SACRED TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIAL USE

For many indigenous cultures of the Amazon — especially the Shipibo-Conibo, Asháninka, and Huni Kuin — Bobinsana is more than a plant. She is a spiritual ally, often described as a gentle, feminine plant teacher who helps cleanse emotional wounds and strengthen inner connection.
 

Bobinsana is most commonly used in plant dietas — extended ceremonial fasts where individuals consume specific plants in isolation while following strict guidelines (no salt, sex, stimulants, or social contact). During these dietas, the plant spirit is said to “teach” the participant through dreams, emotions, and intuition.
 

Bobinsana is especially revered for:
 

• Helping release grief and heartbreak

   

• Supporting dreamwork and visions

   

• Deepening emotional clarity and softness
   

   

In traditional ceremonies, shamans may also call upon the spirit of Bobinsana through icaros (sacred songs) that honor her connection to the rivers and the heart.
 

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HOW TO PREPARE BOBINSANA

The most common way to prepare Bobinsana is as a bark decoction. This involves slowly simmering the bark — sometimes with leaves or flowers — over several hours, until the liquid becomes concentrated and rich in plant compounds. The resulting tea is consumed daily, often in small quantities, over the course of a plant dieta.
 

Bobinsana is not a casual tea or recreational tonic. In traditional contexts, it is consumed in ceremonial isolation, under the guidance of a curandero or healer. The dieta guidelines include:
 

• No salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, or spices

   

• No sexual activity or stimulation

   

• No external distractions (music, screens, reading)

   

• No other medications or substances
   

   

These restrictions aren’t just cultural — they help sensitize the body and mind to the subtle messages of the plant. Many people report feeling the spirit of Bobinsana more clearly when following the dieta with full respect and intention.

 

(NEW) DIFFERENT CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON BOBINSANA

Across the Amazon basin, Bobinsana is revered in diverse ways, with her meaning and use shaped by the traditions and cosmologies of each region. While she is honored in communities across Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador, her role in Peruvian healing traditions is especially strong.
 

At Madre Selva, our work is rooted in these Peruvian traditions, with guidance from Moises, one of our retreat leaders, who carries the Cocama lineage and works within the mestizo healing tradition. In this context, Bobinsana is approached as a gentle, heart-healing plant spirit — a supportive ally in times of grief, emotional transition, and deep personal exploration.
 

We acknowledge and respect the rich diversity of lineages throughout the Amazon, including those of tribes such as the Shipibo and Huni Kuin, while staying grounded in the living practices we carry forward here in Peru.
 

At Madre Selva, our connection to Bobinsana is rooted in lived experience and ceremonial practice. Rather than viewing her as a symbol or concept, we engage with her as a living teacher — one who supports emotional healing, dreamwork, and inner clarity. This relationship has grown through years of practice, grounded in respect for the land and lineage that guide us.