Educational content for conscious travel and responsible wellbeing

Why we’re sharing this

At Barefoot Expeditions, we care about experiences that are meaningful — and also safe.
In the wellness space, there’s a lot of confusion around “natural” vs “medical,” and people often underestimate one fact:

The brain is chemistry.
And chemistry has rules.

This post is for education only. It is not medical advice and does not encourage or instruct the use of any substance. If you take any medication or have a health condition, professional medical guidance is essential.

1) The brain in simple terms (so you really understand it)

Your brain runs on electrical signals and chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
Think of neurotransmitters like traffic signals that regulate how fast or slow your system runs.

Three systems matter most in this conversation:

Serotonin = regulation and emotional balance

It supports mood stability, calm, and emotional processing.
Too much serotonin (especially from combinations) can cause a dangerous reaction called serotonin syndrome.

Dopamine = motivation and reward-learning

It shapes drive, focus, and reinforcement (what your brain learns to repeat).

GABA = the brain’s braking system

It reduces overactivation and helps with calm and sleep.

Health is not “more stimulation.”
Health is balance.

2) Prescription medicines: why interactions matter

Many common mental-health medications work by adjusting neurotransmitters. For example:

SSRIs (example: fluoxetine / Prozac)

SSRIs raise serotonin in a gradual, sustained way.
Fluoxetine is especially important because it can stay in the body for a long time (fluoxetine + its active metabolite norfluoxetine have long half-lives).

That means “stopping for a few days” is not a reliable safety strategy without medical oversight.

Sedatives / sleep aids (e.g., benzodiazepines, z-drugs)

These act primarily through GABA and can impair coordination, judgment, and breathing—especially when mixed with other sedatives. (This is why clinicians treat combinations cautiously.)

3) Sacred plants and the brain (high-level, educational)

Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca typically combines DMT with beta-carbolines that inhibit MAO (monoamine oxidase), which affects how monoamines (including serotonin) are broken down.
This is one reason medication interactions are a central safety concern.

San Pedro / Huachuma (mescaline-containing cactus)

Mescaline’s psychedelic effects are strongly linked to serotonin receptors (notably 5-HT2A).
Because it engages serotonergic pathways, medication history still matters.

Other sacred plants often discussed globally (examples)

We mention these only to highlight that “sacred” does not mean “risk-free.”

• Psilocybin mushrooms: clinical settings often exclude individuals with certain psychiatric vulnerabilities because there can be risk of triggering mania in susceptible people.

• Iboga / ibogaine: medical literature reports serious cardiac risks (including QT prolongation and arrhythmias).

• Kava (ceremonial in parts of the Pacific): U.S. agencies have warned about severe liver injury reports.

• Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet): associated with anticholinergic toxicity and delirium; it is not “gentle” or predictable.

4) Contraindications and high-risk situations

From a safety standpoint, major red flags include:

A) Serotonin overload risk (big one)

Mixing serotonergic medications (like SSRIs/SNRIs/MAOIs or multiple serotonin-elevating agents) increases risk of serotonin toxicity; MAOI + SSRI is among the riskiest combinations.
Ayahuasca includes MAO-inhibiting compounds, which is why antidepressant interactions are widely discussed in risk literature.

B) Psychiatric vulnerability

People with histories of bipolar disorder, psychosis, or severe instability may face higher risk of adverse outcomes with psychedelics, which is why many modern clinical protocols exclude these groups.

C) Cardiac risk (especially relevant to ibogaine)

Arrhythmia/QT concerns are documented and can be serious.

D) Liver risk (relevant to kava and others)

Liver injury warnings exist for certain botanicals.

E) The “hidden interactions” problem

Even over-the-counter products and supplements can contribute to serotonin toxicity in combinations.

Bottom line: if someone is on medication (especially psychiatric meds), it’s not optional — it’s essential — to consult a qualified clinician.

5) What Barefoot Expeditions stands for

Our approach is simple:

• We don’t romanticize risk.

• We don’t pressure processes.

• We prioritize informed consent, safety, and responsibility.

Conscious travel should help people reconnect with life — not gamble with their nervous system.