Contact

Rootwake Home About Services Plant Profile Safety & Risks Research & Evidence Contact Plant, context, and caution Ibogaine Plant A clear introduction to Tabernanthe iboga , the Central West African rainforest shrub whose root bark contains ibogaine. Independent information, not treatment guidance Definition & scope A plant and a compound, connected but not interchangeable The ibogaine plant is Tabernanthe iboga , a perennial shrub in the Apocynaceae family. It is native to the rainforests of Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo, and its root bark contains a complex mix of indole alkaloids. The plant Tabernanthe iboga commonly grows around 5–6.5 feet tall, though it can grow much taller. A botanical overview of Tabernanthe iboga places the shrub in its Central West African ecological and cultural setting. The alkaloid Ibogaine is the most prominent psychoactive alkaloid associated with the root bark. It is also found in related species, including Voacanga africana and Tabernaemontana undulata . The context Iboga and ibogaine have been used for centuries in Bwiti spiritual and healing ceremonies, including initiations and night-long rites in West and Central Africa. Experience & tradition A long-lasting and demanding psychoactive experience At low doses, ibogaine has been described as a mild stimulant and was historically used to fight fatigue, hunger, and thirst. At higher doses, it may induce a long-lasting dissociative, dream-like state often described as a “waking dream.” Accounts commonly describe an experience lasting 12–36 hours or more. It is often characterized as intensely introspective, non-recreational, and physically demanding. The scientific overview of iboga describes the plant within a wider neuroscience context. Traditional Bwiti practice should not be reduced to a pharmacological description. It carries its own ceremonial, spiritual, social, and cultural meaning. Why it matters Interest now sits between plant knowledge, policy,

For corrections, questions, and feedback.