Envoy at 14:59, 17 May 2007

2007-05-17T14:59:12Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Iboga
| image = iboga.jpg
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
| familia = [[Apocynaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Tabernanthe]]''
| species = '''''T. iboga'''''
| binomial = ''Tabernanthe iboga''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]]
}}
:''For the record label, see [[Iboga Records]]''
'''Iboga''' (''Tabernanthe iboga''), also known as '''Black bugbane''', is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[rainforest]] [[shrub]] and [[Psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants|hallucinogen]], native to western [[Africa]]. Iboga stimulates the [[central nervous system]] when taken in small doses and induces visions in larger doses.

Normally growing to a height of 2 m, ''T. iboga'' may eventually grow into a small [[tree]] up to 10 m tall, given the right conditions. It has small green [[leaf|leaves]]. Its [[flower]]s are white and pink, while the elongated, oval-shaped [[fruit]] are orange. Its yellow-coloured roots contains a number of [[indole]] [[alkaloid]]s, most notably [[ibogaine]], which is found in the highest concentration in the root-bark. The root material, bitter in taste, causes an anaesthetic sensation in the [[mouth]] as well as systemic numbness to the skin.

== Traditional use ==
The Iboga tree is the central pillar of the ''[[Bwiti]]'' religion practiced in West-[[Central Africa]], mainly [[Gabon]], [[Cameroon]] and the [[Republic of the Congo]], which utilises the alkaloid-containing roots of the plant in a number of ceremonies. Iboga is taken in massive doses by initiates when entering the religion, and on a more regular basis is eaten in smaller doses in connection with rituals and tribal dances, which is usually performed at night time. Bwitists have been subject to persecution by [[Catholicism|Catholic]] [[Missionary|missionaries]], who to this day are thoroughly opposed to the growing religious movement of Bwiti. [[Léon M'ba]], before becoming the first President of Gabon in 1960, defended the Bwiti religion and the use of iboga in French colonial courts. On June 6, 2000, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Gabon declared ''Tabernanthe iboga'' to be a national treasure.

==Addiction treatment==
Outside Africa, iboga extracts as well as the purified alkaloid [[ibogaine]] are used in treating [[opiate]] [[addiction]]. The therapy may last several days and upon completion the subject is generally no longer physically dependent. One [[methadone]] patient said in the Dutch behind-the-news show [[2 vandaag]] that in just four days he reached a state that normally would have taken him three months, but without the agony. Evidence suggests that ibogaine may also help to interrupt addiction to [[ethanol|alcohol]] and [[nicotine]]. The pharmacological effects are rather undisputed with hundreds of peer reviewed papers in support but formal clinical studies have not been completed.

== Legal status ==
Iboga is outlawed or restricted in the [[United States|U.S.]], [[Belgium]], [[Sweden]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Denmark]]. Root material and extracts thereof is obtainable through various [[European]] [[smart shop]]s.

== Quotations ==
*"The Catholic church is a beautiful theory for Sunday, the iboga on the contrary is the practice of everyday living. In church, they speak of God, with iboga, you live God" (Nengue Me Ndjoung Isidore, ecumenical Bwitist religious leader)

==External links and references==
* [http://www.erowid.org/plants/iboga/iboga.shtml Erowid Tabernanthe iboga Vault]
* ''Plants of The Gods'' by [[Richard Evans Schultes]] and [[Albert Hofmann]] (Healing Arts Press, 1992)
* [http://ibogaine.mindvox.com/Articles/GS-AdamEveIboga.htm Adam, ''Eve and Iboga''], [[Giorgio Samorini]]. (Originally published in ''Integration'' 4: 4-10)
* [http://ibogaine.mindvox.com/Articles/GS-Bwiti.htm ''The Bwiti Religion and the psychoactive plant Tabernanthe iboga (Equatorial Africa)''], Giorgio Samorini. (Originally published in ''Integration'' 5: 105-114)
* [http://i
bogaine.desk.nl/bwiti1.html ''Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutic Applications of Iboga and Ibogaine''], Robert Goutarel, Otto Gollnholfer and Roger Sillans (Originally published in ''Psychedelic Monographs and Essays'', 6:70-111 (1993).
* [http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/barabe.html ''The Religion of Iboga or Bwiti of the Fang''], P. Barabe. (originally published as "La religion d'Eboga ou le Bwiti des Fanges", ''Med. trop.'' 12(3):251-257, (May/June) 1982)
* [http://www.thevideosense.com/video/Cleanse-or-Die-Reporter-Tries-Deadly-Halucenigen/ Google Video:] [[BBC]] correspondent [[Bruce Parry]] and his experiences with Iboga and the [[Bwiti]] people

==See also==
*[[Ibogaine]]
*[[Bwiti]]

[[Category:Entheogens]]
[[Category:Apocynaceae]]
[[Category:Herbal and fungal hallucinogens]]
[[Category:Shrubs]]
[[Category:Iboga| ]]

Iboga - Revision history

Envoy at 14:59, 17 May 2007