Purging is one of those words that can make us squirm. It often brings to mind uncomfortable images—vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, crying, or even something as simple as urination.
But purging isn’t just about the physical. It can take the form of fasting, detoxing, or shedding long-held emotions through tears. The essential act of purging is releasing what the body or mind no longer needs.
So, is it inherently good or bad? It depends on how we choose to see it.
Cultural Stigmas and Discomfort with Purging
In many societies, particularly in the West, purging is something to hide.
Vomiting? Embarrassing.
Crying? A sign of weakness.
We prefer to keep anything that makes us feel exposed or vulnerable behind closed doors. There’s a deeply ingrained discomfort with being seen in such states, and this isn’t just about social etiquette; it’s about how we perceive strength and composure.
Vulnerability, whether through tears or physical release, is often misunderstood as something shameful instead of a powerful act of letting go.
Ceremonial and Intentional Purging
In many plant medicine traditions, purging is far from a side effect—it is central to the experience.
When you step into a plant medicine ceremony, i.e. ayahuasca, kambo, or hapé, you’re entering a space where purging becomes an intentional act of release, guided by the medicine itself. It’s not just about emptying the stomach or shedding tears. It’s about clearing out what doesn’t belong, letting go of stored pain, and making room for transformation.
Ayahuasca, for example, is well-known for inducing intense physical purging—vomiting, sweating, crying, or even shaking. But within the ceremonial context, this purge is seen as more than just physical detox. Participants are encouraged to approach it with a sense of reverence. It becomes a gateway to emotional and spiritual cleansing.
The process of retching into a bucket might be unpleasant, but many report feeling lighter afterward, as if burdens they didn’t even realize they were carrying have been expelled.
Mantras and prayers often accompany purging rituals, turning what might seem chaotic into something purposeful. These mantras remind us that we’re not just getting rid of physical toxins, but releasing emotional pain, trauma, and negative energy.
For example, hapé (a sacred tobacco snuff) often prompts tears, sneezing, or a sense of overwhelm as it works to cleanse and clear energy channels. The intention is not to suffer but to heal, to create a direct connection between mind, body, and spirit through this act of purging.
Kambo uses the secretion of the giant monkey frog to induce rapid purging. It’s intense, and yet practitioners embrace it as a deep reset. Kambo ceremonies often highlight this physical purge as a symbolic expulsion of “panema“—a term that loosely translates to negative energy or bad luck in some Indigenous languages.
As participants sweat, vomit, or experience other forms of physical release, the underlying belief is that old energy patterns, lingering blockages, and heavy emotions are being cleansed.
These intentional approaches to purging turns what many might consider “unpleasant” into a deeply meaningful act of healing, rooted in centuries of tradition and carried out with respect, intention, and purpose.
Purging as a Natural Bodily Function
On a fundamental level, purging is a natural bodily function. When our bodies encounter toxins or irritants, they have built-in mechanisms to expel them.
Vomiting after food poisoning or sweating during a fever are prime examples. While not glamorous, these processes are vital for maintaining balance and health.
Even something as routine as urination and sweating are ways our bodies keep themselves in equilibrium.
So why do we resist or stigmatize what is, at its core, a primal and necessary function?
Mindfulness and Purging
Purging forces us to confront ourselves in a raw and unfiltered way. It brings a heightened awareness to what we consume—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In the context of plant medicine ceremonies, participants are often advised to prepare with special diets, avoid certain foods, and practice mindfulness leading up to the experience. This isn’t just about avoiding physical discomfort, but about cultivating an intentional relationship with what we put into our bodies and minds.
The process of purging, whether it involves vomiting, crying, sweating, or other forms of release, can feel overwhelming. However, it can also serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of conscious consumption—both in terms of what we take in and what we choose to let go of.
Purging as a meditative practice extends beyond the physical. Think about those moments when you’ve been overwhelmed by thoughts, judgments, or emotions. It’s as if the body and mind are working together to expel what no longer serves. For instance, the urge to purge can sometimes arise when confronting long-held judgments or emotional baggage. Releasing these through the act of purging can feel deeply liberating—a literal and metaphorical clearing.
In this way, purging becomes a practice of mindfulness. We’re present with every sensation, every discomfort, and every release. We become aware of what needs to go and, just as importantly, what we need to welcome in.
By engaging with purging intentionally, it transforms from an uncomfortable necessity into a conscious act of letting go, making room for healing and clarity.
Purging as a Metaphor for Emotional and Mental Release
Purging extends beyond the physical realm; it serves as a powerful metaphor for emotional and mental release.
Just as vomiting or sweating clears the body of toxins, crying can unburden us of bottled-up emotions and unexpressed feelings. Think about those moments when tears well up from deep within—whether from grief, joy, or frustration—they carry with them a wave of release, often leaving us feeling lighter and more at peace.
Emotional purging allows us to shed layers of pain, anxiety, and stress that have built up over time. Embracing emotional purging means confronting vulnerability head-on. It’s about giving ourselves permission to cry, to scream, or to release pent-up tension without shame or reservation.
The act of letting go—whether through tears, deep breaths, or even laughter—offers a sense of liberation. In allowing ourselves to purge, we free up space within, making room for new experiences, perspectives, and growth.
This type of purging is woven into the human experience. It’s not just a dramatic release—it’s a natural part of maintaining our emotional and mental equilibrium.
By honoring the need to purge emotionally, we acknowledge that it’s not a sign of weakness but a necessary, cathartic process that keeps us balanced and whole.
Different cultures have varied relationships with purging.
Indigenous and Amazonian traditions, for example, often view it as an integral part of ceremonial healing. In these contexts, purging isn’t something to be feared but welcomed as part of a cycle of renewal.
Compare this to the Western approach, where purging is often dismissed as shameful or unpleasant. There’s much to learn from cultures that see purging as a means of cleansing and growth.
Embracing the Cycle of Purging
So, is purging good or bad? Maybe it’s neither. Or perhaps it’s both.
What if purging is simply part of being human—a way our bodies and spirits cleanse, recalibrate, and heal? By reframing purging as a natural, healthy process, we open ourselves to its power to renew and restore.
Vulnerability, discomfort, and all, purging is a chance to release, to let go, and ultimately, to embrace life’s inevitable cycles of holding on and letting go.
