobacco. The patient will have to follow a Diet process if he(she) wants to connect with it. Master plants are no less powerful plants used to treat different diseases, help to rebalance energy, help the healer to make a diagnosis, and provide the patient with the clairvoyance that was lacking. However, when the patient’s state of health is of concern, the healer will first prescribe a treatment consisting of one or more medicinal plants. The patient will not be able to drink Ayahuasca as long as his health is threatened, but he will receive care during ceremonies. Later, when his strength is back, he will be able to drink Ayahuasca and connect to a master plant, to begin a deeper work.

Master Plants and Ceremonies of Ayahuasca

At a Ayahuasca ceremony, the healer will make a diagnosis of his patient and prescribe treatment. : the diet. The treatment may include one or more master plants and last longer or shorter depending on the purpose or complexity of the case to be treated. Supported by his icaros (sacred songs) and his knowledge, the healer will be able to identify the master plant that the patient will have to accompany the process of care. Once the master plant is identified, the healer opens the connection between the plant and the patient. By accumulating the energy of his master plant, the dietero (dieter) will gradually weave an intimate relationship with it, notably through the ceremonies of Ayahuasca, allowing him to feel better and to have visions of the spiritual world of his plant. Click on the following link to learn more about diets of master plants.

With regard to the master plants, we often hear that they modify or alter the consciousness. This is not correct. They have the capacity to change our perception of reality, the reality obviously remaining the same. This change in perspective highlights the shadows, it tells us the changes that must be made to bring love and unity back into our lives. On the other hand, it is the action of change that causes the modification of consciousness.

« ...sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. »

— Matrix

Ayahuasca and Tobacco

One of he master plant most unknown but most consumed in the world is undoubtedly Tobacco. If we approach the subject of Tobacco it is not to open a polemic on its current use but to observe it from the angle of the traditional medicine of Ayahuasca. Tobacco, as everyone knows, has been used for millennia by Native American communities. Appreciated for its qualities of mediator and amplifier, it facilitates reflection and communication with the spirits. In the Amazon, it is also used a lot especially during ceremonies. It is common for a healer to smoke tobacco, either because he wants to amplify his visions, or because he blows tobacco smoke on his patients to treat them. The strong smell of tobacco can indeed help a patient to vomit or allow him to concentrate when the drunkenness of Ayahuasca (mareacion) has given way to confusion and panic. Of course, the use of tobacco is not limited to that. There are also healers who work exclusively with Tobacco (Tabaqueros). The Tobacco diet can be very effective in treating cases of tobacco addiction.

Master Plants commonly used in Peru

Chiric Sanango (Brunflesia Grandiflora): A shrub with deep roots that grows naturally in the shade of dense Amazon forests. Its name means cold plant, because of the sensation of cold that it produces in the body after having ingested it. It actively works on the patient’s dreams. It is especially recommended for drug addicts, people with addictions, or those who lacked love during childhood. It is also prescribed by healers for elderly people with rheumatism and bone problems.

Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea): Means wild garlic. Liana has thick leaves with a strong smell of garlic. It is widely used for all types of infections, and develops immune defenses. Ajo Sacha is a fire plant, producing a feeling of heat and muscle pain. Ajo Sacha acts on both the body and the mind. It is particularly present in dreams and helps the patient eliminate trauma and fear. It activates self- confidence and helps to recover faith in life. According to the healers, this plant is recommendable for people with lung problems, smokers, and immuno-deficiency.

Piñón Blanco (Jatropha Curcas L.): Tree with resinous leaves. Also produces seeds used as a purgative (see purge). It is prescribed in the case of patients looking for spiritual connection, loss of bearings or cut off from their feelings. It helps to connect with one’s soul and inner light, to soften angry and irascible temperaments, to facilitate the flow of energy through the chakras.

Marosa (Calathea allouia): a bushy plant recognized as the plant of the “heart”, it works on emotional wounds, trauma and sadness, cleaning up old memories that may include the genealogical line. This plant is suitable for depressed people. During a Diet, it fills one with joy and confidence and instills self-love. Allows refocusing on “oneself” and listening to one’s bodily feelings.

Master Plants and Perfumes

In Traditional Amazonian medicine, smells have the power to influence our emotional state. This is corroborated by studies demonstrating the scenting action of essential oils on certain brain receptors. Like tobacco, healers also use different perfume scents to treat their patients. To influence odors, the healer uses the fragrance of fragrant plants on his patients in the manner of Tobacco by blowing it on the head, on the hands, or on the body. For the composition of a perfume, the healer uses a base of cologne (the most common being the Agua de Florida) in which he can add master plants according to their specificities. The perfumes carry a healthy and positive energy, able to guide serenely the patient in his experience. We know the enchanting power of perfume, but at a ceremony in Ayahuasca, when the senses are awakened, this power is increased tenfold. This proves to be a particularly effective medicine to cure sentimental disappointments and self-destructive patterns, but it must be handled with caution. We are talking here about specific types of perfume. It is also recommended to arrive at an Ayahuasca ceremony showered with a neutral smell (avoid conventional perfumes).

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