Bwiti, iboga, trance and healing in Gabon
Pierre Didier Nyongo Ndoua, Kaveh Vaghar
Mental Health, Religion & Culture September 14, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2018.1504012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Key points | Argues that trance states induced by iboga can heal, and that the Bwiti religion's core principle is a paradigm change that facilitates this healing. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Bwiti is one out of several religions in Africa and through it, it is believed, that the members can be connected to the world of the ancestors. There is also the ritual of healing in Bwiti. In this ritual, participants are invited to take iboga. They fall into a trance and after this phase, which in principle lasts three days; those who were sick recover the health in many cases. We try to find out in the article, if the change of the state of consciousness like trance can heal. In the end we discover that it is possible. In Bwiti, the change of the paradigm is the most important principle.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Modalities of the psychedelic experience: Microclimates of set and setting in hallucinogen research and culture Transcultural Psychiatry July 12, 2022
- A narrative review of the pharmacological, cultural and psychological literature on ibogaine Journal of Psychedelic Studies 2021
- From chaos to kaleidoscope: Exploring factors in psychedelic self-treatment for mental health conditions. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 29, 2024
- Holding space between notes: Music, silence, and cultural attunement in psychedelic-assisted therapy Psychedelics April 2, 2026
- Ibogaine for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: A case report Journal of Psychedelic Studies January 6, 2026
and 1 more in the library