Iboganautics

Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike, Iboganautics is the podcast committed to discovering everything there is to know about "Tabernanthe iboga," or simply called iboga, a naturally occurring psychedelic plant from Gabon in western Central Africa. While other podcasters and content producers mainly focus on the addiction interruption properties of ibogaine, the main acting alkaloid in iboga, there is so much more to discuss, so much more one could and should know for a richer appreciation of the experience. For this reason, I invite members of the iboga community and other experts on the podcast to speak not just about addiction but about alternative topics pertaining to iboga-the-plant as well as the subjective experiences elicited by iboga. After several transformative personal experiences in addition to my own academic research, I speak with people that have something educational and interesting to say about this substance/experience, directly or indirectly related; for example, from scholars in neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, and botany to experienced staff at retreat centers, artists, lay experts, and so on. While there’s much good information about iboga across multiple media, I believe there’s more to discover by conversing with said experts. For more information, visit https://amhouot.com/iboganautics/

All Episodes

Iboganautics

3.0_Neuro & Plant Science

February 22, 2021 • A.M.

Welcome to . . . Iboganautics: Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike. I’m your host, AM. Season 3, Neuro & Plant Science, is about how iboga-type alkaloids affect the human brain; neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between iboga and other hallucinogens; iboga botany; and ibogaine extraction methods. The main questions guiding this season are: How does iboga affect the brain, Which plant species produce iboga-type alkaloids, and How do scientists extract or “liberate” alkaloids from wood products? The first two episodes focus on neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between iboga and Salvia divinorum, and iboga and ketamine, respectively. Clinical psychologist Dr. Peter H. Addy (ep3.1) speaks about Salvia’s kappa opioid receptor agonist functions and we draw on both of our knowledge to find overlaps between Salvia and iboga. Ketamine clinician Dr. Lowan H. Stewart (ep3.2) and I discuss ketamine and iboga’s dissociative qualities and their shared NMDA receptor antagonist features. Organic chemist Dr. Surajit Sinha (ep3.3) guides us through the non-ibogaine alkaloid landscape, pointing out many other iboga-type alkaloids that get far less attention compared to ibogaine. Organic chemist Dr. Chris Jenks (ep3.4) is (in my opinion) the godfather of iboga extraction for it is he who discovered the extraction and purification process to make total alkaloid (TA) extract, changing the way people can experience iboga. Plant biologist Dr. Felix Krengel (ep3.5) expands upon Jenks’s work and takes extraction and purification of ibogan-type alkaloids to new levels, experimenting with different solvents in addition to focusing on the mostly voacangine-containing Tabernaemontana genus. And plant phenomenologist Dr. Michael Marder (ep3.6) explains what it is like to be a plant from the plant’s perspective and we philosophize about psychedelic plant sentience, intelligence, and agency upon their ingestion by humans. Keep an eye out for additional episodes to be released in Season 3. For more information about me and my work regarding psychedelic technology and philosophy of psychedelics in general, visit my website at https://amhouot.com/

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DISCLAIMER

Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.