Ayahuma Couroupita guianensis
Ayahuma, scientifically known as (Couroupita guianensis), is a majestic tree native to tropical regions of Central and South America, particularly in Peru, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The Ayahuma diet is part of traditional Amazonian healing practices and authentic ayahuasca retreats in Peru, where this powerful master plant is worked with under the guidance of experienced shamans.

Ayahuma can reach up to 30 meters in height and is recognized by its large, alternate, oblong leaves clustered at the apex of its branches, giving the tree a strong and protective presence within the rainforest.
Adding to its presence are its modestly sized flowers, measuring approximately 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter, with oblong, yellowish-white petals. Ayahuma’s distinctive fruit is large, woody, and heavy, growing directly from the tree’s sturdy trunk and thick branches. When fresh, the fruit is yellow in color and plays a central role as a master plant within the Ayahuma diet.
In shamanic healing and ayahuasca treatments, Ayahuma assumes a dual role as both a master plant and a medicinal ally. Shamans work with its powerful properties to support deep transformative processes. Traditionally, Ayahuma fruits are sometimes placed behind doors, as they are believed to offer energetic protection and ward off harmful influences. The name Ayahuma itself comes from Quechua roots: aya, meaning “dead,” and huma, meaning “head,” a reference to the distinctive shape of its fruit.
Ayahuma Master plant
Ayahuma serves as a crucial master plant worked with by Amazonian shaman healers. It holds deep significance in ceremonies and shamanic learning diets within the Takinuna tradition, due to its importance for those who walk the path of healing. Ayahuma is especially valued for its strong energetic protective qualities, which are considered essential for safeguarding healing ceremonies, protecting against harmful energies, and counteracting the effects of sorcery or witchcraft.
Within shamanic healing practices, Ayahuma is regarded as an indispensable presence in Ayahuasca ceremonies. It is intentionally invoked through prayers and shamanic songs, known as ícaros, which help channel the plant’s spirit and energy. Through this invocation, shamans ask for Ayahuma’s guidance and support in facilitating the patient’s healing process and restoring balance on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
The visions received by shaman healers during these ceremonies are often experienced as fertile and revealing. They frequently begin with the appearance of a flower, offering detailed insights into how the plant’s leaves, flowers, and fruit should be used in the patient’s treatment. These visions provide practical knowledge that guides the healing work and supports positive outcomes for those receiving care.
Ayahuma diet.
Undertaking an Ayahuma diet requires the guidance of an experienced master shaman healer with deep knowledge of traditional Amazonian medicine. This guide leads the practitioner through each essential step of the diet, drawing from a profound understanding of Ayahuasca. Such guidance not only supports the learning process but also ensures a safe, clear, and grounded experience, helping to avoid confusion while navigating the depth of the diet.
After preparing the body, mind, and spirit through Ayahuasca ceremonies, the master healer introduces the Ayahuma plant, usually in the morning. The diet begins with the careful extraction of the plant’s bark, which is then used to prepare an infusion for consumption, marking the formal initiation of the Ayahuma diet.
Throughout this process, participants receive teachings and insights directly from the master plant. Ayahuma’s strength within Ayahuasca ceremonies is especially recognized for its protective qualities, considered essential in the sacred work of healing and energetic safeguarding during ceremonies.
The Takinuna shaman healers emphasize the importance of the Ayahuma diet, explaining that Ayahuma, in energetic collaboration with Ayahuasca, acts as a powerful healer. Together, they guide individuals through a transformative journey that opens access to profound healing knowledge, supporting the holistic care of body, mind, and spirit.
Guided by the wisdom of the Takinuna shamans, those who feel called to undertake a master plant diet are encouraged to align the process with a clear healing purpose and deep respect for the discipline it requires. The Ayahuma diet demands commitment, strength, and integrity, honoring the sacrifice involved in service to healing and the greater good.
Those who feel called to work with Ayahuma are often guided toward a deeper relationship with master plant medicine and disciplined healing paths. The Ayahuma diet is traditionally undertaken within a broader context of learning diets and ceremonial practice, as part of master plant diet retreats in Peru, guided by experienced Amazonian shamans.
For those wishing to explore related master plants, the Bobinsana diet is another heart-opening path often worked with alongside Ayahuma, offering complementary teachings within traditional Amazonian medicine.