Iboga is a shrub used for ceremonial and ritual purposes in some African cultures. The root bark of iboga is also useful for medicinal purposes. Ibogaine is a chemical present in iboga and this chemical is illegal in the United States.
People use iboga shrub for influenza (the flu), fever, high blood pressure, swine flu, drug abuse, nervous disorder, and HIV/AIDS. They also use it to prevent drowsiness and fatigue, fight substance addiction and abuse, and increase sex drive.
In addition, they also use it as a general tonic. Iboga works due to its chemical ibogaine that wreak brain stimulation.
Related Article: History Of Ibogaine- Everything You Need To Know
Uses And Effectiveness
Ritually iboga has been used as a hallucinogen several studies show that one of the iboga alkaloids has the potential to treat addiction to various substances.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the US has put ibogaine in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). So, there is insufficient evidence to rate the effectiveness of ibogaine to treat drug abuse.
Drug Abuse
Early research on iboga shows that the chemical ibogaine present in this shrub help enhances abstinence and release withdrawal symptoms in people abusing drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and codeine.
In addition, it is also effective against other substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. However, the existing research on iboga and ibogaine is unreliable and flawed.
Iboga Side Effects
The use of ibogaine is safe when taken in a smaller dose by mouth or under the supervision of a health care professional. However, there could be potential side effects of this, so don’t use it without consulting with a medical practitioner.
In addition, when taken in large doses by mouth, it is unsafe. It can cause thinking disturbances, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and death. It can also cause other side effects such as slow heart rate, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, paralysis, hallucinations, anxiety, and death.
Dosing
There is no medical evidence on the safe dose of iboga. So strict medical supervision is important if you want to take iboga to prevent drug addiction. The study also showed that single doses of ibogaine in 500 to 800 mg have been used in a clinical study, and 17 mg/kg has been used in a drug dependency treatment center.
Contraindications
There are some known fatalities due to ibogaine usage. Comorbidities (e.g. depression, cardiovascular disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress, anxiety, schizophrenia, and epilepsy) and Concomitant opioid use increase the risk of complications that can be life-threatening.
It can also cause sudden cardiac death. Therefore, never use ibogaine without consulting with health experts as there could be severe side effects.
Related Article: Why Is Ibogaine Not Legal In The United States?
