Ibogaine
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid extracted from root bark of the west African plant Tabernanthe iboga. In Gabon and the bordering countries of Cameroon and the Congo, the plant has ceremonial and religious use in the Bwiti religion. A large dose of the root bark is consumed in adolescence as a rites of passage into adulthood. Smaller amounts are taken by the rest of the tribe as a stimulant to counteract fatigue, and to suppress appetite.
In the west it was accidentally discovered as an addiction arrester. This was in the early sixties in New York city, when a group led by Howard Lotsof dedicated to researching psychoactive compounds took ibogaine, and found they were detoxed from heroin, and had no craving for it. Further formalized testing was done by Howard Lotsof, and the birth of ibogaine in the treatment of addiction was born. Ibogaine is a mind altering psychoactive compound, which can produce dream-like visions, often described as lucid dreaming. In a typical experience these may last between 4-12 hours, but can last much longer, or be minimal. They can be historic in nature, reliving experiences in one's past, or appear as movie like images on a screen. They can be filled with people, with moving lights, changing faces or patterns, or of mythical figures. They can be anywhere from escstatic to terrifying. Bodily effects can be significant, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, unsteadiness, tremor, and restlessness, and although annoying, are only temporary if experienced. It is not known exactly how ibogaine arrests addiction and prevents cravings. It does have action on various neurotransmitters in the brain, nerve receptor expression, and nervous pathways involved in addiction. It does appear to reset certain receptors to pre-addictive states. For a more in-depth look at ibogaine including experiences of ibogaine therapy, as well as a new documentary on ibogaine, please refer to our Literature page. |
