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Iboga in 2020: Why Now Is The Time To Embrace Oneirogenics

We seem to be living in an unprecedented time in human history. Our world grows more connected every day, with international travel a commonplace, 5G networks and smartphones enabling almost instantaneous sharing of information, and technology revolutionizing the ways business and life are conducted. And yet, the health of both individuals and societies seems to be in a more precarious position than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to realize the fragility of individuals, the global economy, and social institutions which we had previously taken for granted. Our ability to share thoughts, feelings, and beliefs on social media allows us to keep in close touch, but has fractured societies, divided families, and made political discourse a minefield of resentment and rage. Meanwhile, protests over abuses of power in the criminal justice system are highlighting systemic racial inequality around the globe, and American cities are burning. With unemployment surging in the wake of the virus, and recession looming, economic security seems like a thing of the past. And many have taken to self-medicating in this time of unprecedented stress, with disastrous results. Recent reports from Canada indicate that opioid and opiate-related overdoses have increased dramatically during the pandemic, and are actually outpacing COVID-19 related deaths. The world is in a dark place, but one ancient plant teacher called iboga may be capable of bringing us into the light.

PTSD, Depression, Isolation, And Iboga

Stress, trauma, and isolation can all be debilitating conditions, and in the modern world, they seem more intractable than ever. Social-distancing and self-isolating are having disastrous mental health consequences for many of society’s most vulnerable populations. Depression is often described by sufferers as a sense of isolation which traps them in a “mental prison”, a state of being which bars them from making meaningful connections with those close to them and the world outside. Iboga has demonstrated its effectiveness in breaking down these walls, enabling a sense of profound connection to other people, nature, and even the universe itself. Many who have undergone the treatment once again feel a profound connection to their communities and environments, a primary reason why iboga is used in coming of age and initiation rituals in many African societies. The substance’s interactions with neurotransmitters regulating the production and release of dopamine are also considered effective in counteracting depression and other mood disorders.

For PTSD and related ailments, iboga can also provide healing. The oneirogenic state attained through high-doses of the substance often results in vivid and intense visions which frequently take the user back through formative and painful moments in their personal history. This often leads individuals to confront the pain and trauma that they had been seeking to avoid, allowing for reconciliation with the past, and enabling the healing process to begin in earnest. As one researcher puts it, “iboga has a profound ability to guide people through a journey of self-reconciliationlovingly but authoritatively guiding the person to see the lessons that are in front of them- how they have been out of balance, how their behavior has hurt others, and where they can improve their capacity for joy, wholeness, and health.”

Fighting Addiction

With all of society’s problems seeming to come to a head in the first 6 months of 2020, is it any wonder that increasing numbers of people around the globe are turning to substances of abuse in order to numb themselves to the onslaught of frightening, depressing, and rage-inducing news stories we seem to encounter every day? But as in the case of PTSD, the ability to confront our pain head-on is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal for dealing with addiction and substance abuse. Rather than retreating from the world with the help of opioids, alcohol, and other drugs, we need to find ways to build meaningful, joyful, and healthy lives. And ending your addiction is a necessary first step to rediscovering the possibilities your life offers.

Iboga can be an immense help in ending the physiological effects of addiction. For those hooked on opiates and opioids, there is strong evidence that iboga therapy will offer you relief from the worst symptoms of withdrawal, as well as giving you a period of 3 to 6 months without cravings. The changes it makes to dopamine transmitters and other parts of the central nervous system can return your brain to a “pre-addicted” state, reversing the effects that substances have had on your neural pathways, and making the task of building a healthy life immeasurably easier.

But addiction is more than just a physical illness. As the innovative research from intellectuals like Dr. Gabor Mate and Johann Hari has shown, addiction is deeply rooted in underlying conditions such as trauma, isolation, and psychological distress. As Dr. Mate suggests, one prerequisite of successful recovery is learning to acknowledge and live with one’s pain. As Dr. Eric Braverman has found, “addiction surfaces when an unmet need is so acute, and the stimulus reward so powerful and temporary, that it overrides the evolutionary response and leads to a chronic behavior.” Simply ending the physical fact of dependence won’t be enough. In order to get better, you must come to terms with the pain you need to relieve, and iboga can help you identify it, look it in the eye, and begin to manage it in a productive manner.

It’s Time To Try Something New

The failure of conventional approaches is becoming increasingly evident across all areas of our societies. Whether it’s a medical establishment that over-prescribes highly addictive pain pills which cause more problems than they solve, law enforcement agencies that appear to be at war with the very people they’re sworn to protect, or societies that place a higher value on dollars than human lives. The time has come to rebuild our institutions and ourselves along lines that recognize the absolutely essential value of human lives, communities, and our environment. Iboga is here to help us re-connect with the fundamental, universal values that make life worth living and to heal the damage wrought upon individuals by trauma and addiction. If you’re ready to start building your best life today, get in touch with Tabula Rasa Retreat!   

For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530

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