Molecule of Life

In the early 1960‘s Howard Lotsof (1943-2010), a multi-substance user, unintentionally discovered the addiction interruption potential of ibogaine. Read more about that HERE. In the 1980’s and 90’s Eric Taub formulated a routine-ready protocol and started training ibogaine facilitators, kicking off a movement to broadly apply the healing aspects of the plant medicine. Taub facilitated hundreds of treatments and trained dozens of treatment providers. To date, about six or seven thousand people have undergone ibogaine procedures.

The history of the healing molecule goes far back; unknown thousands of years, in fact. First used by the Forest People of Central West Africa, known as BABONGO, iboga is regarded as a sacred plant spirit. Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid occurring in many plants, but is especially concentrated in the root bark of iboga.

Ancient Use

Pygmies used low doses of the root bark as a mild stimulant and hunting aid, and in much higher doses as a visionary and initiatory tool. Some hundreds of years ago the pygmies shared their knowledge of the plant and its sacred usage with the BANTU of Gabon. This knowledge is called the Bwiti, and the animist beliefs of the region were integrated with the plant spirit into what is now known as the religion Bwiti. BWITI today, practiced by roughly half a million people in Gabon and Cameroon, is complex, varied and increasingly popular.

Iboga Today

Ibogaine: Rite of Passage is a 50 minute documentary film about iboga and ibogaine. Directed by Ben DeLoenen, it provides an excellent background on the traditional and contemporary roles of the medicine. Watch it HERE, halfway down the page.

“Ibogaine’ used in detox settings is a purified alkaloid powder with a bulk of about 85 or 97% pure ibogaine.

Despite the ‘underground’ awareness of the effectiveness of ibogaine therapy, mainstream medicine and pharmaceutical interest has yet to peak. Various ‘official’ studies continue around the world, but ibogaine remains obscure and largely misunderstood by all but those personally acquainted with its healing properties. It is unfortunate but true that ibogaine is a Schedule I substance in the United States. Therefore all IbogaLife treatments and ceremonies must occur outside the US. We are very flexible about fixing a location that is convenient for the client.