What is Ibogaine?
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid extracted from the root bark of the West African plant Tabernanthe Iboga. It is part of the tryptamine family, a group of medicines which are finding wider acceptability in the use of healing for various psychological conditions.
History
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, as well as for the treatment of physical and psychological problems. Smaller amounts are taken as a stimulant to counteract fatigue, and to suppress appetite.
In the West it was accidentally discovered as an addiction arrester. This was June 1962 in New York City, when a group led by Howard Lotsof dedicated to researching psychoactive compounds took Ibogaine, and found they were rapidly detoxed from heroin, and had no craving for it. Further formalized testing was done by Lotsof confirming the effectiveness of Ibogaine as a treatment for addiction.
The use of ibogaine in psychotherapy began in the late 60’s by the psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr Claudio Naranjo. He found that using ibogaine facilitated access to unconscious processes, thoughts and feelings, but that it did not bring out depersonalization or changes in thinking characteristic of some related substances. He found ibogaine could help to accelerate the process of psychotherapy, although he stressed the importance of using them in the context of psychotherapy for optimal benefit.
Research
In human and animal research Ibogaine has been shown to effectively reduce to a minimum the withdrawal syndrome from drugs of addiction. Ibogaine Therapy has the added benefit of significantly reducing cravings, which, in other forms of detoxification, can be persistent for weeks to months after cessation of drug use, increasing the risk of relapse. Its main research has been in the addiction to opiates and cocaine.
Mechanism of Action
Ibogaine works in a novel way unlike any other treatment modality. It does have action on multiple neuroreceptors, nerve receptor expression, and nervous pathways involved in addiction. It does appear to reset certain receptors to pre-addictive states, possibly working on the level of genetic expression.
Ibogaine Therapy
Ibogaine is used in the treatment of chemical dependency to drugs of addiction. It’s benefits are that it provides rapid detoxification, diminishes withdrawal symptoms and dramatically reduces drug craving.
It is also used in the healing of other conditions like depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. In conjunction with psychotherapy Ibogaine Therapy can increase insight, and resolve past trauma. It has the ability to work symbolically to give expression to trauma that had previously been difficult to put into words. It can also help in discovering what that past trauma is if hidden from consciousness.
The experience can produce a change in well-being, more able to deal with the anxiety of existence, and find a new relationship with one’s suffering. This process can also lead to a better acceptance of oneself.