Comments on: Iboga and Ibogaine

Iboga and Ibogaine

homunculus — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 01:36:00 -0800

Tripping on iboga: author Daniel Pinchbeck describes his experience with the psychedelic drug tabernanthe iboga, which is used in the rituals of the Bwiti in West Africa. Ironically, the active chemical in iboga, the indole alkaloid ibogaine, is said to be useful in the treatment of drug addiction (PDF.)

By: Onanist

Onanist — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 02:19:44 -0800

A very intriguing substance. I've read Daniel Pinchbeck's book Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism and I must say it takes you on a fascinating, and radical, journey.

By: PigAlien

PigAlien — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 05:59:53 -0800

Ok, not that I believe what I'm about to say is true, but just to go out on a tangent... I have read theories that the connections between brain cells are small enough to be attuned to fluctuations in the quantum vacuum of space and that this might explain some 'psychic' phenomenon as an overlapping of human consciousness with quantum physics. Perhaps taking these psychedelic drugs warps your mind's normal stream of consciousness and makes it more susceptible to these perturbations of the quantum realm, thus bringing us more in tune with our own 'psychic' abilities. I like the idea at least, even if there's no real scientific basis for it.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 07:39:03 -0800

Man! That's completely freaky! Even the name "PigAlien" is, like, really out there. Think about it man; the aliens would be like those dudes from "V," but they'd have funny noses and curley tails and shit! Do we have any Fritos left?

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 07:48:19 -0800

Ibogaine sounds interesting. Thanks for the post, homunculus. It reminded me to dig up this favorite anecdote of mine, told by Michael Harner about his Ayahuasca trip. Here's the punchline:

''I was now eager to solicit a professional opinion from the most supernaturally knowledgeable of the Indians, a blind shaman who had made many excursions into the spirit world with the aid of the ayahuasca drink. lt seemed only proper that a blind man might be able to be my guide to the world of darkness. I went to his hut, taking my notebook with me, and described my visions to him segment by segment. At first I told him only the highlights; thus, when I came to the dragon-like creatures, I skipped their arrival from space and only said, "There were these giant black animals, something like great bats, longer than the length of this house, who said that they were the true masters of the world." There is no word for dragon in Conibo, so "giant bat" was the closest I could come to describe what I had seen. He stared up toward me with his sightless eyes, and said with a grin, "Oh, they're always saying that. But they are only the Masters of Outer Darkness." He waved his hand casually toward the sky. I felt a chill along the lower part of my spine, for I had not yet told him that I had seen them, in my trance, coming from outer space. I was stunned. What I had experienced was already familiar to this barefoot, blind shaman. "

By: trondant

trondant — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 07:58:50 -0800

The human mind is a funny thing.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 08:37:32 -0800

One of the most bizarre bits of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 is early on when Thompson claims that addiction to Ibogaine is the real reason that Ed Muskie stumbled and fell behind George McGovern in the primaries. I assume he's talking out of his ass there, but it makes for fun reading.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 09:48:43 -0800

Here's a list, current as of Novemeber 6, 1997, companies, within and without the borders of the United States, which sell it. Any MeFi member lab rats? If so, let's be penpals. Here's the New York University School of Medicine's November 6--I'm detecting a pattern here here!--1999 Conference on Ibogaine. Judging from the Bibliography, here's certainly enough research interest, as does--crappy Microsoft product fans take note--Rick Doblin's Powerpoint presentation at the Iboga and Ibogaine Conference, New York City, 5/5/03. I don't know if I would agree with his three basic points in general. And here's Erowid Drug Slang & Terminology Vault. No Ibby mention. Heh.

By: euphorb

euphorb — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 11:24:47 -0800

In an LA Weekly article from last month Daniel Pinchbeck describes a clinic in Mexico which utilizes ibogaine to treat addictions and his encounter with the "spirit of iboga" while on the stuff.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 11:33:40 -0800

According to one shamanic plant specialist at a local herbalist, Ibogaine's is considered one of the more benign entheogenic personas. Salvia Divinorum, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the angrier.

By: LairBob

LairBob — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 12:23:42 -0800

I used to think the "Carlos Castaneda Jr" thing was much cooler than I do now. Wasn't till my very last excursion into recreational psychedelics that I really had to confront just how very deeply these substances can mess you up. Saw one of my best buddies--even more experienced than me on this front--basically get picked up shaken like a rag doll in a puppy's jaws. In one night, I saw someone almost willfully ruin a relationship that's now become a long-term happy marriage, permanently damage his relationship with his parents, and almost put us both in jail (not just for overnight). Funny thing is, I still think there are important components of my mindset, today, that are purely due to my experiences with mind-altering substances. I don't, overall, regret any of it, or even wish I hadn't done it. (Well, except that last time.) Of all the things I did in my youth, though, that I used to think were really cool--and that I now know were the equivalent of running down the middle of a highway at midnight--arrogantly dabbling in psychoactives ranks right up there at the top.

By: PigAlien

PigAlien — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 14:27:58 -0800

Have you seen Deliverance, Mayor Curley? I can squeal like a pig, and there ain't nothin' alien about it!

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 15:22:15 -0800

But do you have a purty mouth?

By: homunculus

homunculus — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 16:20:15 -0800

Thanks for the links, everyone. Iboga sounds like a particularly interesting and useful chemical. I'm going to have to read Pinchbeck's book (I still want to read John Horgan's latest too. So much to read...) Note to self: do not do hallucinogenics with PigAlien (nothing personal, I just can't abide squealing while tripping.) ;)

By: PigAlien

PigAlien — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 19:08:16 -0800

Did you wait until exactly 420 to post that, homunculus?

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 21:05:30 -0800

[this is good] - nice post homunculus.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 21:22:26 -0800

It was an accident, PigAlien, I swear! Whoa, I'm suddenly seeing skulls in the top corner of the page... must be a flashback...