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About Iboga
The Teacher and Healer
Tabernanthe Iboga
Iboga (Tabernanthe Iboga) is typically a small perennial shrub that can grow into a small tree, native to the tropical rainforests of West Central Africa, most commonly found in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Congo. For thousands of years, Iboga has been used as a sacred medicine for healing, self-discovery, and initiation into adulthood.
In a time when anxiety, depression, addiction, and disconnection are so common, Iboga offers a way to return to balance. Its wisdom reaches through the physical, emotional, and mental layers of being, helping us release what no longer serves and reconnect with what is steady, grounded, and alive within us.
The inner root bark of the Iboga shrub, often called the Grandfather medicine, carries a deep intelligence of life itself. Traditionally, the bark is dried, ground into a fine powder, and taken in ceremony with intention and respect. Iboga works through the entire system, cleansing the body, quieting the mind, and opening the way for clarity. It supports detoxification, helps reset natural rhythm and vitality, and brings the body and mind back into alignment. Many find that it clears what blocks their sense of connection and restores a natural state of ease and aliveness.
Iboga continues to be honored within the Bwiti tradition of Central West Africa, where it is regarded as a sacred teacher and guide. You can learn more about the Bwiti tradition here.
How Iboga Works
Iboga is both detoxifying and revealing. It purifies the body, clears mental fog, and brings buried emotions to the surface to be released. Physically, it helps reset the nervous system and restore natural balance. Mentally and emotionally, it shows where we have been living from fear, habit, or belief and opens the possibility to live from what is true and alive within us.
Iboga is often called a mirror. It does not do the work for us, but it shows us clearly what needs to be seen so that we can take responsibility for our healing and growth. The real transformation happens as we live the insights that the medicine reveals.
The Ceremony and Experience
An Iboga ceremony is often described as a journey inward, a meeting with the truth of one’s own being.
It may bring understanding, reveal hidden memories, or illuminate the patterns that shape our lives. Some people see visions, others feel emotions or sensations rise and release, and some receive insights or a quiet knowing without any imagery at all. Each experience is unique, yet what is often discovered is a deep stillness and an awareness of what is already whole.
The effects of Iboga are long-lasting, often unfolding over 12 to 24 hours in stages. The first stage is cleansing, where the body and mind begin to clear. The second brings insight, as the medicine reveals what is needed for healing and understanding. Finally, the experience grounds back into the body, bringing clarity and calm.
Iboga in the Modern World
Today, Iboga is being used around the world for healing, renewal, and awakening. Beyond its traditional roots, it has gained recognition for its ability to help those working through addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, or simply seeking clarity and purpose.
While Ibogaine, a man-made derivative of Iboga, is sometimes used clinically, mainly in addiction detox settings, the whole Iboga root bark holds the complete intelligence of the plant. Working with Iboga in its natural form honors its depth and preserves the integrity of its teaching.
At its heart, Iboga is a teacher. It helps us remember who we are beyond the noise of the mind. Its wisdom guides us to meet ourselves fully, release what no longer serves, and rediscover the simplicity of just being.