Traveling for Traditional Healing: Health and Legal Cautions

Why this page exists

People travel for many reasons: to visit family, to see a healer in their own culture, or to join a "traditional healing retreat." This page is not a directory, and we do not list or recommend retreats, clinics or healers. It covers the health and legal cautions that apply to any trip for treatment, and what is different when the treatment is traditional. Using a healer in your home community or heritage place can be meaningful and safe. The cautions below simply help you plan.

If you become seriously ill while traveling, get local emergency care. In the US, 911 is the emergency number, and Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222 (poison help by country); these US numbers will not work in most other countries.

Before you decide

• Talk to your own doctor first. The NHS advises involving a GP, dentist or clinician for a second opinion and to plan how medical notes will reach the overseas team. [1]
• Base the decision on the care, not the destination. The NHS tells people to be sure the choice rests on the quality of care and not on how appealing the place is for a holiday. [1]
• Know the warning signs. The NHS lists a hard sell, a lack of information, pressure to decide quickly, no discussion of possible complications and no mention of aftercare. [1]
• Check who will treat you. Ask whether you have checked the qualifications of the team treating you. [1] For the kinds of checks that apply to traditional practitioners, see how to check a traditional practitioner.

Standards, insurance and getting help

UK government guidance says the standard of medical facilities, qualifications and treatments abroad can vary widely and may differ from UK standards. [2] It also says the UK's Foreign Office cannot usually help if you have travelled abroad for treatment and have problems with the care or costs. [2] In the UK, the NHS says most travel insurance policies will not cover planned treatment abroad. [3] Other countries have their own rules, so ask your insurer before you go, and ask what happens if there are complications.

Recovery and aftercare

Ask how aftercare will be managed. The NHS says you should stay in the country where you were treated long enough to recover before traveling home. [1] UK government guidance warns that air travel after major surgery increases the risk of a blood clot, which can be life-threatening. [2] Most traditional treatments are not surgery, but the same planning applies to any procedure.

Bringing remedies and products home

• Importing medicines. In the US, the FDA says it is illegal in most circumstances for individuals to import drugs or devices for personal use. [4] The FDA also says it cannot ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicine bought from foreign sources. [4] Many herbal products are sold as supplements and may be treated differently. Check the rules of the country you return to before buying large amounts.
• Mail-order from abroad. The FDA warns of unproven products ordered directly from overseas sources by mail, which can bypass normal Customs and FDA inspections. [5]
• Quality. Product contents may not be what the label says. Some preparations have been found to contain hidden drugs or heavy metals. [6][7] See heavy metals in traditional medicines.
• Plants and ceremonial medicines. Laws on plant medicines differ widely by country, and some are controlled substances. This site does not describe plant-medicine ceremonies. See ayahuasca and plant medicine ceremonies: where to find the full guides.

Infectious disease and travel health

Do not use unproven "natural" products in place of official advice for serious travel illnesses. NCCIH says travelers should follow official recommendations and not rely on unproven "natural" approaches to prevent or treat a serious disease such as malaria. [8] Talk to a travel clinic or your doctor before you leave.

Respect when you visit

Visiting a community's healer is a form of relationship, not a service you buy. Ask in advance what is welcome. Do not photograph, record or ask about restricted practices. Do not assume that a retreat selling "traditional" experiences represents any community; see cultural appropriation and traditional healing products and cultural safety and humility.

What a trip should never replace

Do not stop prescribed medicines for a trip or a treatment. Do not delay care for a new or worsening symptom. Tell your regular providers where you are going and what you plan to use. See when traditional healing delays needed care and red flags in traditional healing practice.