A sacred plant of neuronal effect: the use of ibogaine in addiction treatments in Brazil
Anthropology of Consciousness July 8, 2022 Bruno Ramos Gomes, Luis Fernando Tofoli 2 citations
Ibogaine, a non-typical psychedelic derived from the African plant Tabernanthe iboga, is used in four Brazilian addiction treatment clinics. Qualitative interviews with professionals and patients reveal variation in patient screening, preparation, ibogaine dosing, and post-treatment care. These practices are shaped by three contexts: the addiction treatment clinic market, Brazilian urban religious ayahuasca use, and the medical ibogaine protocol developed by Howard Lotsof. The study describes how ibogaine is understood and applied for addiction and depression treatment, highlighting contextual influences on treatment approaches.