Healing the Brain with Ibogaine
Ibogaine and it’s profound healing on the brain
Ibogaine is an atypical psychedelic alkaloid extracted from the root bark of the African shrub Tabernanthe Iboga, most commonly known for its ability to attenuate drug-seeking behavior. From a pharmacology standpoint it is different than any other psychedelic due to how it affects the brain.
Ibogaine has the ability to up-regulate glial derived neurotrophic factors. Neurotrophic factors are proteins in the brain that have been dubbed “Miracle Growth” for the brain because of its ability to regenerate itself in order to form new neurons and new synapses.
Ibogaine affects two specific neurotrophic factors in the brain, GDNF (Glial cell Derived Neurotrophic factor) and BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor).
GDNF repairs dopamine neurons and is known to help heal the brain following long-term addiction. Ibogaine heals the brain by repairing the neurons that have become damaged as a result of drug use.
BDNF promotes the survival, repair and protection of brain tissue and stimulates neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. The lack of BDNF in some areas of the brain is linked to depression.
Essentially, Ibogaine works in conjunction with two specific areas of the brain that are important in substance abuse disorders, the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental.
The nucleus accumbens is located at an area of the brain known as the basal forebrain. The nucleus accumbens is most popularly known for its role as the “reward circuit” of the brain. When we do anything that is rewarding it activates dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area. These neurons then project to the nucleus accumbens, which leads to an increase in dopamine levels. The nucleus accumbens is a major component in the mesolimbic pathway in the brain. The mesolimbic pathway is a major dopaminergic pathway in the brain and is stimulated during rewarding experiences. The association between rewarding experiences and dopamine levels is a contributing factor to why the nucleus accumbens is linked to addiction. This area of the brain stores rewarding experiences so when a substance provides us with an influx in dopamine we desire more..
The ventral tegmental area of the brain acts as an integrative center for adaptive behavior and it sends out dopaminergic projections throughout the brain. This center of the brain is primarily associated with reward. As a result of its connection with the nucleus accumbens they are believed to be the main areas of the brain that may reinforce drug abuse.
By stimulating GDNF and BDNF in the brain it is essentially uncrossing the wires that have been established during drug use, repairing the damaged neurons and stimulating neurogenesis and synaptogenesis.
Ibogaine may possess the potential to heal Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury as well. By increasing the neurotrophic factors such as GDNF and BDNF it helps neurons survive, repairs previously damaged neurons, and promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Essentially, promoting the survival or even regeneration of motor and dopaminergic neurons lost due to the diseases or injuries mentioned above.
I have personally witnessed the healing potential of ibogaine for addiction and for traumatic brain injury. A family member of mine suffered from opiate addiction and from a traumatic brain injury prior to sitting with this wise plant. Everyone close to this family member noticed the emotional changes in him following the brain injury. These included, short temper, forgetfulness, frustration, fatigue and memory loss. Originally seeking out ibogaine as a cure for his addiction, he was surprised to realize that his brain injury symptoms had ceased to exist as well.
Ibogaine can potentially be used in a microdose in order to stimulate GDNF production as well. Although, this is not recommended to do alone due to the dangerous complications that may occur when not ingested with a professional.
The healing potential of this plant is vast and continues to be studied with new revelations being brought to the surface.
