ADDICTION WEEK COLD TURKEY

[stavros]

  :-\Dear friends,
   Hope this mail finds you well , I managed to watch the first couple of programmes wich i thought were very imformative , however i missed the last one , how did everyone geton at the end o f the show , I know that coming off can be anightmare, but i found that far from encoureging anyone to come off it scared the hell out of me , i saw a prog along while ago were a chapwent through athree day detox in a small flat , the way it was done was with adrug from the bark of an AFRICAN tree ,the refied drug i think was called EBOGAINE  something like that anyhoo cost the geezer a few hundred squid to have this cleansing ceremony performed by a very well readpractitioner of the art , the results were staggering the former heroin addict was clean within about 4 days obviously the battle had just begun but he was at least off to a clean start , wonder how he is doing.   has anyone heard of this treatment ??
   anyway bye for now
   stay well
    STAVROS

[simon]

This may help, but no idea regarding if it works.
http://www.ibogaine.co.uk/

[Rokki]

It's Ibogaine and it comes from the Iboga plant. It's illegal here in the USA,but there are many underground folks involved with this tx. I have heard good things about it and to find out the real deal on check out The Dora Weiner Foundation website. I don't have the url in front of me,but Howard Lotsof,the Man who has a patent on Ibogane, here and started it all back in 68 

  Good stuff I have heard..I wouldn't do it and only cuz I am a pain patient now and my brain wouldn't handle it,nor would my body..

Take Care

Rokki

[richard]

I too remember the programme, although I'm not sure how the guy got on.

Although my knowledge of Ibogaine is limited, I had a friend who took it in Amsterdam about 5 years ago, and although he said the detox was pretty hairy (lots of hullucinations) he has been off heroin since, and says he rarely has any cravings.

I understand it is a natural alkaloid substance from the West African shrub Iboga, and has been used for hundreds of years for its medicinal and spiritual properties.

I believe Howard Lotsoff initially took it purely as a trip, but discovered that it took away all cravings for heroin.  He recommended it to a number of his friends who also managed to come off heroin.

At the moment there is limited hard evidence around, but there is certainly enough anecdotal evidence to support further clinical trials.  I'm a firm believer in horses for courses

Need to go out now but will post more later

Rich

[Alan J]

Dear rOKKI,

Welcome to this side of the big pond, love 'n' respect as always. Any chance you could give a post explaining NAMA, the work NAMA does and your own  not small, role in our Grandmother and inspiration};-)

It is great to see you posting again and I hope you can find the time to explore and advise on issues we share of mutual concern, as well as letting my peers know about the history and work of NAMA in the USA?

Best, Alan J.?

[daveywales]

Yes I saw the programme aswell. The effects the chemical Iborgine has on the body is it lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It is a very trippy, spiritual experience and you need someone with you 24/7. I remember the guy was Scottish and as a symbol of shredding his methadone addiction he painted himself green! He also had to pay a few hundred quid up front a sign a form saying if he was sick there was no refund. The guy had got himself down to 5ml but could not cross the final bridge-a common tale. He left the flat 3-4 days later and said he felt O.K. Lets hope he stayed O.K
                                                                                                            David

[Rokki]

Sure,Alan..I can do that..I'll start a new thread and go to town with it 

Thanks for the super welcome

Rokki 

[djplzhelpme123]

 :)HEY STAVROS I WAS FASINATED BY BOTH PROGRAMS
ON THE ADDICTION WEEK I MISSED THE FIRST 1 BUT COUGHT THE REST THE 2 HEROINE USERS WENT HOME FEELING FINE BUT MICHELE I THINK HER NAME WAS THE METHADONE USER WAS STILL GOING THROUGH HELL AS THE METH TAKES LONGER TO GET OUT THE SYSTEM THIS I HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH.
HER BODY WAS HAVING A HEC OF A TIME FIGHTING THE BENZO'S IN HER SYSTEM THEY WERE PUTTING HER TO A CLINIC IF YOU FIND OUT ANY MORE LET ME KNOW PLZ.

[Alan J]

Dear All,

Currently the science and evidence base that would support the provision of Ibogeine on the NHS or by private Doctors is far from adequate. It remains unlicensed as a medication in the UK. Anyone providing Ibogeine as a 'treatment' for opioid or other dependence/ medical problems, would be at risk of charges
should anything untorward occur to any person under their 'care'.

Ibogeine is the powdered root of the Iboga plant, ritually used by a number of west african tribes as part of initiation ceremonies and or rites of passage that take the initiant into the world of the ancestors. Descriptions parralell those from other cultures which have shamanic roots and rites of passage that involve communion with the dead.

Such voyages are not without risk, risks well understood by the culture and local indigenous peoples who partake of this as an essential living part of their cultural heritage and collective memory/experience.(mneme)

To be initiated is no easy challenge, it is to journey to the realm of the dead, one literally risks have body and soul eaten en-route to the ancestoral world.
Ibobgeine is an extremely powerful indole hallucinogen as well as being toxic in sufficient doses; a number of initiates will die during the rite of passage which is the price and risk one takes for the insights into self, being, community and time, in short the knowledge imparted by tribal ancestors. The use of Iboga in such cultures is effectively managed by 'totem and taboo' as opposed to 'law'and is used ritualisticaly as opposed to 'recreationally'.

The use of Ibogaine root (powdered) to 'treat' addiction , from Alcohol to heroin, from cocaine to crack, has a some powerful advocates as well as some fringe loony's who believe it will cure all of the worlds ill's. The most sensible, pragmatic and effective advocate for Ibogeine being Howard Lotsoff who is also a director of NAMA and whose claims regarding the efficacy of Iboga are far more moderate and credible than those of the 'fringe' elements.

My personal view from reading accounts of those who have undergone Ibogaine 'treatment' with the supervision and support of an experienced and accredited member of the 'ibogeine railroad' is that it appears to have a similiar impact to MDMA, LSD and other powerful psychoative drugs that have been experimented with in the past as treatment's for addiction and deep rooted psychological problems.

Reports from those treated with any of the above have remarkable similarities. They seem to have greatest impact on individuals who have deep rooted
underlying problems of a 'psyhological' nature. A kind of short intense form of self / Iboga mediated psycho -analysis seems to take place and is felt to be of benefit to those who, I speculate, are self medicating to manage problems that once would have been treated by hours on the Fruedian couch.

Other reports  recieved seem to indicate that some users come off for a period of months, sometimes a year before relapse, or they choose to take another dose. A number appear to gain no benefit at all in terms of deep rooted dependence, a few seem to report long term changes that result in cessation of their problem drug use.

That said, it is a very heavy 'trip', both psychologically physically demanding and is not without risk.

Any person considering this option should investigate the literature, pro and against, and seek to be as informed as possible before making any decision about trying it.

http://www.ibogaine.co.uk/

http://www.doraweiner.org/

http://www.ibogaine.org/

It is reported to be a very demanding experience and is perhaps not suited to those with health problems. The Alliance, at present, is not able to recomend it due to the abscense of a sufficient evidence base. It has no UK license as a medication.

If a person is determined to explore this then it is essential to check out the reputation and experience of any potential helper.

Please tread with great caution, never attempt this without an experienced helper with medical experience and if in doubt do not even consider it. Once ingested the initiate will be on a one way journey with no stops en-route. LSD , this is not. It is not a recreational drug; if considering this I would think again, then again and again, before making any decision.

For myself, it is a strict no go. I doubt if my body could handle it let alone my mind.
That said, I have no feelings of guilt about my opioid dependence, it is just part of who and what I am.

Above all seek out as much credible evidence, pro and con as possible and think very carefully about going down this path.

Howard Lotsoff is a credible source of information and takes a measured view of Ibogeines possible benefits and drawbacks.

All of the above taken into consideration, I do believe that Iboga, MDMA and other empathogens, indole hallucinogens, do merit far more research and scrutiny than has been permitted until now and may well prove, given time, to have specific medical benefits for certain patients suffering particular conditions. That is research I would support and certainly feel is required. But as for me serving as a crash test dummy, thanks but no thanks, I have already subjected myself to enough experimentation in the past and feel I am only now realising the full consequances of my own choices and actions.

Take care out there.

Alan J.

[Rokki]

Thanks Alan for putting up those websites 

   Actually Howard did take it to kick his heroin habit back in the mid-60's and it turned out to be a passion for him to have it
avalable to others so they may benifit from it as well. Usually the people who do the sessions with you are very well trained with the
Iboga plant and the powder and what to expect. Nothing is fool proof as we never know if we are allergic to something til we take it 
However I do support Ibogaine and what it stands for,as does all of NAMA.

    You Rock,Alan 

Love and Respect

Rokki