Ayahuasca Purge and Liver Stress – My Experience & Quick Questions

Posted by elle274 in Safety & Side Effects - 2 points, 2 comments.

I tried ayahuasca last month during a weekend retreat, and it was wild in ways I hadn't expected. The purge came early, nausea so strong it felt like a full stomach and then a forced vomiting. I’ve heard that’s normal, but I wondered if that has any lastingImpossible bid to the liver?

I’m not on any meds, but I do have a mild fatty liver found in a checkup a year ago, and the brew’s MAO inhibition made me uneasy. I’m basically curious if the toxin buildup from the DMT breakdown or the plant alkaloids can aggravate that condition. Also, I’ve read that the brew can spike heart rate and blood;y yeah, my pulse went from 70 to 100 during the session, and my blood pressure did a quick climb.

I’m not a cardiologist, but that made me wonder about people with hypertension or heart rhythm issues. Anyone else done this with liver or heart concerns and how did it go?

Comments

• greg208: Not gonna lie I’ve never had a retreat myself, but I’ve read enough about the liver load from MAO‑inhibition to be a bit nervous. The DMT and harmala alkaloids are metabolised in the gut and liver, so a fatty liver could in theory get a bit more stressed during the purge phase – especially if the purge is prolonged or you’re dehydrated. I’ve had friends with mild fatty liver who skipped the purge in one session, and they said they didn’t notice any lasting change, but the pulse spikes you mentio
• elle274: Thanks for the insight, greg208. I’ll definitely keep a water bottle handy after the purge and plan a liver panel next bland week just to see where I sit. I’m also gonna watch my blood pressure more closely; the 100‑bpm spike got me a bit off‑balance. Do you know if a pre‑retreat low‑fat breakfast or a specific supplement helps dampen the liver load, or if it’s best to just stay hydrated and let it pass?

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.