WHY SAFETY
IS SACRED
At ETÉREO, we hold safety as a sacred responsibility. Not only physical and medical safety, but emotional, spiritual, and energetic integrity. Iboga is a powerful medicine, and when held without proper preparation, screening, and support, it can be overwhelming and even dangerous.
Our commitment is to protect the spirit of the work and the well-being of every person who enters our care. This means we take our time. We ask questions. We screen thoroughly. We listen to the medicine and to the body. And if something feels unclear, we pause.
This is not meant to create fear. It is meant to create trust, both in us, in the process, and in the sacred timing of this work.
Download our requisition letter for your doctor below to begin the medical screening process.
OUR SCREENING PROCESS
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This form invites you to share your health history, psychological background, current medications, and your intentions for working with the medicine. Once submitted, your intake is reviewed by the ETÉREO team. While your information remains confidential outside of our organization, it is accessible to our core facilitators, medical lead, and support team so we can collectively assess your readiness and take notes on key questions or concerns that may need deeper attention.
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After reviewing your intake, we invite you to a one-on-one call to explore your readiness, answer any questions, and assess alignment. This is a chance for both of us to feel into the connection and potential fit.
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All guests are required to complete a physical screening process that may include:
Blood work (CBC, liver enzymes, electrolytes)
EKG and cardiac clearance
Review of psychiatric history and medications
Further testing as needed
If anything arises in this process, we will pause and discuss your options. Sometimes it’s a matter of timing. Sometimes it’s a clear no. And sometimes it’s a deeper conversation.
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Your results are reviewed by our medical consultation, who may request additional documentation or a direct consultation in complex cases. We approach this process with thoroughness, care, and full confidentiality.
Medical Oversight
& In-Ceremony Care
Safety does not end once screening is complete. Throughout the retreat, we maintain a high standard of medical presence and ceremonial attentiveness so guests can enter the work with trust, knowing their physical well-being is being carefully held.
While ETÉREO is not a clinic, we take the physiological realities of this medicine seriously. All lab work and 12-lead EKGs are reviewed in advance by a medical consultant experienced in iboga care, who supports screening decisions and preparation prior to arrival.
During ceremony, a licensed physician with prior ICU experience is on site for the full duration of ceremony nights. Vitals are taken before ceremony and as needed throughout the process, with supportive care available, including magnesium IVs and emergency fluids if ever required.
We also maintain an active relationship with the Todos Santos Bomberos, who remain on standby outside the ceremonial container during ceremony nights in the event of an emergency. An AED and emergency medical equipment are always on site, and all facilitators are CPR certified.
Our team is trained to recognize signs of both physical and psychological distress and to respond with calm, discernment, and care. We prepare for what we hope we will never need because that is part of holding responsible space. To date, we have not experienced a medical emergency and remain committed to the level of care that supports this work.
Each retreat includes:
Licensed medical professional on site throughout ceremony nights
Comprehensive medical screening and review of intake, labs, and EKGs prior to arrival
Pre-ceremony vital sign checks for all guests, with additional monitoring as needed
Continuous oversight by trained facilitators throughout the retreat
Routine recovery-day check-ins every one to two hours by ceremonial support staff
Close attention to hydration, nutrition, rest, and post-ceremony recovery
Local bomberos on standby during ceremony nights and on call throughout the retreat
Emergency response plans, evacuation protocols, and on-site AED available at all times
COMMON CONTRAINDICATIONS
While iboga can be a powerful healing ally, it is not supportive for everyone. Certain physical and psychological conditions can increase the risk of complications, and in some cases, iboga may be contraindicated entirely. As the spirit of the medicine once shared with us, “iboga is for everyone, but not everyone has to take it.”
We do not take these decisions lightly. If we are unable to approve someone for ceremony, it is never a judgment but an act of care.
Medical contraindications include but are not limited to:
Cardiovascular conditions, including arrhythmias or a history of heart attack
High or uncontrolled blood pressure
Liver dysfunction or active hepatitis
Seizure disorders or history of stroke
Chronic use of antipsychotics or mood stabilizers
Recent use of SSRIs, SNRIs, or other antidepressants (requires tapering protocol)
Psychological contraindications may include:
Active psychosis or untreated schizophrenia
Current manic episodes or rapid cycling bipolar disorder
Suicidal ideation without a solid support system
Severe dissociation or depersonalization
If you’re unsure whether your condition or medication history is a fit, we encourage you to reach out. We review every potential guest on a case-by-case basis, and almost nothing in this work is one-size-fits-all.
Our screening process is not about exclusion. It’s about listening to your body, your story, your needs, and your readiness. In some cases, we may collaborate with your current care team to assess safety or explore a preparation pathway that supports long-term alignment.
We approach every conversation with compassion, nuance, and deep respect for the complexity of your journey.
Emotional &
Spiritual Safety
Physical safety is only one part of the container. At ETÉREO, we place equal importance on the emotional, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of the experience. Iboga has a way of opening what has been long hidden. It can stir grief, memory, fear, rage, or revelation, sometimes all within a single night.
We do not try to fix or rescue anyone from this process. But we do hold it with presence.
Our team is trained in trauma-informed care, somatic listening, and energetic boundaries. We are committed to creating a space where you feel supported without being overwhelmed, witnessed without being exposed, and guided without being controlled.
We also know that spiritual safety matters. Ceremony is not just about what happens in your mind or body, it is about what is moving through you and around you. Our facilitators engage in regular spiritual hygiene practices, and the ceremonial field is protected through visionary work, ancestral guidance, and energetic tending before, during, and after each retreat.
You will never be asked to perform your process. You will not be rushed through your process. We believe that what needs to come through will come when the space is steady enough to hold it.