Iboga, officially called Tabernanthe iboga (also known as Black bugbane - Le bois sacré), is a rainforest shrub indigenous to Gabon and Cameroon, capable of growing up to 10 meters tall. It is known around the world as the grandfather of all plant medicines.

It contains a non-addictive alkaloid called ibogaine that can produce healing miracles on a physical, mental, and spiritual plane when consumed.

Most of the ibogaine is located in the cambium layer (outer layer) of the iboga roots, especially in the older iboga shrubs.

Ibogaine is the primary alkaloid present in the iboga root and accounts for about 80% of the alkaloid profile. In addition to ibogaine, the root bark also contains alkaloids such as ibogaline, ibogamine, tabernanthine, voacangine, harmaline, and noribogaine. Each of the alkaloids possesses unique features yielding pharmacological benefits and seems to work in synergy with ibogaine.

When it was originally found by the Babongo Pygmy tribes, it was used as a rite of passage for the youngsters transitioning into adulthood. This ritual cleared them from most of their traumas and dramas in life and released them from their ego prison. In time, this grew into a new religion called the Bwiti.

But the Bwiti religion is unique in that it does not have any scriptures or books written about how iboga works. It only passes along information on how to set up a ceremony correctly. This is normally passed on from one generation to the next. Bwiti is also a bit secretive due to the Christian suppression in the past.

But we live in a modern world, and the suppression has become a lot less, and with the internet connecting all the different spiritual movements around, this makes it possible to actually explain what iboga does in familiar terminology.

It wakes up and develops the Kundalini.
Now Kundalini is an Indian term not often used in Gabon, but this explains exactly what iboga does.

It does this so effectively that no other tool nor method on the planet comes even close to what one full iboga ceremony can accomplish.

There is a whole page dedicated to explaining what the Kundalini is, but in a nutshell, it is like the fire of a candle that burns and dissolves all karma like the burning of all the wax of the candle until all is empty, which is referred to as the Nima state in Gabon or full self-realization in India.

In combination with the right meditation and music, iboga is considered the most powerful tool for awakening the Kundalini and bringing forth the state of full self-realization and beyond.

Among the Bwiti practitioners, it is not common to see iboga being combined with meditation techniques. However, looking at the different Buddhistic and Hinduistic techniques that work directly with the Kundalini, it is easily shown how effective these two work together. This is something Mama Aline is interested in, to make the healing process as effective as possible. Basically, using the most effective tools on the planet and combining them into one package.

But this is still a project that is in the making. This website shows what meditation techniques work best with iboga, but our ceremonies are still rooted in the original structure of the Bwiti initiations. So at the moment, it is more of an extra tool you can use during the initiation and during microdosing to speed up the process of clearing traumas and dramas (karma). But in the future, this will develop into a more united approach of Bwiti and Dzogchen Buddhism.

Dzogchen teacher Keith Dowman uses this approach and has commented on the potential of iboga to facilitate moments of deep insight into the nature of mind. However, he cautions against becoming too engrossed in the psychedelic experiences, emphasizing the importance of not letting them detract from the deeper spiritual insights. In other words, using the right meditation tools alongside iboga makes this path the most effective path. Another way to look at this is to ask yourself the question: how many enlightened masters have come from Gabon, compared to Tibet? Hence the need to combine these two methods.

Iboga is unique in that it not only fosters new connections but is also one of the few known substances that can actually stimulate the creation of new brain cells, particularly in the dopamine center of the brain. It facilitates a comprehensive rewiring of the brain, leading to a stable Nima (enlightened) state. This herb also has a profound effect on the pineal gland, where it decalcifies the gland and rejuvenates the body as a result. It also has the ability to reverse epigenetic markers of aging and has a strong effect on one's libido, returning it to a more youthful state. Basically the iboga transforms you from a catterpillar into a butterfly - see youtube below. All in all, an amazing plant.

It might be a bit technical, but this studty is really amazing and interesting. This is also the reason why people after an iboga ceremony are much more sensitive to coffee or NAD+ / NMN / Nootropics, anti-oxidents or any other energy supplement or product. These supplements are not needed anymore after iboga, because iboga goes to the root of the problem and solves it.

Ibogaine is considered a nootropic itself. A nootropic is a substance that enhances cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.

Distinct from Ayahuasca or San Pedro, which interact with a single neurotransmitter, iboga engages with five main neurotransmitters: NMDA, nicotinic, σ-, κ-opioid, and μ-receptors, maintaining this connection for weeks to months. This is another reason why iboga is so effective, as the process keeps on working for months in a row. Also, once the Kundalini is fully activated, there is no easy way to stop this process, so you are put on a spiritual journey of self-healing until fully stable in the Nima state.

The best way to consume iboga is fresh and not dried or in purified forms like PTA. The reason is simple: the fresh iboga numbs the taste buds so it is easier to consume and it is faster in absorption rate, so the process will be deeper and not as long as with the dried powder. Plus fresh ibogo contains all the other alkaloids helping with the process.

The purified forms are often used in drug rehabilitation centers such as those found in Mexico. Many of the accompanying alkaloids in fresh iboga are missing in these treatments, making it less spiritual. Fresh iboga is also considered the original way of consuming iboga during the Babongo Pygmy tribe initiations, but because iboga becomes more difficult to find these days, people have to go deep into the Gabonese jungle to locate them. Because of the time it takes from harvesting to bringing them to the Bwiti villages, many have turned to dried iboga as this is much easier to preserve. But at Mama Alines village, the iboga is growing in jungle that belongs to the village, so it is always fresh.