Tabernanthe iboga is a leafy evergreen that grows to a height of 4-8 feet (1-3 m) in the undergrowth of the tropical forests of West Central Africa. It has large leaves (about 6 inches long) and clusters of white flowers. T. iboga contains the powerful psychoactive alkaloid ibogaine, which is found in the leaves and roots, and is especially dense in the root core. The plant has been used since at least the nineteenth century, and possibly earlier, in religious ceremonies. Iboga has received attention since the 1960s in Europe, North America, and Mexico as an anti-addiction therapy.

Dose # Traditionally in Africa, parts of the root of the still-living iboga plant have been harvested and ground into a powder, which is usually eaten, or made into a tea (uncommon). In Bwiti religious ceremonies, varying amounts of root powder may be ingested over the course of several days, ranging from a teaspoon to (in extreme cases) upwards of several pounds over the entire period (dangerous - fatalities have been reported). Note: Care must be taken in distinguishing iboga power, which may be around 1% psychoactive alkaloids, from pure ibogaine.

Price # Iboga is illegal in the US and is not commonly available on the black market. It is sometimes available from ethnobotanical vendors in countries where it is legal.

Law # Tabernanthe iboga and ibogaine are both Schedule I controlled substances in the United States, making them illegal to buy, sell, or possess. Ibogaine is illegal in France. It appears to be legal or unregulated in Canada, Mexico, and some European countries.

Chemistry # The principle active chemical in Iboga is ibogaine, or 12-methoxyibogamine (C 20 H 26 N 2 O), an indole alkaloid. Iboga contains other active alkaloids including ibogamine, coronaridine, and tabernanthine.

Pharmacology # Ibogaine is slowly metabolized by the liver into noribogaine and other metabolites, some of which may be psychoactive. Ibogaine acts on numerous receptor systems, including the dopaminergic, serotonergic, nicotinic, GABA, and muscarinic systems. Some studies have produced limited evidence that ibogaine may pharmacologically interrupt the mechanisms of opiate dependence. Iboga also contains other psychoactive alkaloids which have received little, if any, study.

Production # Iboga is sometimes cultivated in West Africa for religious use.

History # The first-known documentation of iboga use was in 1864 in Gabon. The Gabonese Fang people say that Iboga use was originally discovered by the Pygmies. In the late 19th Century the Bwiti church was founded, using iboga in initiation rites. Bwiti was driven underground by French colonial forces from the 1930s until the late 1950s. Now upwards of 20% of the Gabonese population is Bwitist.