Ibogaine is a psychoactive drug that has been used for centuries by the Bwiti group in Africa to induce spiritual experiences and treat addiction.
This powerful substance can help people overcome their addictions, but it’s also illegal in many countries because of its hallucinogenic properties.
Although ibogaine hasn’t yet been thoroughly studied for medical use, there are plenty of people who’ve tried it at home or abroad who have written about their experiences.
If you’re interested in learning more about ibogaine and how it works, here are some books to check out:
Best Books to read on Iboga and Ibogaine
The Ibogaine Story (Peter Frank)
The Ibogaine Story: The Truth About the Healing of Addictions is a good introduction to ibogaine.
It’s written by Peter Frank, a journalist who has written about addiction for over 30 years and has interviewed many people who’ve used ibogaine to help with opiate addictions.
The book includes interviews with multiple doctors who have given people ibogaine treatments, so it’s an easy way to get some background information on how ibogaine works in the human body and brain.
Iboga: Rite of Passage (Jonathan Lai)
If you are looking for a book that explores the history of iboga and its use in Africa, then this is the book for you. In addition to exploring the history of iboga, it also explores the use of iboga in the Western world as well as its use in treating addiction.
While this book does not go into great detail about how much an ibogaine treatment costs (although it does mention what different clinics charge), it does give an overview of treatments available around the world and how they differ depending on where they are administered.
I found this section particularly useful as I was trying to decide which clinic would work best for me based on location.
Breaking Open the Head (Daniel Pinchbeck)
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of iboga and want to hear about other people’s experiences, Breaking Open the Head is a great choice.
The author, Daniel Pinchbeck, was a person with substance abuse disorder who struggled with heroin for many years before becoming involved in the underground psychedelic scene.
He had heard about iboga and ayahuasca from friends who had used them—iboga being a hallucinogen from Africa that is used by Bwiti shamans in Gabon; ayahuasca being a hallucinogenic brew made from plants found in the Amazonian rainforest—and he began researching these substances.
After reading accounts of others’ experiences with these substances and their effects on people’s lives; Daniel decided to travel to South America so he could experience them for himself firsthand.
In this book, he recounts his experiences with both ibogaine (the active ingredient found within Iboga) and Ayahuasca/DMT (the active ingredient found within Mimosa Hostilis), which helped him overcome his heroin addiction, among other things.
He also discusses how these psychoactive compounds have been important parts of Shamanic cultures throughout history until they became suppressed by Western culture due to its emphasis on rationality over intuitive knowledge acquisition methods such as meditation or shamanic trance states achieved through the ingestion of entheogens such as psilocybin mushrooms or peyote cacti (which contains mescaline).
The Sacred Journey (Howard Lotsof)
One of the first books to be published on ibogaine, The Sacred Journey is a memoir of Howard Lotsof’s own experience with ibogaine.
In this book, he covers his personal journey with ibogaine and all of the historical significance that comes with it.
He also discusses how it relates to science and how scientists are beginning to take an interest in exploring its potential benefits for treating addiction.
Trip to Understanding (Patrick Kroupa and Dan Joy)
This book is a great place to start if you’re interested in the history of ibogaine and how it’s been used throughout time.
The authors are both chemists who have worked with ibogaine for many years, so it’s no surprise that they’ve put together such an informative read.
It covers everything from how ibogaine works on a molecular level to how it affects the brain and body (and why this happens).
There are also chapters dedicated to exploring how ibogaine may help treat drug addiction, as well as other medicinal applications.
If you’re looking for something more academic than this book offers—or if you’d like something more accessible—check out our next recommendation!
Medicine Man (Bennett Davies)
One of the best books on ibogaine and iboga to read is “Medicine Man: The Strange Story of How I Became a Medicine Man, Discovered Ibogaine, and Found Healing” by Howard Lotsof.
This book is a biography of Howard Lotsof who was the first person to discover Ibogaine. It chronicles his life from being a medical researcher in New York City through his time spent in Tijuana Mexico learning about ayahuasca with Pablo Amaringo.
In addition to being an interesting person himself, one thing that makes this book so intriguing is that it contains some wild stories about some big names (Humphrey Osmond for example).
The author also has a very unique style – he uses lots of metaphors and analogies which make reading this book feel like you’re listening to someone tell you their story over coffee!
If you want to read about ibogaine, there are a lot of great books
The first thing to know is that this plant has been used by the Bwiti for centuries in West Africa as a medicine and also as part of their spiritual practices.
Ibogaine is a powerful hallucinogen and psychedelic drug that can be taken in a ritual setting; it’s an empathogen and entheogen, which means it induces divine experience or unity with God within one’s self.
There are many different ways to experience ibogaine treatment—it depends on where you go and who your provider is. You might get IV-administered doses at one clinic or take capsules at home under supervision from another provider (or not).
Some people take sublingual doses every two hours for three days straight until they begin detoxing from all substances consumed over months if not years prior;
others go off into nature alone for several weeks at varying stages between each dose taken during their stay at an ayahuasca retreat center in South America or elsewhere abroad providing this kind of treatment outside traditional medical settings using only natural remedies found locally along with guidance from indigenous healers trained by elders within these communities (this latter option being much more affordable than going through traditional medical channels).
If you’re looking for books on iboga and ibogaine, there are a lot of great options. The Ibogaine Story covers the history of the drug from its discovery as a hallucinogenic plant all the way through Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death, which brought it back into the limelight.
Trip to Understanding is about Bennett Davies’ journey from being a person with substance abuse disorder to becoming a treatment counselor for ibogaine people with substance abuse disorder in Mexico.
Breaking Open the Head is more about psychedelics in general than just one specific substance (although LSD does get an entire chapter) but does have some information on iboga that could be useful if you want more background knowledge before taking it yourself or helping someone else do so safely and effectively.
Helpful Resources
1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a government-funded research organization that provides information and resources on addiction and substance abuse. Their website offers resources specifically tailored to the pandemic, including information on telehealth and online support groups.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is a government agency that provides information and resources on addiction and mental health. Their website offers resources specifically tailored to the pandemic, including a national helpline for individuals who are struggling with addiction or mental health issues.
3. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): AA is a support group for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. AA has moved many of its meetings online, providing a safe and accessible way for individuals to connect with others who understand their struggles.
4. Narcotics Anonymous (NA): NA is a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Like AA, NA has moved many of its meetings online, providing a safe and accessible way for individuals to connect with others who understand their struggles.
5. Mental health professionals: Mental health professionals such as therapists and counselors can provide individualized support and guidance for individuals struggling with addiction during the pandemic. Many mental health professionals offer teletherapy, a form of therapy conducted over the phone or through video conferencing.
