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Iboga Blog
Iboga Blog
10th February 2020 • Sticky Post
5 Benefits of Kundalini Yoga For Recovering Addicts
Yoga is a wonderful way to strengthen both the body and the mind, and it can provide skills and tools essential for succeeding in recovery. At Iboga Tree Healing House, we have made Kundalini Yoga an essential plank in our treatment regimen, and we have seen firsthand its power to transform lives and promote spiritual and emotional growth. It is a form of yoga that was first brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan, who believed that modern societies needed to learn to engage with and control their sensory systems. Yogi Bhajan felt that yoga and spirituality were necessary correctives for a society that was turning to drugs to expand consciousness and build spiritual connections. Kundalini yoga has helped millions to embrace a meaningful, healing connection between mind, body, and soul, and we’re committed to spreading its phenomenal healing and strengthening properties to those in recovery. Today we’ll be taking a look at 5 incredible benefits that Kundalini yoga can offer addicts in recovery.
1) Stress Control
Many of the techniques for controlling stress that you’ve been taught throughout your life actually originated with yoga. Controlled breathing, stretching, creating mental imagery, and focused physical movements are all techniques that have been used by yogis for over 5000 years. Multiple studies have found that yoga significantly reduces levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone associated with stress which is released when your “fight or flight” instinct takes over. Over time, elevated cortisol levels increase the risk of many significant health problems, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and dementia. Kundalini yoga can help you learn to regulate stress, and will lead to a sense of relaxation and better sleeping patterns. Because stress is often a powerful trigger for relapse, learning to manage it and lower your overall stress levels will greatly improve your chances of avoiding relapse when life gets tough.
2) Emotion Management
Addiction conditions the addict to respond to difficult emotions with self-medication. Odds are, when dealing with anger, sadness, frustration, disappointment or any other troubling emotion, your conditioned response will be to turn to a substance that will make your feelings go away. If you want to succeed in building a sober and healthy life for yourself, learning how to weather emotional storms and live with unpleasant emotions is a skill you must develop. Scientific studies have shown that yoga practice improves emotional regulation and self-compassion.
Many mental health practitioners liken our emotional states to the weather. They will shift from day to day and month to month. They can affect our interpersonal relationships, professional performance, and overall happiness. And our emotions manifest physically as well as mentally. Feeling your heart race, your stomach contort with butterflies, a blush rise on your cheeks, or your jaw clench are all physical manifestations of your emotional state.
One of the most important things that yoga teaches us is to balance, with both the body and the mind. Through its teachings, we learn to notice the sensations occurring in our bodies, and adjust our muscle actions to maintain a pose. This teaching is consciously and unconsciously applied to our mental state as well, as we learn to listen to our bodies and minds, and when we notice problems (such as tension, frustration, or exhaustion) make adjustments that keep us from toppling over onto the floor or experiencing emotional meltdowns.
3) Strengthening the Will
Many addicts cite a lack of willpower as one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining recovery. The good news is, yoga has been proven to make the “willpower systems” of the brain bigger, more efficient, and better-connected, according to Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist and yoga instructor who authored the book “The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It.” McGonigal states that “Yoga’s combination of slow, focused breathing, moderate physical effort and heart rate, and balanced autonomic nervous system, shifting the brain and body into this 'willpower' state. Yoga teaches you how to embody willpower.” While very few addicts can rely on willpower alone to overcome their struggles, it is inarguable that developing the ability to resist cravings and temptations will dramatically improve your chances of a successful recovery.
4) Reconnecting Body and Mind
If you’ve experienced years of addiction, you’ve likely been neglecting your physical health. Kundalini yoga will have a massive positive impact on your physical health, while also making you aware of the ways in which your physical deterioration has led to negative patterns of thought and a sense of hopelessness. Physical benefits regularly practicing yoga include releasing toxins from the lungs, expanding lung capacity, increasing physical endurance, boosting the immune system, and increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain (allowing for greater mental awareness and focus). When lost in addiction, it’s difficult to imagine waking up in the morning clear-headed, energized, and excited for the challenges of a new day. Yoga can make this your new reality!
Kundalini yoga is also based on connecting the pituitary gland, which regulates glands throughout the body, with the pineal gland, an organ associated with the mind and spirituality. Yogi Bhajan felt that the root of addiction was a pituitary gland which lost connection with the pineal, and began looking for stimulation from sources outside of the individual. He brought the teachings of Kundalini to the West with the aim of repairing that rift and allowing people to reconnect their minds, bodies, and souls.
5) Building Spirituality
While not everyone is looking for spirituality, it can be an immensely powerful force for breaking the cycle of addiction, and a “higher power” has helped millions of people through the recovery process. Kundalini yoga is a wonderful way to develop a connection to spiritual practice in your life, whether it be from a wholehearted embrace of Yogi Bhajan’s teachings, a peaceful time of meditation each day, or even just a greater sense of mindfulness in your day to day life. Gratitude, prayer, and a connection to the universe can be potential benefits of yoga practice, but even for those skeptical of spirituality, taking some time to tune out the outside world and listen to your body and mind is a worthwhile endeavour.
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we feel that Kundalini yoga is a wonderful complement to iboga therapy, giving people the tools to create positive and healthy lives during a period when they’re free from withdrawal symptoms and cravings. One wonderful resource for using yoga to improve body/mind connections is Tommy Rosen’s Recovery 2.0 program. Mr. Rosen has devoted his energy to exploring how yoga, holistic perspectives on health and diet, and elements of 12 Step programs can work in harmony to create a new and more complete recovery program. He has gleaned some fantastic insights into regaining health and happiness, and you can explore Recovery 2.0’s programs here. If you have any questions you’d like to ask us about putting the powerful combination of iboga and yoga to work in battling your addiction, don't hesitate to get in touch!
6th February 2020 • Sticky Post
Addiction Treatment in Israel: Why Addicts Are Looking Abroad
Israel has been developing a serious drug problem over the past few years. Neighborhoods like East Jerusalem and South Tel Aviv have been ravaged by epidemics of heroin use, while regions like Gaza, with constant stress and 45% unemployment, have led residents to turn to drugs in desperation. As increasing numbers of Israelis are diagnosed with PTSD and depression, the estimated 120,000 addicts in the country are likely to swell even further. While politicians and the media are beginning to recognize the severity of the nation’s drug problem, Addiction treatment in Israel lacks the resources to effectively combat substance misuse and addiction.
Israel has drug treatment facilities, but options in the country are limited. Individuals seeking new and alternative methods for ending the nightmare of addiction are forced to look abroad. Choosing a facility in another country has the added benefit of guaranteeing privacy, a valid concern in a nation where conservative thinking stigmatizes substance-dependent individuals. That’s why many people seeking addiction treatment in Israel are beginning to look abroad, where waiting times are reduced to nothing, addicts are treated in positive, non-judgemental settings, and a luxurious experience can be had without financially crippling fees.
Why Portugal has become a popular alternative to addiction treatment in Israel
Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as Canada, France, Switzerland, and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.
Retorno, one of Israel’s leading treatment centers, has been accused by multiple former clients of subjecting them to dehumanizing and sadistic practices. The center’s “tough love” approach includes forcing clients to shovel manure and dress as babies when their behavior was deemed immature. While modern psychologists find these practices to be “ineffective and possibly detrimental”, Israel’s Ministry of Social Services deems isolation (Retorno had a punishment bench where transgressors were forced to sit for hours at a time in the desert sun), enforced silence, and anger therapy (standing in a circle of peers who are instructed to shout at and insult you) to be effective techniques for treating addiction. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, addiction treatment in Israel might not be your best option.
The Many Benefits Of Treatment Abroad
1) Environment
Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment. And traveling abroad can bring a profound sense of relief and relaxation. Portugal is a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. Israeli visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare. All while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!
2) Privacy
While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.
3) Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home
We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and iboga to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in Israel can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals. If you think treatment that uses a psychoactive substance is your best option, we’d strongly recommend doing getting away from Israel, where strong anti-drug laws put you at risk of prosecution and incarceration. In spite of our belief in iboga's remarkable ability to interrupt addiction, we would strongly advocate against using it in regions where draconian laws force its use underground, creating potentially fatal health risks.
4) Easy Intake
When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting six-months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Addiction treatment in Israel is underfunded, one of the main reasons why an estimated 75% of addicts are not receiving treatment. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world!
Iboga Tree Healing House
At Iboga Tree Healing House we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgemental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.
In addition to offering iboga treatment, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive to new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from folks who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
4th February 2020
Iboga Safety: The Facts
Iboga treatment has been growing more popular with each passing year. Its profound beneficial effects on withdrawal symptoms and its remarkable ability to interrupt opioid addiction have changed thousands of lives, pushing addicts to break free from their crippling afflictions and easing them forward on the path to recovery. But like many powerful substances, its use comes with a number of legitimately frightening side effects and risks. While we at Iboga Tree Healing House are fervently committed to iboga safety in the treatment of addiction treat addiction, we are equally passionate about educating the public about the potential dangers that iboga treatment poses, and ensuring that anyone looking to use the substance knows absolutely everything about the healing and harm that iboga can potentially bring.
The Risks
The Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance (GITA) has a comprehensive list of potential side-effects that can arise from iboga use, which includes all of the medical conditions that can be negatively affected by the substance. They’ve confirmed that 19 deaths were associated with ingestion of iboga between 1990 and 2008, all of which were “associated with a number of pre-existing conditions and factors that include pre-existing cardiac conditions, seizures resulting from acute withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines” and the use of iboga alongside other “drugs of abuse.”
If you have a heart condition, impaired kidney or liver function, certain psychological conditions, or if you’re undergoing withdrawal from a variety of substances (such as methadone, benzos, alcohol, and others) you should absolutely avoid using iboga. Some studies have found that extremely high doses of the drug may induce seizures, although in smaller doses it acts as an anti-convulsive. Iboga is a very powerful psychoactive substance that substantially affects the central nervous system. Iboga can heal, but it can also harm.
Necessary Iboga Safety Precautions
All conscientious providers of iboga therapy should exclude those with pre-existing heart conditions from treatment. Of the 19 iboga related deaths documented thus far, six were determined to have come from cardiac arrest, and in five of those cases, the deceased had been diagnosed with a heart condition. The one cardiac arrest death which occurred in a user with a healthy heart was the result of self-administration of iboga along with an unspecified “booster” which he had purchased on the internet.
There is debate on whether patients with HIV and certain psychiatric disorders can use iboga safely. The usual reason offered for the exclusion of these groups is a paucity of research into whether the substance can potentially exacerbate the symptoms of these diseases. Since there is no hard evidence that iboga therapy is harmful to patients with HIV, some treatment facilities continue to offer iboga to those suffering from the virus, but at Iboga Tree Healing House we have decided to err on the side of caution. For a full list of our inclusion and exclusion criteria, follow this link.
Mixing Iboga With Other Substances
Beginning iboga therapy while other drugs of abuse are still in your system is extremely dangerous and must be avoided. Iboga can exponentially increase the effect of opiates, so it’s necessary for safe treatment that you must go through detox before you enter treatment. The intensely reflective state, reduction of cravings, neurological effects, and sense of well-being that iboga can provide have helped many alcoholics to recover from addiction, but withdrawal from alcohol must be completed before iboga can be safely administered. It is recommended that patients suffering from alcoholism complete at least 7 days of medically supervised withdrawal, or they’ll put themselves at risk of a host of side-effects including cardiomyopathy, delirium tremens, and seizures.
It should also be noted one side-effect of iboga is that it reduces substance users to a so-called “novice state.” Therefore, following treatment your tolerance to opioids and other substances will be dramatically lowered. While all addicts enter recovery with the intention to stay sober for the rest of their lives, it’s important that they are mindful of this in the event of a relapse, as vulnerability to severe intoxication or even an overdose will be greatly increased.
Providers and Iboga Safety
Any reputable and responsible iboga provider should be asking you for a great deal of medical information. This article offers a thorough breakdown of what a clinic needs from you to provide for your iboga safety. GITA also offers a comprehensive list of Clinical Guidelines for Iboga-Assisted Detoxification on their website. Iboga Tree Healing House takes every step possible to guarantee the safety of our patients, requiring our clients to take an EKG test, be free from stimulants (including coffee), undertake a comprehensive blood count and metabolic panel, and test liver and kidney function. We also measure levels of serum electrolytes and thyroid function for patients over 45 years old.
The most important piece of advice we can give you is this: if a clinic isn’t asking you for a detailed medical and psychiatric history and providing you with information about their emergency plan, turn around and walk away as fast as you can! This means that they’re more interested in your money than your health and iboga safety, or they are ignorant of and unconcerned with the potentially fatal harm the substance can cause when used irresponsibly.
The Good News
In spite of all of the associated risks, and even accounting for the fact that iboga is frequently used without adequate (and in some cases any) medical screening and supervision, it is still safer than methadone! 19 deaths have been temporally associated with Iboga use, and 14 of them have provided adequate post-mortem data. Of those 14, 12 cases involved either a pre-existing medical condition or the presence of other drugs of abuse in the system of the deceased. The other two occurred in settings without adequate medical supervision.
We will be the first to tell you that iboga is not completely safe, but we feel that each and every death associated with its use has been preventable and avoidable. Because we have seen its immense potential to re-build lives devastated by addiction and mental illness, we have become advocates not only for its benefits but also for providing the public with all the information we can give them about the risks and precautions necessary for using this remarkable plant. Irresponsible use can end lives. It can also keep this promising tool for fighting the opioid epidemic away from thousands of those who could reclaim their lives and health with safely administered and supervised iboga therapy.
5th December 2019
The Opioid Epidemic: Calculating the Costs
The opioid epidemic continues to impose a tremendous human and societal cost on the world. Big pharmaceutical companies have gotten us into a horrendous mess by dishonestly, unethically, and even illegally pushing opioid painkillers on a public that was unaware of the significant risks of dependency and addiction. Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin and an industry leader who reaped immense profits from peddling dangerous drugs, recently settled a lawsuit in Oklahoma for a whopping 270 million dollars. There are still approximately 2000 other lawsuits waiting to go to trial across the United States, alleging that Purdue and other large pharmaceutical companies “engaged in deceptive marketing that downplayed the addiction risk from opioids while overstating their benefits.” Before the financial settlements and jury awards start to roll in, let’s take a long look at the human and financial costs of the opioid crisis.
The Pain Paradox
The opioid epidemic has roots not just in irresponsible marketing campaigns, but in the structures of our health-care systems and societal approaches to dealing with pain. In America, HMOs have largely replaced family physicians, and doctor-patient interactions have shifted from intimate, familial relationships focused on long-term health to a customer service model. Meanwhile, funding for holistic, multi-disciplinary approaches to pain management has dried up in many countries. These trends created the conditions which allowed opioid use to spread like wildfire.
Rather than addressing the root causes of pain and working on long-term solutions, physicians (and dentists, the most common issuers of fast-acting opioids) settled on temporary pain relief via pills. Everyone involved with the health-care system was incentivized to settle for oxycontin instead of pursuing the more expensive, complicated, and slower psychosocial and physical solutions that would enable the afflicted to successfully manage their pain.
The Opioid Epidemic's Terrible Human Toll
According to the American Centers for Disease Control, over 700,000 people died of drug overdoses between 1999 and 2017, with 68% of the deaths (almost 400,000 fatalities) involving an opioids. By 2017 the number of deaths involving opioids was 6 times higher than it had been in 1999, and 130 Americans were being killed by opioid overdoses every day! Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than from a car crash.
Opioid prescriptions were frequently given not just for severe long-term pain, but also for routine procedures which caused a few days of manageable pain, like wisdom teeth removal, bone fractures, and minor surgery. Relying on pills to avoid a few days of discomfort led millions to years of addiction and even death. As evidence mounted that exposure to opioid painkillers heightened the risk of abuse and addiction, the prescriptions continued to pile up.
Nowhere was harder hit by the opioid epidemic than rural communities in America. The state of West Virginia alone was showered with 780 million oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, amounting to “433 pills for every man, woman and child” in the state. One town with a population of 392 and a single pharmacy received 9 million pills in a two year period. Kanawha County, with a population of 190,000 received 66 million oxycodone and hydrocodone pills.
Pharmaceutical companies and legislators were finally forced to address the issue and limit the supply of pills, but that has led to even worse problems. As the legal supply of opioids has dried up, more and more addicts have turned to the black market, which is largely comprised of Fentanyl-based pills. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is manufactured in China, shipped to Mexico where it is processed into counterfeit pills, and distributed around the world. Fentanyl is 30-50 times stronger than heroin and can be lethal in doses of just 2 milligrams. As a US Attorney in Ohio has noted: “One of the truly terrifying things is the pills are pressed and dyed to look like oxycodone. If you are using oxycodone and take fentanyl not knowing it is fentanyl, that is an overdose waiting to happen. Each of those pills is a potential overdose death.”
The Financial Cost of the Opioid Epidemic
A report from Altarum, an American healthcare research and consulting firm, calculated that eliminating opioid addiction and overdoses would create an annual benefit to the US economy of $115 billion. They calculate that the total cost of the opioid epidemic since 2001 has been over $1 trillion and that an additional $500 billion will be added to the sum by 2020. Others calculate the cost to the government alone at approximately $80 billion annually, without even factoring in the cost of healthcare fees, legal expenses, and lost productivity on individuals and families.
These immense sums boggle the mind, but they fail to reckon with the profound impact of the opioid crisis on communities. Trauma, fractured families, decreased property values, loss of community well-being, educational impacts, and a myriad of other social problems whose impact has yet to be gauged are on their way. The opioid crisis has left behind it a wake of devastation, poverty, and heartbreak. But is there anything that can be done to reverse the tide of human misery?
What's Next?
One necessary step for dealing with the current opioid crisis is embracing the principles of harm reduction. The medical establishment has led millions of people toward addiction by profitably over-prescribing pills. Their victims shouldn’t face criminalization and stigma for following a doctor’s advice. The Portuguese model has shown great promise for dealing with addiction by treating addiction as a health issue. It’s time for other countries to follow suit.
Another important tool for dealing with rampant opioid addiction is iboga therapy. The treatment is a proven success in dealing with substances such as Oxycontin and Oxycodone, acting as an addiction disruptor and opioid antagonist. If governments are serious about battling the plague of opioid addiction, the time to begin clinical trials is now!
But perhaps the most necessary step in dealing with this massive crisis is changing our understanding of pain. Pain management is a necessary part of life, and all of us will have to deal with intense physical and mental pain at some point. It’s time for the medical establishment to embrace comprehensive, holistic pain management plans. Pressure, stretching, motion, and touch are all proven to relieve pain. Cold and vibration-based therapies have been clinically proven to limit opioid use and dull perceptions of pain while the body heals. Sleep hygiene, ibuprofen, magnesium supplements and a host of other options have shown to be as or more effective than opioids in dealing with certain varieties of pain. As Dr. Amy Baxter of Pain Care Labs argues, changing the paradigm from a focus on pharmaceuticals to creating comprehensive, individual “pain plans” will destroy the false dichotomy of pills and “complementary” treatments. There isn’t a “Big Yoga Lobby” taking doctors on expensive promotional junkets yet but using some of the windfalls from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies to create one wouldn’t be a bad idea.
29th October 2019 • Sticky Post
10 Simple Steps Toward A More Mindful Life
Being "Mindful" is a concept that most people are vaguely aware of, but few have explored it deeply. Essentially, it is based on Buddhist teachings which assert that people either ruminate on past events or speculate endlessly about the “ungraspable” future, rather than fully inhabiting the present moment. The fact is, the past is finished and the future never comes. We are always living in the present, and we should focus our thoughts and energies on the things happening around us. In Buddhist teaching, those who don’t practice mindfulness are “walking corpses”, never stopping to take a deep breath and be fully conscious of, and present with, themselves. As one Western psychologist defines the term: “Mindfulness is the process of engaging a full, direct, and active awareness of experienced phenomena that is spiritual in aspect and that is maintained from one moment to the next.”
Being "Mindful"
If Buddhist monks spend lifetimes in search of true mindfulness, how can we incorporate it into our hectic modern lives? It’s difficult, but there are a number of daily practices that will enable you to experience the benefits of fully engaging with the present.
Step 1: Take A Deep Breath
From the most traditional Japanese monk to the most empirical Cognitive Behavioural Therapy practitioner, everyone teaching mindfulness will start with a focus on breathing. Pay attention to the way breathing feels, watch your belly rise and fall, and feel your heartbeat. You’ll immediately feel more grounded, and more connected to your body. You don’t need to take deep breaths or change any of your natural patterns. Just being aware of what your body is doing will deepen your ability to connect to the moment.
Step 2: Think Less
Most people tend to let their minds wander, but thinking deeply about the future often leads to heightened anxiety and stress. You don’t need to obsess about what happened yesterday, or what might happen tomorrow. When you notice yourself over-thinking, over-analyzing, or obsessing, focusing on your breathing can bring you back to the present. The ability to simply “be” leads to happiness.
Step 3: Use Your Senses
People tend to forget that they have five senses. To avoid going through life on auto-pilot, consciously focus on the sensory experiences that make life worth living. Appreciate the colours, textures, and smells of your lunch. Take your headphones out and listen to the sounds around you. Pet a cat. We often say that we should stop and smell the roses, but how often do we actually take a few moments to do it?
Step 4: Stop and Think
Take a second to think about how many thoughts you’ve had in your life. There have been so many there’s no way you could put a number on it. Yet we tend to think of whatever thought is consuming us in a given moment as immensely important. A part of mindfulness is recognizing that thoughts are just thoughts. They don’t always need to be believed, expressed, or acted upon. Mindfulness will teach you that thoughts aren’t an essential part of who you are, they’re momentary impulses that can be positive or negative, ignored or taken seriously. There’s a reason why nobody offers a pound, a euro, or a dollar for them!
Step 5: Stay Engaged
Notice when you tend to zone out and start daydreaming. Whether it’s driving, emailing, washing dishes, or even watching TV. Practice bringing more awareness to those activities, and fully engage with the task at hand. If you’re sweeping the floor, pay attention to the sound of the broom, the movements of the dust, the way the dustpan feels in your hand. You might find that if you aren’t rushing through chores and errands with an eye on the future, you’ll begin to take more pleasure from your daily routine. Part of being mindful is making every moment count, and putting your energy into your life as you live it!
Step 6: Take A Minute
You can start small. Set a timer for one minute, and devote that time to a total focus on your breathing. If you become distracted by a pesky thought, try to let go of it and come back to your breathing. Even one minute a day of meditation can dramatically reduce your levels of stress and aggravation.
Step 7) Listen Up
When someone else is talking, we are often focused on our own internal monologues. Do we agree? What will we say next? What’s going on over there? Focusing all of our attention on a friend who is communicating with us is an act of kindness and love, and you’ll be surprised how many people notice, appreciate, and reciprocate with a person who is truly listening to them.
Step 8: Deal With One Thing At A Time
Society has been pressuring us to multi-task for years, and smartphones have made it easier for us to talk, text, email, listen to music, and eat lunch all at the same time. But multi-tasking saps us of energy, increases stress levels, and makes us more prone to careless mistakes in everything we do. Taking the time to deal with tasks one at a time, and focusing all of our attention on what we’re doing allows us to actually be more efficient, and do a better job than we would while rushing through 20 things at once.
Step 9: Examine Your Thoughts
Taking a clear-eyed look at what you’re thinking and why you’re thinking it is an essential part of being mindful. If you start doing this, you’ll notice thought patterns, and you can begin to unravel patterns of negativity. If you can take a step back from your thoughts, you’ll learn to question and control reactive, conditioned thought and behaviour. This is incredibly important for those in recovery!
Step 10: Walk It Out
Walking is a great opportunity to practice being mindful, even on your busiest days. Before you get moving, remind yourself to focus on the act of standing up, and putting one foot in front of the other. Pay attention to your body and your breath. Let your senses fill your mind with the sounds, sights, and smells of your neighborhood. A five-minute walk can be a golden opportunity to connect with yourself and the world around you!
Being More Mindful In Recovery
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we are convinced that practicing mindfulness is incredibly beneficial for those in recovery. Its power to improve mood, promote emotional regulation, and deal with negative thoughts and impulses can change lives! Mindfulness and meditation training are fundamental elements in our holistic treatment package. If you’re interested in a treatment center that promotes spiritual development as well as sobriety, don’t hesitate to get in touch today!
23rd October 2019
Why Brits Are Flocking To Portugal Instead of Accessing UK Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment in Portugal is becoming a popular and appealing option for British citizens looking to overcome issues with substance misuse. The UK has the highest rates of drug misuse and addiction in Europe, but it struggles to keep up with the demand for effective and timely treatment. Individuals seeking treatment from the NHS are generally subject to a long process of referrals and waiting lists. It’s estimated that you’re likely to wait 8 weeks to see a mental health counselor who might not have experience treating addiction. The road to inpatient UK addiction treatment is even longer: if cheaper, less intensive options don’t work for you, you’re likely to wait 6 months to a year before entering a “budget rehab” center that attempts to cheaply treat large numbers of clients. Doesn’t sound ideal, does it? Addiction is a life-threatening issue, and treatment will be far more effective at a time when the addict is open to change. Waiting months to enter a sub-par treatment facility can be a potentially fatal mistake.
If you want to get treatment when you’re ready for it, there are private UK addiction treatment options available. But with 28-day program fees reaching as high as 60,000 pounds per month, the costs can quickly become prohibitive, especially if you’re looking for a comfortable, relaxing, and luxurious environment. Which is why many people seeking treatment are beginning to look to treatment in Portugal, where waiting times are reduced to nothing, and a luxurious experience can be had without financially crippling fees.
Why Portugal?
Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as Canada, France, Switzerland, and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.
What Are The Benefits Of Treatment In Portugal?
1. Environment
Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment. And traveling abroad can bring a profound sense of relief and relaxation. Portugal is a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. British visitors are especially appreciative of the warm, dry climate, and the delicious regional fare. All while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!
2. Privacy
While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you choose to do addiction treatment in Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.
3. Short-sighted UK drug policies
The UK’s “Psychoactive Substances Act”, passed in 2016, was an attempt to deal with legitimate problems, such as the emergence of spice, bath salts, and other harmful substances which were being outlawed on an ad hoc basis after they had emerged as serious health risks. Unfortunately, the legislation had a couple of adverse side effects: pushing the new synthetic drug market underground thereby creating an opportunity for organized crime, and scheduling promising substances such as iboga, kambo, ayahuasca, and psilocybin as illegal narcotics. Prohibition has failed as a remedy to the harms psychoactive substances bring to individuals and societies. It has also blinded us to the benefits that many naturally occurring substances are capable of providing. Portugal is currently far more enlightened in its approach to psychoactive substances and addiction than the UK, another reason why treatment in Portugal is becoming ever more popular.
4. Proximity
The benefits of leveraging family support in the treatment process have been proven. For patients from the UK, treatment in Portugal can offer all the benefits of treatment abroad, along with easy access to family and friends whose support can make all the difference. With flight routes serviced by multiple budget carriers, your loved ones can be by your side in a matter of hours, for as little as 20 pounds. Treatment in Portugal offers the best of both worlds: a sunny and exotic environment that offers all the comforts of home!
5. Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home
We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and ibogaine to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in the UK can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals. In spite of our belief in ibogaine’s remarkable ability to interrupt addiction, we would strongly advocate against using it in regions where draconian laws force its use underground.
6. Value
The UK has many incredible treatment facilities staffed by dedicated and experienced professionals. But with high-end options costing up to £15,000 a week, many of the best treatment centers there are prohibitively expensive. Going abroad can offer you a luxurious and comfortable experience without the financially crippling consequences that can result from treatment at home.
7. Easy Intake
When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting six months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Centers offering addiction treatment in Portugal can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world!
Iboga Tree Healing House
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from the United Kingdom. Our staff is fluent in English, and our program director is a British citizen with International experience. Members of our staff have trained in the UK, and our screening process and safety procedures are a point of pride for us. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgemental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.
In addition to offering iboga treatment, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive to new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from British citizens who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
18th October 2019
Self-Care in Recovery: Why it Matters
If you’ve been living with an addiction, you’ve probably been making a substance your priority, and haven’t paid much attention to your health. As you start your journey towards recovery, one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the opportunity to lead a happy and healthy life through better self-care.
Self-care isn’t just important for the overall health of your body. It also offers you the best chance of building a balanced, joyful life, free from the substances and behaviors that have been holding you back. If you can find ways to satisfy your emotional and physical needs, you’ll quickly become a stronger person who’s better equipped to meet the challenges that everyone in recovery faces. Let’s take a look at 5 key elements of self-care, and why they’re so important to the recovery journey.
1. Rest
This might sound obvious, but taking steps to ensure that you’re well-rested and ready to meet each day can be incredibly important. Studies have shown that individuals in the early stages of addiction recovery suffer from insomnia at 5 times the rate of the general population. Sleep deprivation can lead to impulsivity, low mood, poor emotional regulation, and other factors that can contribute to relapse. Therefore, building healthy sleep habits should be a foundational part of your self-care plan. Avoiding screen time and caffeine before bed, establishing a bedtime routine and schedule, light therapy, practicing meditation, and getting regular exercise are all habits that will contribute to restful nights. Feeling tired, grumpy, and sluggish will inhibit your responses to treatment. Feeling well-rested and energetic every morning will give you the best chance at maintaining your hard-won sobriety!
2. Eating Right and Exercising
Recent studies have shown that learning about proper nutrition during treatment can “significantly improve three-month sobriety success rates.” The acronym HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) is used to educate those in recovery about when they are at the greatest risk of relapse. Hunger can often lead to negative emotions and thoughts. The benefits of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) include stabilizing mood, decreasing stress and anxiety, reducing cravings, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle. Learning how to give your body the fuel it needs is essential for living your best life.
Regular exercise also leads to a host of health benefits which are especially valuable to those in recovery. It reduces stress and improves mood, leads to better sleep patterns, and strengthens the immune system. Studies on people and animals have also shown that exercise can reduce cravings for drugs and alcohol. Getting out and moving around can also have profound positive effects on your life in general, adding structure to your days, boosting self-esteem, and creating a positive self-image.
3. Emotional Healing
Addiction takes addicts away from their true selves and their feelings. A profoundly rewarding part of the recovery process is getting back in touch with the real you. As physical self-care reconnects you with your strength and energy, it’s time to focus on the mental aspects of rebuilding the self. A big first step is getting to know your emotions. Think about the way things make you feel, and how each feeling affects you. Keeping a journal, and making sure you have the amount of “alone time” necessary for reflection are great ways to monitor and explore your emotions. Then look for ways to manage, channel, and communicate these emotions in healthy and productive ways. Learn to build boundaries, so that others won’t be able to profoundly change your sense of well-being. Find a belief system that helps you maintain a positive outlook on life. And build a network of trusted family members and friends who can offer the emotional support you need.
4. Relationships
Aristotle was one of the first thinkers to conclude that humans are social animals, and millennia of study and observation have borne this out. To live a truly happy life, it’s necessary to have meaningful relationships with the people around you. Another key element of self-care is building and maintaining connections with people who encourage, support, and uplift you. They could be relatives, friends, peers or even sponsors. Social self-care also entails avoiding toxic individuals who introduce stress, negativity, and temptation into your life. In recovery, taking advantage of the connections you make can lead to lasting and fulfilling friendships that help you move forward. Volunteering, trying out new hobbies, or joining sports teams can also lead to the kind of positive connections that will fill your life with meaning and joy.
5. Healing the Spirit
Spiritual self-care can mean reconnecting with faith and a religious community, but it isn’t limited to organized expressions of faith. Many people attain spiritual connection and growth by practicing meditation, mindfulness, and yoga. Others find a deeper connection to the world around them through spending time in nature, reading books, or donating time and energy to a worthy cause. Spirituality should be viewed as a sense of oneness and universality which diminishes loneliness and isolation. Finding your own path to spirituality can help you learn to draw the strength (whether its source comes from within or without) you’ll need to beat your addiction.
6. Healthy Daily Practices
Setting up a positive daily routine can help to build firm foundations for a healthy life free from addiction, and it can greatly increase your chances of remaining clean. You can start by making your bed every morning, a task that builds discipline and responsibility, as well as allowing you to start your day with a sense of accomplishment. Practicing mindfulness is also profoundly beneficial, whether it involves going for a walk, sharing your thoughts and emotions with a friend, or doing meditation and yoga. Use mindfulness to cultivate a sense of gratitude and a positive mindset, and to remind yourself why you’re doing the hard work necessary to stay sober. Making lists of tasks you should accomplish, and tracking your progress with a diary or day planner, is also a great way to stay on an even keel. Knowing what needs to be done when can help you avoid being overwhelmed with stress. These are all little things, but taken together they can add up to the difference between relapse and staying the course!
Stay on the Path
As you begin your journey to recovery, it may seem impossible to find a path through all of the obstacles in your way. Self-care is a way to get yourself moving in the right direction, and as you weave these practices into your life, you’ll find that they give you the strength and motivation to keep going. Addiction leads to negative patterns of thought and behavior, which disconnect the addicted from their best selves. Self-care is a way to build your physical and mental capabilities back to the point where life becomes a joy. At Iboga Tree Healing House, we are committed to holistic treatments that offer you the tools you’ll need to recover yourself.
9th October 2019
The 12-Step Model and Smart Recovery: Choosing Your Fellowship
For those dealing with addiction, recovery is a fundamental concept that you must explore, define for yourself, and strive towards for the rest of your life. One incredibly important tool for those attempting to conquer their addictions is peer support. Research has proven that “peer support groups included in addiction treatment show much promise in potentially reducing substance use, improving engagement, reducing HIV/HCV risk behaviors, and improving substance-related outcomes.”
We’re sure you’re familiar with the concept of 12-step groups. Along with other peer-support networks, they allow addicts to share their struggles, triumphs, and hard-won insights into the affliction they’re struggling with. It’s undeniable that the fellowship and community they create have saved countless lives. But alternatives to the 12-step model have been steadily gaining in popularity, and today we’ll take a stab at outlining the differences between SMART Recovery, one of the most proven alternatives, and the traditional 12-step model.
SMART Recovery and The 12 Steps: Divergent Philosophies
The basis for the 12 steps is spiritual, but not tied to any particular religion. As the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic notes, there are four main stages to the steps: admitting powerlessness, opening up to a source of power outside of oneself, taking inventory, and maintaining/strengthening spirituality. The definition of spirituality is interpreted very broadly, and the group’s popular slogan “take what works and leave the rest” can allow newcomers and skeptical members to benefit from the aspects of the program that help them, and ignore the elements that they find unreasonable or forbidding.
SMART Recovery is based on a four-point program: enhance and maintain motivation to abstain, cope with urges, manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and balance momentary and enduring satisfactions. Its basis is built on scientific, rather than spiritual, foundations, utilizing the principles of Dr. Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Dr. Ellis is widely considered one of the originators of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and one of the most influential psychologists in history.
Perhaps the most fundamental difference between the two approaches is where the locus of control is placed. 12-Step programs emphasize the powerlessness of the individual in the face of addiction and call on those in recovery to find strength and motivation from an external, spiritual power. SMART Recovery, on the other hand, emphasizes internal control and encourages the individual to take control of their own thoughts and behaviors by turning negative thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. Also, while the 12-Step model is believed by its adherents to be universally applicable to all addicts, SMART Recovery allows much more flexibility, encouraging participants to create their own approach, one that suits their psychological profile, gender, age, emotional needs and duration and severity of their addiction.
The 12-Step Model and SMART Recovery: Differences in Practice
While AA and NA use the 12 Steps as a guide to one’s progression through the stages of recovery, SMART Recovery identifies six stages of change: pre-contemplation (subconsciously thinking of recovery), contemplation, determination/preparation, action, maintenance, and graduation. Graduation is a major difference between the two programs. SMART Recovery views addiction as a physical behavior, which ends when the addict stops using the substance they’re dependent on. Individuals can progress from “in recovery” to “recovered,” in contrast to the 12 Steps, where participants are encouraged to view themselves as alcoholics or addicts for the rest of their lives. Advocates of SMART Recovery feel that 12 Step programs perpetuate the stigma of addiction with the negative implication that addicts can never break free, while those in AA/NA would counter with stories of addicts who relapse after years or decades of sober living (people who had “too many years and not enough days”).
Another massive difference in practice is the idea of “cross-talk.” 12-step meetings are based on the idea of “sharing.” A participant will address the group with stories, struggles, or advice, but when sharing you aren’t allowed to discuss what another participant shared. In SMART Recovery meetings, cross-talk is allowed and even encouraged. Because many of the meetings are facilitated by professional therapists or counselors (unlike AA/NA meetings which are always facilitated by peers) there is often a qualified professional to keep things focused and productive.
One major advantage of 12-Step programs is the sponsor system. A sponsor is an experienced group member who develops a close relationship with a newcomer and guides them through the steps, embodying the 12th step of recovery: “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” A sponsor should ideally take your phone calls when you need support, give advice on the difficult aspects of recovery, and develop an older sibling type of relationship with you. They can be life-savers as you grapple with the challenges of sober living, and are, in our opinion, one of the most valuable tools available to those in recovery.
A major advantage of SMART Recovery is its willingness to evolve as science improves our understanding of addiction. It’s currently based on 3 current scientific methodologies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. 12-step programs, on the other hand, are based on a text that debuted in 1939 and has remained virtually unchanged since then. One can safely assume that SMART Recovery is, therefore, better equipped to take advantage of neurological, pharmacological, and psychological research that will help us determine best practices for treating addiction, both now and in the future.
The 12-Step Model and Smart Recovery: Making Your Choice
Every brain is different, every addiction is different, and every recovery will be different. At Iboga Tree Healing House we would recommend that those in recovery explore every option that may help them build a healthy, balanced, sober life. We are proud of our weekly online meet-ups for individuals who have recovered with the help of Iboga, but we would recommend that you supplement them with an in-person gathering at least once a week as you move towards healing. See which meeting near you meets your needs, and find the people who can give you the support and friendship that will be a crucial support in your recovery. We bow before the wisdom of the precept “take what works and leave the rest.”
4th October 2019 • Sticky Post
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
When we picture psychotherapy or counseling, we often tend to conjure up a Freudian therapist in our mind’s eye. The patient lying on a leather couch and delving deep into their childhood memories and traumas. The psychiatrist asking in a sonorous baritone, “How did that make you feel?”. But for most patients, particularly those partaking in therapy as part of an addiction recovery program, the reality of addiction treatment is completely different from our preconceived notions. Today we’ll be taking a look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the benefits it can offer to individuals struggling with addiction.
The History Of CBT
CBT has its roots in two intellectual traditions. The first, Stoicism, has been cited as an inspiration by two of the pioneering psychologists whose theories and findings led to the creation of modern CBT (Dr. Albert Ellis and Dr. Aaron Beck). A quote from the ancient Roman philosopher Epictetus sums up a core belief: “men are disturbed not by things, but the view they take of them,” meaning that the way in which we think (cognition) determines the way we react, feel, and behave.
The second intellectual tradition to inspire CBT was Behaviorism, a school popularized by Pavlov and Skinner. The behaviorists would claim that behavior could be learned or unlearned depending on the consequences associated with it and that the best method of intervening with psychological problems was to focus on shaping healthier behavioral patterns.
In the 1960s Drs. Ellis (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy or REBT) and Beck (Cognitive Therapy or CT) developed therapeutic approaches that would gain popularity throughout the coming decades. Both psychologists “emphasized the role of cognitions or beliefs as underlying emotional and behavioral disturbance”, and a movement was born. By the 1990s, elements of each system had been woven together by therapy practitioners under the umbrella of cognitive behavioral therapy.
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
One of the first steps in cognitive behavioral therapy, according to the NHS, is to “help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts.” A cognitive behavioral therapy practitioner will try to guide you through the process of changing negative patterns in both thought and behavior to improve the way you feel. Rather than focusing on painful memories or past traumas, cognitive behavioral therapy aims to deal with your current problems and behaviors on a daily basis.
Most patients who partake in cognitive behavioral therapy will have a treatment session lasting from 30-60 minutes once every week or two. The NHS recommends 5-20 sessions during the course of treatment, depending on the severity of your problems. During treatment, your therapist will work with you to isolate the components of your psychological or physical issue, separating thoughts, physical feelings, and actions. Your therapist will then work with you to determine the interactions between these separate parts of your issue, and try to distinguish between thoughts and behaviors that are realistic and helpful and those that are not.
At this point, you and your therapist will work to begin the process of changing negative or harmful thoughts and behaviors. The aim of the therapist is to provide you with skills that you can use to manage problematic thoughts and behaviors in real-life. After therapy concludes, you should have the ability to manage your issues and stop them from having substantial negative impacts.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Addiction
Addiction in itself is a negative and self-destructive form of behavior. It is self-reinforcing, creates anxiety and depression, and leads the addict to the self-defeating conclusion that they cannot function without the substance that they habitually use. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps those in recovery to break free from these harmful patterns of thought and action. It breaks down the seemingly insurmountable affliction into individual parts and offers skills and strategies for dealing with them in positive ways.
Cognitive behavioral therapyoffers addicts tools for assessing the accuracy and reliability of their thoughts. Practically, this is an excellent way to build your ability to resist cravings. Sometimes, asking yourself if a drink or drug is actually the best way to deal with a trigger or stressful situation is all it takes to avoid using. Similarly, as you develop mental skills for handling triggers, you can become confident in your ability to deal with cravings and bouts of anxiety, rather than attempting to make them go away with substance use. Cognitive behavioral therapy employs “habituation”, the idea that experiencing difficult feelings and situations without compensating (having a drink or using a drug) or fleeing can teach you that your anxieties are manageable and will become less intense over time.
Cognitive behavioral therapy also helps you to explore your emotions. Through it, you can come to terms with the way you’re feeling, and how those feelings impact thoughts and actions. Knowing that you’re scared, angry or sad can help you to recognize that the thoughts currently running through your mind should be handled with care, and not immediately acted upon. A key facet of cognitive behavioral therapy is “emotional regulation,” a concept defined by some practitioners as “ 1) the ability to shift attention away from the things that are likely to kick up intense negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, shame, and anxiety; 2) the ability to inhibit acting on an emotion when desired; and 3) the ability to decrease the intensity of emotions without drugs and alcohol.” This skill is exceptionally helpful for individuals in recovery!
Following detox and withdrawal, we would strongly recommend that you explore Cognitive behavioral therapy as a way to build the skills you need on the journey to recovery. One way to take advantage of what it can offer is to try out SMART Recovery programs, based on the REBT methodology. Along with evidence-backed holistic practices such as mindfulness and meditation, Cognitive behavioral therapy is a way to get in touch with your true self and learn to manage the stresses and trials of sober living. If you’re interested in putting these principles to work, get in touch with Iboga Tree Healing House today!
26th September 2019 • Sticky Post
Iboga Therapy and Why It Works
A burgeoning movement is underway, pushing the benefits that so-called “plant teachers” like iboga, ayahuasca, and psilocybin can offer individuals suffering from ailments ranging from addiction to depression, PTSD, and anxiety into the mainstream. As these remarkable substances have come to the attention of notable thinkers and writers such as Tim Ferriss, Michael Pollan, and Dr. Gabor Mate, it seems like they are about to burst into the popular consciousness and finally be recognized as the powerful medicines they are, escaping the stigma of the “drug” label they’ve borne for decades. As society begins to recognize the immense potential of these plants to induce positive change, let’s take a look at how iboga treatment has helped transform thousands of lives.
Iboga Therapy For Addiction
We’ve written before about exactly how iboga therapy works for those battling addiction. Iboga therapy is particularly effective in treating opiates and opioids because it acts as an opioid antagonist. This means that the substance creates molecules which bind with opioid receptors in the central nervous system, and interact with serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. This causes a pronounced reduction in withdrawal symptoms and disrupts cravings for this family of drugs. It also is believed to return addicts to a “pre-addicted state,” meaning that Iboga can return your tolerance to novice user levels, and offer you a 3-6 month window where you probably won’t have a desire to use or abuse opiates or opioids.
Iboga therapy has also proved beneficial in treating a variety of other addictive behaviors. Studies have shown that iboga can similarly reduce cravings for alcohol and stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. It also offers the benefit of opening the addicted mind to the possibility of a dramatic lifestyle change, and offering renewed connections to one’s community and one’s true self. The aforementioned Dr. Mate recommends substances like ayahuasca and iboga for their unique abilities to help the addicted acknowledge and come to terms with past traumas that have led them into the addicted state. He notes that once we learn to cope with our psychic wounds, “we are free to connect with others without fear and reclaim the community for which addiction served as a substitution.”
While we would urge caution on those promoting iboga therapy as a miracle cure for drug addiction, we have seen first-hand what it can do. Iboga acts as an “addiction interrupter,” which frees the addict from debilitating withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and allows them a window of time to work on transforming their self-destructive thoughts and behaviors into healthy and positive patterns. Iboga isn’t a magic bullet that will destroy your addiction, but it can give you time to begin a sober life, and build the skills, support network, self-discipline, and habits that will enable you to live your best life!
Iboga therapy For Trauma and Other Psychological Disorders
In addition to its utility in fighting addiction, iboga has proven itself to be a valuable tool in treating PTSD and other psychological disorders. According to Dr. C.M. Anderson of the Harvard Medical School, “Iboga works through multiple neurotransmitter systems to create.. (a) state of plasticity similar to states of plasticity existing during fetal development. This critical brain state may facilitate the consolidation of traumatic memories, reversal of abnormal hemispheric functions, and the dissolution of habitual motor patterns associated with addiction.” In other words, the substance creates conditions in the brain which are ideal for working through the psychic pain at the root of many psychological disorders.
An iboga experience often involves a vivid and intense period of re-experiencing one’s past, followed by several hours of introspection and reflection. Many of those who’ve experienced iboga therapy find that confronting and acknowledging past trauma allows them to address the scars which have led to depression, anxiety, and trauma. Large numbers of patients who’ve undergone iboga therpay have noted that facing their demons has let them feel powerful enough to acknowledge and live with their pain, and that this realization has been a profoundly freeing experience. One user credits a visionary experience with leading him to the realization “that every emotion is as valid as any other… it was okay to have negative thoughts. That’s life. For me, trying to resist emotions just amplified them. Once I was in this state, it was beautiful—a feeling of deep contentment.”
Researchers have found that many sufferers of depression describe their affliction as first and foremost “a state of disconnection,” whether from other people, their earlier selves, their senses and feelings, their core beliefs and spiritual values, or nature. Iboga and other oneirogenics and psychedelics have demonstrated the ability to reconnect these patients to the world around them. Many liken their experiences with these remarkable plants to breaking out of a prison in which they’d been trapped.
Changing Lives and Opening Minds
Psychological disorders and addiction can both engender a sense of hopelessness. All of these afflictions create a mental atmosphere in which the idea of recovery or change appears impossible. One of the greatest benefits that iboga therapy offers is a ray of hope. Plant teachers can shake up chronically negative thought patterns, and allow the patient to see themselves in a new light: as an individual with the power to enact dramatic change in their own life. As Dr. Mate writes of Ayahuasca, “The documented unity of mind and body means that… experiential transformation… can powerfully affect the hormonal apparatus, the nervous and immune systems, and all organs such as the brain, the gut, and the heart. Hence the healing potential of the plant, seen through the lens of Western science.”
If you’re interested in experiencing the healing potential of Iboga therapy, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Iboga Tree Healing House today!
