Ibogaine: Is It a Safe and Effective Treatment Option?

Ibogaine is a psychedelic substance that has been used in initiation rituals and healing ceremonies in West Africa.  However, it is only recently that it has begun being used as a treatment option for opiate addiction.  But does Ibogaine work?  And is it a safe and effective treatment option?  That’s what we’re going to take a closer look at in this article.

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How Does Ibogaine Work?

While large doses of Ibogaine will put a patient into a psychedelic state, when administered correctly and in small doses, it acts as a mild stimulant.  Many patients have found that the stimulating properties of Ibogaine help to reduce their cravings for opiates, while helping them to withdraw.  In many cases, particularly those that consisted of a self-administered treatment, the effects of Ibogaine on withdrawal were short lived.  This is why it’s always recommended that a patient seek out in-patient Ibogaine treatment centers in order to be monitored throughout the whole process.The Holistic Sanctuary is the most exclusive luxury licensed healing center in the world that offers Ayahuasca Ceremonies with other ancient plant medicines, like Ibogaine and 5MeO DMT.

What are the Risks?

When Ibogaine is administered under a medical professional, the risks are minimal.  However, those who choose to self-administer the drug could end up with complications.  This is because it is very hard to determine the correct dosage and administer it safely.  Some of the risks of Ibogaine include:

• Ataxia
• Heart complications, including arrhythmias
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Seizures

Alternative Options for Addiction

Until more is known about Ibogaine, some patients may prefer to opt for one of the alternative treatment options for addiction.  The most common are listed below.

• Behavioral counselling.  This involves a patient meeting with a psychiatrist and undergoing behavioral therapy, with the aim being to encourage the patient to not need or want to take drugs any longer.  This usually happens in a safe environment and many patients find behavioral counsellors to provide a much-needed support system through a difficult time.
• Detoxification. This can be done on both an in-patient and out-patient basis, although in-patient tends to have better results.  Caring professionals are trained to help patients through the withdrawal process from start to finish.
• Prescription medications (both to help with withdrawal and to help with the pain of detoxing)
• Mental health evaluations (some patients will need the underlying cause of the addiction to be treated before they can be treated for the addiction itself)
• Long term after-care.  Overcoming addiction is hard work and a lot of patients will relapse.  Those who receive long term after-care are statistically more likely to remain sober.

The Outlook

Overcoming addiction is one of the hardest things a person will do in their life, however, it is possible.  There are a lot of different treatment centers available that can provide help, from the Ibogaine treatment centers mentioned above to those that provide holistic therapies, and those who provide a religious environment.  It is possible to lead a healthy and happy life following treatment, but it does require the patient to want to make a change.  Speak to a health professional for personal advice.