Treating War Trauma with Ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT
María José Polanco, Mark D. Black
June 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1163/9789004729759_022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Ibogaine 5-MEO-DMT |
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT DMT Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Pharmacology |
| Key points | Argues that the most important factors in treating trauma with ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT involve ensuring medical safety, staffing therapists with personal experience with these medicines, psycho-educational preparation, and a structured integration phase. |
Abstract
This chapter details the therapy protocols involving ibogaine utilized at The Mission Within (https://missionwithin.org) in Baja California, Mexico, as described by its founder and research director, Dr. Martin Polanco, along with psychedelic preparation/integration counselor and therapeutic facilitator, Dr. Mia Black. The chapter describes: Their personal development as ibogaine therapists and the general capacities, characteristics and qualities necessary for a successful ibogaine therapist. The special health assessments for applying ibogaine, especially with populations that abuse illicit drugs. The activities of the preparatory period in the weeks preceding the ibogaine session. The post-session activities which are a significant part of integration necessary for effective therapy with ibogaine by helping to ensure that the immediate treatment gains become integrated into clients’ lives and have long-lasting effects. The pharmacological and psychological mechanisms of ibogaine and 5-MEO- DMT are reviewed and placed in the context of the alteration of self-experience and integration of new forms of self-awareness. Our experience leads us to conclude that the most important factors in treating trauma with ibogaine and 5-MEO-DMT involve ensuring medical safety of participants, staffing therapeutic practitioners with personal experience journeying with these particular psychedelic medicines, psycho-educationally preparing clients for the experience along with exploring personal issues and goals of treatment, and providing a structured integration phase that concretizes positive changes across the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of self.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biosynthesis of an Anti-Addiction Agent from the Iboga Plant. | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Bioinspired Collective Syntheses of Iboga-Type Indole Alkaloids. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Fatalities after taking ibogaine in addiction treatment could be related to sudden cardiac death caused by autonomic dysfunction. Humans | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Iboga Alkaloids. II.1 the Structures of Ibogaine, Ibogamine and Tabernanthine | 1957 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ibogaine analogues. Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of 7-heteroaryl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes. | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |