IBOGAINE

THE STORY OF IBOGAINE

Long ago, lost in the history of Africa, some villagers noticed a peculiar behavior among boars. they would jump around wildly and go into a frenzy after diggign up and eating the roots of a certain plant. Naturally, these villagers were curious about the root and decided to try it themselves. the stimulant property of the root became well known, people found it useful to chew a small amount to combat a fatigue and hunger. it was especially helpful to stay awake, sometimes for days, during lion hunts when it was understandably important to remain alert.

The root is from a decorative shrub, Tabernathe iboga. a member of the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family. it is indigenouos to the country of equatorial Africa. the shrub produces a yellowish- or pinkish-white flower yielding a small, oval yellowish-orange-fruit-about the size of an olive with an edible sweet pulp. although the plant has other uses, it is cultivated widely for the bark from the root, which contains the stimulating substance.

The bark from he roots, especially the smaller ones, may contain up to 6 percent Ibogaine. the bark is rasped from the roots and eaten directly, or dried and pounded into a powder to make tea.

Ibogaine is unusual that it has a variety of effects depending on the dose taken, and by its very-long-lasting action. it may act as a powerful stimulant, enabling the users to maintain high physical exertion without fatigue over a long period. the body seems lighter and levitation-a feeling of floating-is often experienced. spectrums or Rainbow like effects are seen in surrounding objects, and there is a distortion in the sense of time, so that a moment may seem like hours.

ANTI-ADDICTION POTENTIAL

Europeans began to examine Ibogaine and found that it was effective in curing addiction to opiates, cocaine, alcohol, Amphetamines, and Nicotine. Ibogaine was synthesized for use in research as an anti-addiction medications, and sold under the trade name Endabuse. Laboratory studies carried out with animals to examine the interaction of Ibogaine with addictive drugs of abuse.

WHO IS USING IBOGAINE

The use of Ibogaine is largely limited to native people in western and central Africa, particularly in the Bwiti part if Gabon. This cult is widespread and may include both male and females, or separate groups of male (Bwiti) and female (Mbiri) participants. Outside Africa, Ibogaine is rarely found and its uses is limited to research as a possible anti-addiction medication.

EFFECTS TO HEALTH

the effects of Ibogaine is felt about 15-20 minutes after ingestion. a buzzing sound is often heard, perhaps in wave, and the skin may feel numb. after 25-30 minutes objects appear to vibrate. there may be nausea. after an hour the first sight may appear. then peak intoxication follows, lasting two to four hours, which the users can have a difficulty in walking, dizziness, pain with bright lights, and out of body sensation, there may also be tremors, abnormal breathing, spasms in the legs, and seizures.

some users have diarrhea, teary eyes, salivation, and a runny nose. then the vission and numbness suddenly disappear, and for the next five to eight hours, the user is in high energy state, seeing flashes of lightning. this continues for about 20 hours, and ends when the user may go into a trance in which little physical activities is possible or simply fall into an exhausted sleep.

Ibgoaine may have a long lasted effect since it is stored in fat tissue, and released slowly as Noribogaine. Animal studies shows that Ibogaine destroys Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of the brain.