Iboga and Ibogaine
Iboga Vs. Ibogaine
What is the difference?
If you are new to researching ibogaine, seeing terms like iboga, ibogaine, ibogaine HCL, ibogaine TA and root bark can be confusing and overwhelming. What is the difference between iboga and ibogaine? Which one do I want? Why does one center prefer one type over another? Here we will try to break down the different types of iboga(ine) so that you can understand the similarities and differences between each one. So lets start at the beginning…
First, there is iboga.
Iboga, or Tabernanthe iboga a perennial rain forest shrub and psychedelic, native to western Central Africa. Iboga stimulates the central nervous system when taken in small doses and induces hallucinations in larger doses. – Wikipedia
Iboga is also referred to as ‘root bark’ because the the first layer of bark from the plant is removed and discarded and the second layer is scraped and powdered for consumption. Iboga root bark contains many different alkaloids including ibogaine, tabernanthine, coronaridine, voacangine, ibogamine, harmaline and more which all contribute to its overall effect.
Iboga contains the whole spirit of the plant and is such an important tool especially in regard to psycho-spiritual experiences. However, of all the types of iboga and its derivatives, iboga root bark is the most difficult on the physical body. Because of this, many centers choose to use different forms of ibogaine, especially ibogaine HCL because it is easier for the the heart, stomach and liver to process. Which brings us to ibogaine.
Ibogaine HCL – The most common
Ibogaine is a single alkaloid derived from either the Iboga Tabernanthe or from Voacango africana. Ibogaine, or its purest form ibogaine HCL (hydrochloride), is considered to be the safest form of ibogaine to work with in large doses. Ibogaine HCL typically contains 90% – 99% pure ibogaine.
Ibogaine HCL is manufactured in a lab and is considered ‘pharmaceutical grade’. It is primarily used because it is widely accepted that in order to treat or ‘break’ a drug dependency, a certain threshold of mgs of medicine per kg of body weight is required – basically, a very large dose. Considering that in most situations, drug addicts aren’t in the best state of overall physical health, it is important for providers to have a focus on minimizing risk and maintaining high safety protocols. Using a pure form of ibogaine, or even ibogaine TA is far safer than using iboga for treating drug dependency.
Ibogaine TA – Total Alkaloids
Ibogaine TA stands for ‘total alkaloids’ which means it contains all the alkaloids of the iboga plant but in a concentrated form. Working and dosing with TA can be tricky unless you have a reliable and consistent source because ibogaine TA can range anywhere from 30% – 70% ibogaine.
Another type of Ibogaine TA is Ibogaine PTA, which stands for ‘purified total alkaloids’. PTA usually has a high concentration of around 50% – 85% ibogaine.
Using a reliable source for ibogaine TA is still easier on the body than using solely iboga root bark, and because it still contains the other alkaloid of the plant, you get the full spectrum of experience.
Iboga and Ibogaine Summary
At New Life Iboga Costa Rica, it is our opinion that much of the spirit of the medicine is lost when you remove or isolate certain alkaloids from the whole plant. We do not provide detoxes, our focus is on spiritual growth and connection, so we utilize a mix of iboga and ibogaine TA for our treatments so the full spirit of the medicine can be experienced.