Ibogaine Detox

Ibogaine Detox

Detox, or detoxification, is the process of ridding the body of toxins and drugs. There is much unsupported acclaim for the naturally occurring psychoactive compound ibogaine as an effective treatment for drug addiction. However, ibogaine is illegal in the United States, and there is a lack of legitimate ibogaine research conducted on humans to support such claims.

Identification

Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic compound produced within the root of the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga. According to Ibogaine.org, Howard S. Lotsof performed the initial research regarding ibogaine as a treatment for cocaine and heroin addiction in 1962 and 1963. Lotsof, and those who administer ibogaine at ibogaine detox centers, claim that ibogaine reduces withdrawal symptoms, and the craving for drugs, which often accompany detoxification.

Legality

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classifies ibogaine as a Schedule I substance, meaning that the U.S. federal government prohibits the use of ibogaine, and recognizes no medicinal value. Ibogaine research is hampered by its illegal status. Much of the acclaim regarding ibogaine detox treatment is anecdotal and speculative.

Detox

Detoxifying from such drugs as alcohol, cocaine and heroin can produce difficult withdrawal symptoms. Ibogaine treatment centers, which operate outside of the United States, administer ibogaine to those seeking treatment for addiction. Ibogaine.org states that ibogaine does not treat addiction by becoming a substitute drug, but rather that it can be administered effectively in a single dose.

Administration

Theraputic doses of ibogaine can vary between 500 mg to 800 mg for singles doses. According to 2007 research described in "The Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine", effects of the initial dose can be felt for approximately a week, and that after this period some patients may take smaller doses as boosters.

Effects

Ibogaine is a hallucinogen, which means it alters the perception and cognition of the user. Accordng to Ibogaine.org, the effects of ibogaine can be felt within 45 minutes. The user may then experience three to five hours of vivid visualizations. The Villa Serena Ibogaine Clinic in Cancun, Mexico, advises patients to use their time under the influence of ibogaine to analyze the conditions and choices that underlie drug addiction.

Function

According to 2005 research published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, drug addiction decreases the functioning of a nerve growth factor known as the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF. Research conducted on rats indicates that ibogaine promotes GDNF functioning and blocks the behavioral effects of addictive drugs.

Side Effects

According to Iboga Therapy House, a Canadian nonprofit ibogaine detox center, side effects of ibogaine can include the loss of control of bodily movement, tremors, increased sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. Drugs.com states that deaths have been connected to ibogaine use.

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