The honest answer is: it depends on the tradition.
At Camino al Sol, in the Colombian yagé lineage we follow, women do not drink medicine or participate in ceremony during their Moon Time.
That may feel surprising if you are coming from a Western frame of mind. It can even feel frustrating if you have already planned flights, taken time off work, or built up courage for ceremony.
So this page is here for the practical side.
If you want the deeper traditional explanation of Moon Time, women’s power, and why menstruation is treated as ceremony in itself, read our full reflection here: Moon Time and Ayahuasca: Honoring the Sacred Cycle.
This article is about planning clearly.
The simple answer at Camino al Sol
If you are menstruating, you cannot drink yagé in ceremony at Camino al Sol.
This is not because your period is seen as dirty. It is not a punishment. It is not a judgment on your body.
In this tradition, Moon Time is understood as its own powerful process. Your body is already releasing, renewing, and working with deep natural rhythm. The ceremony space is protected by very specific energetic rules, and we follow the guidance of the Elders and Taitas who carry this lineage.
So the instruction is simple:
Do not plan your retreat dates during your period if you can avoid it.
If your cycle is predictable, choose dates that give you enough space before and after bleeding. If your cycle is irregular, tell us during screening so we can help you think through the timing before you commit.
For broader safety considerations before ceremony, read our ayahuasca safety guide.
This is not a universal ayahuasca rule
Different retreats handle menstruation differently.
Some centers allow women to drink during their period. Some ask women to sit separately. Some reduce the dose. Some leave the decision to the participant. Some traditions, like ours, ask women not to drink at all during Moon Time.
This is why online answers can feel confusing.
The better question is not only, “Can you drink ayahuasca on your period?”
The better question is:
What does this specific tradition require, and am I willing to respect it?
At Camino al Sol, we are not trying to create a universal rule for all ayahuasca traditions. We are telling you clearly how it works here, in the yagé tradition we serve in the mountains of Antioquia, near Medellín.
How to plan your retreat dates
Start with your cycle.
Look at the first day of your last period, your usual cycle length, and the expected first day of your next period. Then compare that with the retreat dates you are considering.
If your cycle is regular, try to choose a retreat window that does not overlap with bleeding. Give yourself a buffer when possible. Travel, stress, diet changes, and emotional intensity can sometimes shift timing.
If your cycle is irregular, do not hide that.
Tell us during screening. It is better to have a direct conversation before you travel than to arrive with uncertainty and hope it will work itself out.
You can see upcoming retreat options on our Medellín ayahuasca retreat dates, or learn more about the full retreat setting on our ayahuasca retreat in Colombia page.
What if your period starts during the retreat?
It happens.
Bodies do not always follow travel plans.
If your period begins during the retreat, tell the team as soon as you know. Do not wait until ceremony is about to begin. Do not feel embarrassed. This is something we know how to hold with discretion and care.
During your Moon Time, you will not drink yagé or sit in ceremony. Depending on the retreat structure and timing, you may be moved into a separate, comfortable space away from the ceremonial container. You will still receive food, care, and support.
The point is not to isolate you emotionally.
The point is to respect the medicine, the circle, the Taita’s work, and your own body’s process.
After your cycle ends, the team will guide you according to the tradition. In some cases, this may include a cleansing or harmonizing practice before returning to ceremony.
Should you use medication to delay your period?
Do not change medication or take hormonal medication just to attend ceremony without speaking with a qualified medical professional.
This matters.
Ayahuasca/yagé has important safety considerations, especially around medications, mental health history, heart conditions, blood pressure, and substances that affect serotonin. Ceremony also involves vomiting, emotional intensity, fasting or dietary changes, and long nights.
Trying to force your body into a schedule is not the right mindset for this work.
If your period may overlap with retreat, the safer and cleaner option is to discuss timing with us before you apply or before you finalize travel.
This page is educational and does not replace medical advice. Do not stop or change medication without speaking with a qualified medical professional.
If you are in crisis, experiencing suicidal thoughts, psychosis, chest pain, severe withdrawal, or another urgent medical issue, seek emergency care immediately.
What to tell us during screening
Tell us if:
- your period may arrive during the retreat
- your cycle is irregular
- you use hormonal contraception
- you have heavy bleeding, anemia, fainting, severe cramps, endometriosis, fibroids, or another reproductive health condition
- you take medication related to mood, hormones, pain, sleep, or blood pressure
- you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant
Some of these details may not automatically prevent participation. But they do require review.
Screening is not a formality. It is part of the protection of the work.
If you are unsure whether your timing or health history fits, start with the application process. We would rather review your situation clearly than let you guess alone.
If you feel disappointed, that is understandable
For some women, being told they cannot drink during their period brings up real emotion.
Maybe it feels like exclusion. Maybe it touches old shame. Maybe it reminds you of places where your body was treated as inconvenient.
We do not dismiss that.
But in this tradition, Moon Time is not treated as weakness. It is treated as power that needs its own space.
That is why we recommend reading the companion article: Moon Time and Ayahuasca: Honoring the Sacred Cycle. It explains the spiritual view more fully, including why menstruation is understood as a ceremony of its own.
This page is the practical answer.
That page is the deeper teaching.
The best next step
If your period dates are clear, choose retreat dates that do not overlap.
If your period dates are uncertain, tell us before booking travel.
If your cycle starts during retreat, tell the team immediately and we will guide the next step according to the tradition.
There is no shame in any of it.
The medicine asks for honesty before it asks for anything else.
