Travel Tips & Health Issues In The Amazon Rainforest

 For Ayahuasca and Shamanic Diet Retreats in Ashi Meraya

Photo Credit: Francesco Sammarco

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Insect repellents and other tips...

Bring along plenty of insect repellent (Premier has a reputation for being the most effective available locally, in Peru) and consider also taking some mosquito coils (espirales) with you, to keep insects away at night, though you may buy them from drugstores in Iquitos. Locally, people prepare a natural insect repellent made with camphor, water, alcohol and tobacco. It's pretty strong, refreshing on the skin and with some cooling and anti-inflammatory properties (which come from camphor and mapacho). It may keep insects at distance, however not always. No matter what you try on, be prepared to surrender some parts of your skin to the mosquitoes at some point of the day! Termites are probably the most efficient natural mosquito repellents fund in nature. Local people snatch termites from their nest with their bare hands, and rub the little creatures over their skin. In the process...the termites emanate a fragrance containing formic acid that works exceptionally well to keep the mosquitoes away. Among the insect repellents, DEET-based products are usually considered to be the most efficient, though toxic at certain levels. They may be employed both on clothes and textiles (concentration up to 100%) or directly on the skin (20%-50% concentration). Avoid spraying directly on the face and avoid contact with the eyes. Do not spray DEET-based repellents close to - or directly on - plastic items, to avoid discoloration. 

LINDANE - available under prescription in the U.S.A. (though now banned in the State of California) - might be useful in the eventuality of chiggers' bites, to kill the mites. This is, basically, an insecticide and - no wonder - it's highly toxic. It must be used only if strictly necessary - e.g. in the event of having been bitten by the mites - and very sparingly (few drops at a time, applied on the spot to treat). Lindane will not work as prevention. It is a far better idea to minimize the risk of having the tiny creatures attached to your skin, by treating your boots/shoes, both inside (especially the area under the socks, at the bottom, where the skin of the plantar is more pressed against the boots) and outside (including the gap-area where the trousers begin to fold inside the boots), with DEET-based repellents (DEET may cause discoloration of plastic or varnished surfaces, but the advantage of using it is far greater than aesthetic counter-effects!). Wearing high rubber boots (up to the knee) also protect better than wearing normal shoes. The effect of DEET lasts for a few hours (up to 8, usually), though excessive sweating or rain may shorten the time range of its activity. The effect of Permethrin-based repellents, on the other hand, last for several days. Permethrin is also toxic and may only be applied to clothing (to be soaked into a solution of water and Permethrin) and never directly to the skin. Avoid walking through high grass areas. Almost invisible to the human eyes, chiggers larvae stalk their preys on grass...

THERE ARE NO CHIGGERS IN ASHI MERAYA, however, in case of an excursion out, before entering in your bungalow, leave your field-clothes outside and have a shower. Have a new change at hand. Use a eco-friendly, sulphur-based soap. If chiggers are suspected, it's strongly advisable to expose all your field-clothes to hot sunshine (when/if available). Field clothes should be laundered in hot (125ฐF.), soapy water for about half an hour. These precautions will minimize the risk of contracting/spreading parasites and insects involuntarily collected during a walk. 

Malaria Prophylaxis and Vaccinations

The Anopheles mosquitoes (potential vectors of malaria) are active between dusk and dawn, so it's pretty important to use repellents during that time on exposed parts of the skin, and to wear long sleeved shirts and trousers to minimize the risk of being bitten. Sleep inside the mosquito net at night time. For extra safety, spray your mosquito net with a DEET based repellent (concentration 100%). Information on General Health and Safety Precautions - provided strictly for educational purposes only - will be contained in your travel plan/information pack, and sent to you upon confirmation of your booking. Please note that we do not make any claim, nor we do offer or endorse, nor are a substitute, whatsoever, for any kind of professional medical advice, and the choice of what remedies, dietary supplements, medicines and health precautions to take remains entirely and exclusively with you.

For official and most updated information on the malaria topic, please visit the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malariadrugs.htm and World Health Organization (WHO) websites: http://www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/.

Topical and systemic analgesics, anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminics, together with itch-relief and anti-biotic creams will be a good companion in the jungle. Tincture of iodine is also recommended as topic antibiotic/disinfectant (keep the cup sealed off and put the bottle in a zip-lock bag). Well in advance of your trip please visit a Tropical Medicine Centre, a Travel Clinic, or your GP, for recommended shots and accurate medical information. Although not compulsory, you may be advised to do (all, or part of) the following immunisations, before entering this area of the Amazon: Yellow Fewer, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, Rabies and Typhoid Fever.

Extra Links and Info

Click here for further links and info on health-related issues for journeys to the Peruvian Amazon.

Things to Take With You

• Two flashlights (with refills of alkaline batteries; you may also buy refills from any drugstore and from Bel้n market, in Iquitos). A powerful one and a small/emergency one also to use during the ceremonies. The night falls suddenly in the rainforest, it's deep and dark and it lasts a good 12 hours.

• Long-burning candles (it's an optional, depending on how accustomed you are to live without electricity - bear in mind, though, that they attract scores of insects at night, so citronella imbued candles may just be a bit more useful.  In Iquitos it's hard to find good quality, long-burning candles).

• Sun-glasses.

• Sun-block (high potency) and after-sun lotion.

• Eco-friendly soap and shampoo.

• Toothpaste and personal hygiene items.

• Medical & dental emergency kit.

• T-shirts; long sleeved shirts; light, strong and quick-dry trousers (high-tech fibres, mix of cotton and synthetic materials, will do better than 100% cotton); shorts; socks.

•  Tight swimming suit, bath towel and flip-flops.

• Wellingtons (for muddy areas, or excursions, or wet weather), sandals (for the good weather) and shoes (preferably not leather, as this material is easily decomposed with the wet climate).

• Jumper/Sweater and a warm blanket (it is important to keep the body warm when drinking the ayahuasca, as body temperature may fell considerably after the intake of the medicine, regardless of external temperature).

• Rain-poncho or a waterproof coat (especially if going during the wet season; generally, rainwear is also useful during the dry season!).

•  Zip-lock plastic bags (to protect cameras, films, batteries, travel documents, etc. from humidity). 

• And last, but not least, a roll of toilet paper...this rather essential item seems to be often lacking from the toilets of Lima and Iquitos airports! No need to carry toilet paper rolls for your staying in Ashi Meraya, unless you wish to bring along "high quality" Western ones...

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