Psychoactive plants are big news these days as more and more people begin to understand and grasp their potential to help human beings everywhere. Finally, now, in 2022, scientists are starting to openly research and discuss the mental health benefits of these natural substances. As a result, plant medicines are fast becoming much more accepted and mainstream than ever before. This is a wonderful step forward and the future is bright.

One area in which plant medicine has already proven itself to many is in the treatment of addiction. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 20 million Americans aged 12 and over struggle with a substance use disorder of some kind. Sadly, only a small portion of them are able to receive treatment to break free of their addictions.

In recent years, some have turned to plant medicines for drug and alcohol treatment with great success. Ibogaine has become a popular and effective option for people who wish to try psychoactive, natural medicine as a way to overcome an addiction. Now, ayahuasca is also showing great promise in this realm as well.

People who wish to use plant medicine to break free from the grip of substance use disorder now have multiple options to try. But which should you try first? When it comes to ibogaine vs ayahuasca for addiction, many people have questions. Read on to learn more.

Ibogaine and Ayahuasca For Treatment

It makes sense that both ibogaine and ayahuasca are great treatments for addiction. In both cases, these natural medicines give their users deep, introspective, hallucinogenic experiences that cannot be accessed by other types of treatment. Both give patients the opportunity to go deep inside their minds and psyches so they can begin to understand the causes of their addictive behaviors. While many drug treatment methods focus upon therapy or counseling in which thoughts and emotions are shared outwardly, ibogaine and ayahuasca instead allow one to look inwardly in a way patients likely never have before.

The powers of these plant medicines are immense. Experiences with them, especially when combined with professional guidance and support, are changing lives for the better.

What is the Difference Between Ayahuasca and Ibogaine

Is ibogaine the same as ayahuasca? No, not at all, although these two medicines certainly have a lot in common.

First, both of these substances come from plants, but those plants grow on different sides of the world. Ibogaine is sourced from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, a perennial shrub that grows in rainforests in Africa. The ibogaine drug that is used in addiction treatment is created from the roots and bark of this plant. On the other hand, ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage that is instead sourced from the Psychotria viridis shrub, the Banisterioopsis caapi vine, and other ingredients that are native to South America.

Traditionally, iboga is used in rituals and celebrations by the primarily Gabonese-based Bwiti religion. The bark and roots are consumed for spiritual practice. Ayahuasca has been used for similar purposes for at least a thousand years in the Amazon River basin.

However, as mentioned above, both of these plants help people to learn more about themselves, and in turn, help them to overcome deep-rooted problems like addiction through visionary experiences.

It’s quite interesting to note that two cultures on opposite sides of the world who had no contact with one another independently discovered plant medicines with similar properties from entirely different plants. Although this was purely coincidence, it seems to indicate that these types of substances have worldwide applications. It should therefore be of no surprise to anyone that these plant medicines have other uses, such as helping human beings to overcome addictions and other problems in contemporary times.

Ibogaine vs Ayahuasca for Drug Addiction

Both ibogaine and ayahuasca can be effective for combatting substance use disorder, but which is better for you will depend on you, and some people may benefit most from an ibogaine-ayahuasca combination. In all cases, these powerful plant medicines should be consumed under the supervision of a professional. Ibogaine experiences are overseen by a medical doctor, and ayahuasca ceremonies are conducted by a trained ayahuasca shaman.

If you’re someone who would feel most comfortable in a clinical setting, an ibogaine experience is a great place to start your plant medicine journey.  You can also drink ayahuasca in a clinical setting, but many people prefer ayahuasca because it is more often consumed in a natural, outdoor, more neutral space. While ibogaine is administered in a medical environment, ayahuasca often is consumed in a more ceremonial environment.

Further, ibogaine’s psychoactive properties affect patients for a longer period of time; one dose of ibogaine can last twenty-four hours or more, while ayahuasca only lasts a quarter of that amount of time or less if no more is consumed. Some people might prefer the shorter experience offered by ayahuasca, while others may want to dive deeper through the longer experience of ibogaine.

Both ibogaine and ayahuasca treatment can be very effective treatments for addiction. It really just depends on figuring out which is right for you.

Ibogaine Ayahuasca Combination

For some, it may not be one or the other, but rather both. Using ibogaine and ayahuasca together can also be helpful for some. Of course, these two plant medicines would not be used simultaneously but rather in concert with one another. When used together, patients can make great strides in discovering for themselves the reasons that they abuse drugs and can independently but with support create plans to stop using once and for all.

Consider Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, or Both

If you or someone you love struggles with a substance use disorder and it seems there is no end in sight despite trying many things, it may be time to try ibogaine, ayahuasca, or both. When it comes to ayahuasca vs ibogaine for addiction relief, thousands of people have already used these powerful plant medicines to help them overcome drug dependency. These natural substances are changing lives and they may be just the thing that is needed to make a healthy, lifelong change once and for all.

Are you interested in learning more about ibogaine? At Transcend Clinic, we are here to help you get started.  If you or a loved one is suffering from a substance abuse disorder, we can help you take the first steps along a much healthier path. Our ibogaine treatment center is innovative and effective, and our staff is standing by to answer any questions you may have about our staff, our facility, or the process.  Please give us a call today!