Iboga

The iboga plant is a plant found typically in West Africa. Many African cultures have come to use the root bark of the iboga plant, which plays a fundamental role in many of their rites of passage and healing ceremonies.

You’ll find it used in many areas of Africa. including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Zaire, but especially in Gabon, by the people of the Fang, Missoko and Bwiti cultures.

Traditionally, iboga is used in Bwiti adolescent rites of passage or in healing ceremonies for both men and women, separately. The ritual surrounding iboga lasts five to seven days and at the individual undergoes a process of death and rebirth, carefully guided by the community through the performance of a series of rituals in which many people take part; a symbolic death of the adolescent or of evil gives way to the birth of the adult or healthy person.You’ll find it used in many areas of Africa. including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,. Congo, Zaire, but especially in Gabon, by the people of the Fang, Missoko and Bwiti cultures.

Iboga connects the user to a higher level of spirituality and a deeper understanding of the self. This usually comes about, due to the personal insights gained in the egoless state that iboga can produce. People often receive powerful insights into the personal issues they’re facing and feel a greater connection to the world around them. In this context, iboga can help spark personal growth in myriad forms. It’s helped people deal with depression, anxiety, PTSD, indulgent behaviors, and much more.

It can induce an introspective experience that is often referred to as deeply psychotherapeutic. Iboga is not considered a true hallucinogen and is referred to as an “oneirophrenic” because it can induce a waking dream state, although this is not always the case.

The initial phase of the experience can often consist of intense visual introspection, lasting between 7 and 12 hours and is often saturated with information that may be experienced more objectively, as n observer, while deeper psychological integration of the content is not accessible. during the following 24 hours of the experience, the visionary phase ends and the contents of the experience can be integrated in a cognitive process. Subsequently, this integration process may continue to develop in daily life for months as the individual re-defines their identity and interpersonal dynamics related to their environment.

So What is Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is extracted from the Iboga root is a much more potent version of the medicine and because of this, a strict safety and monitoring protocol is required. 

Ibogaine is best known for its ability to help people with substance abuse issues, but can also be used to treat other diseases of the body as well. It’s commonly used for those suffering with opiate addiction (although it can help with any addiction). At larger doses, ibogaine can significantly reduce withdrawal from opiates about 85-100%, and temporarily eliminate substance-related cravings. 

We have a long consultation with the patient to make sure they’re a right fit for this treatment. Then start a pre-treatment protocol with them that varies from patient to patient. Once the treatment starts, the patient is monitored at all times, vital signs checked often day and night. The experience is a bit more involved than with an iboga ceremony.

Iboga, on the other hand, is used more for spiritual or physical healing, insight, connection, guidance and can also help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. Iboga can help with addiction but iboga should not be used with someone in active addiction.