WHAT IS IBOGA?
HUNTER MEDICINE
Iboga is a powerful plant medicine traditionally used in the spiritual and healing practices of the Bwiti tradition in Central West Africa. It comes from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub and is known for its ability to reveal deep truths, interrupt destructive patterns, and support lasting transformation.
People are often drawn to iboga during a major transition or crossroads in their life. This medicine is not a shortcut, but a powerful reset. It is not meant to be recreational. It is a process that unfolds slowly and directly, offering insights that reach far beyond the surface.
Iboga is sometimes confused with ibogaine, a single alkaloid extracted from the root and used in clinical settings primarily to treat addiction. But in its whole form, iboga offers something more complete. It works on physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual levels, often guiding people into profound clarity about themselves, their past, and their path forward.
Iboga is a perennial rainforest shrub native to Gabon and Cameroon. Its root bark contains naturally occurring psychoactive compounds, including ibogaine, which Western medicine has begun to recognize for its therapeutic effects on addiction and depression. But long before it caught the attention of researchers, iboga was, and still is, held as sacred by the Bwiti people, who work with it for healing, initiation, and spiritual remembrance.
Working with this sacred plant is about entering a deep relationship with yourself, the root and your story. For those who feel called, it can be one of the most meaningful experiences of their life.
THE BWITI TRADITION
The Bwiti tradition is a spiritual and initiatory path practiced primarily in Gabon. Rooted in ancestral knowledge and oral transmission, Bwiti is not a religion in the Western sense, but a living cosmology. It is a way of life centered around healing, direct experience, and communion with the spirit world. At the heart of this tradition is iboga, understood not only as a plant medicine but as a teacher, a guide, and a mirror of truth.
Iboga is used within various branches of Bwiti, each with distinct lineages and ceremonial forms. Some are focused on rites of passage and ancestral connection. Others blend traditional spiritual frameworks with Christian elements. Across all forms, iboga is held with deep reverence, and its use is guided by trained elders who have devoted their lives to this path.
ETÉREO does not represent the Bwiti tradition, we work in relationship with it.
Our founder, Paije Alexandra West, was formally initiated into the Missoko branch by the Maboundi women in Gabon. She also completed her Nyembe rites of passage during her time there. Her initiation was not symbolic. It marked the beginning of an ongoing relationship with Bwiti that continues to inform how we hold space, how we honor the root, and how we remain accountable to the cultures and people from which this medicine comes.
Our work is not a replication of traditional Bwiti ceremony. It is a modern ceremonial space shaped by training, reverence, and integrity. We recognize that to carry iboga forward without honoring its origin would strip it of something essential.
Lineage, relationship, and reciprocity are not optional. They are part of the medicine.
IBOGA &
IBOGAINE
Iboga is a powerful plant medicine traditionally used in the spiritual and healing practices of the Bwiti tradition in Central West Africa. It comes from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub and is known for its ability to reveal deep truths, interrupt destructive patterns, and support lasting transformation.
At ETÉREO, we work primarily with whole-root iboga, as it is held in traditional use— complete, sacred, and unaltered. In some cases, we may also work with a total alkaloid extract, made in-house with great intention. This form contains the full spectrum of natural alkaloids, preserving the depth and spirit of the root. It is given to those navigating substance use patterns, or for those who may need it for a variety of reasons. We never outsource the extracted medicine. Every step of its preparation is held within our intentional care.
While iboga is often confused with ibogaine, the two are not the same. Ibogaine is a single, isolated alkaloid extracted from the plant and most often used in clinical settings for addiction detox. Though powerful, it is only one part of a much more complex and intelligent whole. The experience of working with iboga or total alkaloid in ceremony is significantly different…slower, deeper, and more integrated across body, mind, and spirit.
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What it is:
The raw, unprocessed root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub. This is the traditional form used in Bwiti ceremonies and at ETÉREO.
Key Characteristics:
Contains the full spectrum of naturally occurring alkaloids
Spiritually and energetically intact
Slow-acting and long-lasting
Works on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels
Typically ingested in ceremonial context, over many hours
Used For:
Deep healing, spiritual initiation, trauma resolution, and life redirection
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What it is:
A carefully prepared extract of the full alkaloid profile from iboga root bark. At ETÉREO, our total alkaloid is made in-house with care and intention. It is never outsourced.
Key Characteristics:
Contains most major alkaloids from iboga, including ibogaine
Preserves the spiritual essence of the plant
Slightly more concentrated and easier to metabolize for some individuals
Administered in ceremony as a complementary or primary form for select guests
Used For:
ETÉREO guests navigating substance use patterns or for those who may need a different physiological entry point. Always used in intentional, case-by-case circumstances.
In ibogaine clinics, TA is often used in addition to ibogaine to support a more spiritual experience. -
What it is:
A single active compound extracted from iboga or Voacanga africana, often synthesized or refined in lab settings. Most commonly used in clinical detox protocols.
Key Characteristics:
Fast-acting and highly psychoactive
Typically administered in medical environments
Focused on neurological reset and interruption of addictive behaviors
Lacks the full alkaloid spectrum of whole-root iboga or TA
Used For:
Acute detox from opioids, alcohol, or stimulants. While effective for some, the experience is often more clinical than spiritual.
WHY PEOPLE WORK WITH IBOGA
People are often called to iboga during a time of inner rupture or quiet reckoning. It tends to arrive when something essential is ready to be seen, released, or remembered. Some come carrying a history of addiction or trauma. Others arrive seeking meaning, clarity, or a return to themselves. Some don’t know why they are called at all. They just feel it.
Iboga has a way of meeting people exactly where they are, without rushing them or rescuing them. It reveals what’s been buried. It slows down the noise. It brings the truth forward — not always gently, but always with purpose.
You may be called to this work if:
You are ready to confront patterns that no longer serve you
You are navigating addiction, depression, or inner fragmentation
You sense that your healing is spiritual as much as it is physical
You are seeking transformation, not escape
You feel the presence of something deeper guiding you here
FEELING THE CALL?
If something in you is stirring — even if you can’t explain why — we invite you to listen closely.
Working with iboga is not a quick fix. It is a commitment, a ceremony, and often, a turning point. Whether you are seeking deep healing, spiritual remembrance, or simply following an inner knowing, we welcome you to explore what’s possible.