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Our Iboga Retreat at Root Healing Centers
Root Healing Iboga Retreats are 6-8 day long retreats that are rooted in the Bwiti tradition. If you’re new to Iboga’s rich history, Bwiti (Bwété) is a spiritual tradition that has worked with Iboga as their sacrament for thousands of years, starting in southern Gabon. There are several branches of Bwiti and the one we practice is called Missoko.
We currently offer Iboga retreats primarily in the USA and Thailand.
Root Wellness Center
Our retreat and aftercare center in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Traditional Iboga Retreats
All of our retreats are led by our highly trained , experienced, and Bwiti empowered Iboga Facilitators.
Each retreat is steeped in the Missoko Bwiti tradition, ensuring a holistic and potent experience for our guests. In addition to our Bwiti team, our medical, science, and hospitality experts accompany all retreats to help offer a safe and comfortable environment.
They include 2 Iboga ceremonies, integration day trips, massage, medical screening, orientation, spiritual showers, counseling, healthy food, accommodations, airport transfer, fireside teachings, and integration calls.
What is Iboga?
Iboga, the “Godfather of all plant medicines,” is a sacrament used by the Bwiti for profound physical and spiritual healing, and spiritual discovery.
The most recognized alkaloid within the root of the Iboga plant (Tabernanthe iboga) is ibogaine. Ibogaine gained notoriety for its remarkable anti-addictive properties, especially for opiate addiction, and is now used globally and is very well-known.
Beyond ibogaine, Iboga contains numerous other alkaloids, some with even more beneficial effects. These alkaloids work harmoniously to facilitate the potent spiritual, mental, and physical healing that the Bwiti have long revered. Most important though, is the spirit of Iboga, which has an ancient wisdom that roots down deep into the earth – the foundation of nature itself.
How do I know if Iboga is right for me?
You must make this very personal and important decision for yourself, but we are here to help.
To ensure a safe Iboga experience, guests will go through our intake process to determine if there are any discriminating health factors or medications. Once the process is complete, the experience is very safe.
Besides that, the main requirement for a successful Iboga experience is the willingness to heal by accepting the truth and letting go. This is the main marker for when someone is ready; if they are, they will experience powerful healing.
In the Bwiti tradition, Iboga is for everyone and is used in “initiations” or coming-of-age ceremonies that connect boys and girls to the tradition and the community. The initiations help to root these into themselves, ensuring a healthy adult life. They will also have ceremonies again when people have deviated from a healthy path and need to course-correct their lives or heal somehow.
As is true to our tradition, we believe that all people can benefit from an Iboga ceremony. Typically, we work with people who are seeking deep healing, need to heal from depression, anxiety, ptsd, trauma, addictions, self-hatred, anger, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, auto-immune diseases, and more.
Iboga Retreats & The Bwiti
Bwiti and the Iboga plant’s symbiotic relationship goes back thousands of years to when the Iboga plant was first discovered. Iboga became a sacrament of the Bwiti, with nearly every aspect of their tradition and their ceremonies given to them by the spirit of Iboga itself. Iboga is such an important part of their lives, that it is used as the initiation into the tradition and is consumed regularly at ceremonies.
At Root Healing Iboga Retreats, you can always expect a unique healing experience guided by the core Bwiti principles. We believe in maintaining Bwiti tradition and practices throughout all of our work, as they ensure a safe and powerful Iboga retreat ceremony.
What is Iboga used for outside of the Bwiti tradition?
Recent scientific research has revealed a lot about the healing benefits of Iboga and Ibogaine, the primary active alkaloid found in Iboga root. Studies have shown that Ibogaine treatment can help with:
Ibogaine is also known to promote neuroplasticity in the brain (or reorganization of synaptic pathways) and to have antimicrobial and anti-viral properties, including against HIV. For more information on Iboga’s benefits, check out our Scientific Resources page.
Studies focusing on the potential of Iboga treatments are exciting, but the Bwiti have known about Iboga’s deep healing properties for a very long time, plus they’ve gained wisdom regarding how to enhance the plant’s benefits through powerful ceremonial practices and rituals. These practices have been passed down to us through our Missoko Bwiti lineage.
What to Expect: Iboga Retreat Overview
Zero Distractions
Joining an Iboga retreat is a chance to connect deeply to yourself and to heal holistically, meaning physically, mentally, and spiritually. With this in mind, our retreats are designed to remove distractions, create a safe container, and to empower you to work towards your goals.
Safety and Preparation
During your intake process, we will help you safely prepare for the retreat. From the moment you arrive, you will not have to worry about anything outside of your own healing and connection with Iboga.
Counseling and Support
You’ll partake in two Iboga ceremonies during your 6-8 day retreats. You’ll also be provided with counseling and support, as retreats are structured to ensure you receive the most that you can out of your journey. We find that two ceremonies are crucial in gaining the most benefits from Iboga, as this allows for physical and mental detox, as well as deeper spiritual healing.
More about the Iboga Retreat
Aside from using “the medicine,” guests will be immersed in the Bwiti tradition. With our fireside talks and counseling throughout, guests will be empowered with the tools to continue to be their own healers and to live a happy life long after they go home.
Iboga treatment is unique to each person, so everyone’s experience varies, which is why we offer individual preparation beforehand, as well as counseling and guidance throughout our guests’ stay. All Root Healing guests will have preparation calls and as many integration calls as they need following the retreat. Guests will also be included in our community group where we continue to support each other and can ask and answer any questions that come up.
By the end of the retreat, guest usually leave feeling happy and excited to continue on with their lives how they want to, with this newfound self-love leading the way. However, this can be lost without the proper integration that we offer as a core part of our program.
How long does it last?
We can break down the phases of each Iboga ceremony into four parts.
Tradition
The first phase is the fire talk ceremony, where we will talk about where Iboga comes from and the Bwiti tradition. The healing already starts here. The Iboga spirit has given everything to the Bwiti tradition, which is why this is the most effective container to hold the ceremony and retreat in. People will also begin taking medicine at the fire and feeling the initial effects in this phase before lying down.
Preparation and counseling
The next phase of the experience will be lying down in the candle-lit ceremony room. We will be playing Bwiti music which also comes from Iboga and helps amplify and keep you anchored in the experience. Which is why this is the most effective container to hold the ceremony and retreat in. People will also begin taking medicine at the fire and feeling the initial effects in this phase before lying down.
Integration Support
The experience’s third phase is when you return to your room at sunrise. We call this processing day because you will be processing much of what came up in the ceremony and new things too. The processing days are probably the most important parts of the experience and bring about profound epiphanies and realizations about your life.
Educational Resources
The fourth phase is integrating the experience into the real world. We will do this on a micro-level during the retreat in our integration day trips, where we will go out to the beach, Sintra town, and nearby trails to connect and talk. Of course, this will also be a considerable part of the post-retreat experience. We have a very extensive integration program to ensure your success.
Safety
What does Iboga or Ibogaine do to your brain, and is it safe?
Iboga has a complex effect on the brain by affecting the activity of several neurotransmitters. It also has some physical effects, like slowing heart rate and ataxia. However, when properly screened and taken with the right team, it is very safe. It can actually heal the brain by restoring balance and potentiating neuroplasticity.
Iboga is a powerful sacramental plant that has been used by the Bwiti for thousands of years. Therefore, they know how to work with this powerful plant medicine in a safe way. This knowledge has been passed down from our Shaman to our entire team.
To ensure safety, we follow their traditional, time-honored rituals for using Iboga. Our guests are also supported by a medical and hospitality team to ensure a safe experience.
Root Healing has a full medical team on staff who are experts on the safe use of Iboga. All retreats require a Health Questionnaire, EKG, and Liver Function Test which will be reviewed by our team. Furthermore, our Detoxes are done with a Doctor, Nurse, and Detox Specialist on-site.
Why Our Retreats Use Whole-Plant Iboga, Not Isolated Ibogaine
While "ibogaine retreat" is a common search term, it's crucial to understand the profound differences between treatments using the isolated ibogaine alkaloid versus the traditional use of the whole Iboga plant. At Root Healing, our Bwiti-led approach is intentionally centered on the whole plant for critical reasons of safety, efficacy, and spiritual completeness.
A More Effective Way for Healing
Ibogaine is just one of at least 12 active alkaloids in the Iboga root bark. Scientific research, while limited, suggests other alkaloids like tabernanthine and ibogamine have powerful anti-addictive and therapeutic properties of their own. In fact, some studies have found ibogamine to be even more potent than ibogaine for certain conditions. The alkaloids in the whole plant work in synergy, creating a natural, time-tested recipe that is far more potent and balanced than any single, isolated compound. Choosing only ibogaine is like trying to bake a complex cake with only flour, ignoring the other ingredients that make it whole.
A Deeper Look at Safety
Safety is our paramount concern. High doses of isolated ibogaine are associated with potential cardiac risks because its primary metabolite, Noribogaine, can affect the heart's electrical system. Using whole Iboga Root Bark or a Total Alkaloid (TA) extract allows us to achieve profound healing with a lower, safer concentration of ibogaine. The presence of other synergistic alkaloids enhances the therapeutic effect, reducing the need for high-risk dosage levels. This, combined with our rigorous medical screening (including EKG and liver function tests) and incremental dosing protocol, makes our traditional Iboga retreats a significantly safer container for healing.
The Irreplaceable Spirit of the Medicine
Beyond the physical science, there is a core element that cannot be synthesized or extracted: the spirit of Iboga. In the Bwiti tradition, this intelligent spirit is the true agent of healing. The industrial process of extracting ibogaine removes the medicine from its spiritual context, leaving behind a powerful but incomplete tool. Our retreats preserve this sacred element, ensuring you connect not just with a molecule, but with the ancient wisdom of the plant itself.
By choosing a traditional Iboga retreat, you are receiving the complete, time-tested healing intelligence of the entire plant, guided in a medically-supervised and spiritually authentic setting.
Aftercare
While the retreat experience is incredible and transformative, the “work” required by guests after leaving a retreat is just as important. Iboga stays with you up to 6 months after you experience it. During that time you have the opportunity to rewire your brain and to take control of your life and story.
For this reason, we care a lot about integration, in which you weave your experiences from Iboga treatment into your life. All participants receive integration coaching calls following their retreat, as well as “homework” to assist in furthering their relationship with the medicine and their progress related to the goals they came with.
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What are the Effects of Iboga?
The effects of Iboga are unique in classification and experience. It is often considered a psychedelic because of its psychoactive effects. However, the effects are entirely different. There usually aren’t ineffable cryptic visions or disorientation, but rather a fully conscious awareness; which often is the most conscious moment in a person’s life up to that point. More accurately, Iboga has been called an oneirogenic psychedelic because it is a very clear, lucid, and dream-like experience.
In addition, while Iboga is known as the “Godfather” of all plant medicines, it is both a masculine and a feminine spirit, manifesting in whatever way is needed to facilitate each person’s individual healing.
The way Iboga expresses this is by revealing the truth to us about our relationship with ourselves.
The spirit of Iboga’s primary goal is to bring you back to your most genuine true self. To do that, Iboga must first remove anything it can in our bodies that doesn’t belong there and also bring our physical systems back into balance. Then it will also begin working on our minds by clearing out all the junk and patterns we have picked up throughout our lives. Like cleaning a computer, it quickly gets to work sifting through the old files and programming. At some point, a person will have the opportunity to connect to their soul, get the truth about essential questions, and connect with their ancestors.
8-day Retreat Schedule
Upon arrival, guests will be brought to the center by one of our drivers. The entire first day/evening is free to allow guests to settle in.
Then, the group partakes in an evening opening orientation ceremony to begin the retreat. The following day, guests will work with our team to prepare their intentions and questions for the first Iboga ceremony that will be held that night. This helps you to stay on track, bring everything to the surface, and lets Iboga know what you need.
The first Iboga ceremony begins in the evening and continues until the next day. Guests generally feel the effects until they go to sleep. After a good night’s rest, the team goes out into nature to reflect on the previous ceremony, and discuss intentions.
The second Iboga ceremony will begin that evening of the 5th day and will again continue into the following day. After another rest, we will venture out for a hike or something else depending on the location.
The retreat will have a closing ceremony, after which the care will transition into the immensely important real-life integration phase. We will have several calls to help you through this important time. For more details on scheduling, visit our Iboga Retreat Schedule page.
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2025 Bwiti Iboga Retreats Schedule
- USA
- USA
- USA
- USA
- USA
August 22 - 27
- USA
September 19 -24
- USA
October 17 - 22
- USA
November 14 - 19
- Chiang Mai
August 29 - September 4
- Chiang Mai
September 8 - 14
- Chiang Mai
September 18 - 24
- Chiang Mai
October 1 - 7
- Chiang Mai
October 14 - 20
- Chiang Mai
November 9 - 15
- Chiang Mai
November 23 - 29
- Chiang Mai
December 5 - 11
New dates coming soon.
If you have any questions about our programs, let us know and we will be happy to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Iboga Retreats & Ceremonies
Find answers to common questions about Iboga, our treatments, retreat process, safety, and what to expect on your healing journey.
What Is Iboga?
Iboga is the inner root bark of the Tabernanthe Iboga plant, a shrub native to equatorial West Africa (Gabon, Cameroon and Congo). To the Bwiti people, who have been using the Iboga plant for spiritual and physical healing, along with spiritual discovery, for thousands of years, Iboga is considered a sacrament.
Iboga is also known as “the godfather of all plant medicines” and is thought to be one of the most powerful plant medicines on the planet. To learn more, watch our video “Iboga: What is It?” or visit our Iboga page.
What Is Bwiti?
Bwiti is a spiritual tradition that studies life itself, however, it is not a religion. Bwiti originated among the Babongo people (also called Pygmies) in the jungles of southern Gabon thousands of years ago.
The Babongo people shared Bwiti with other groups in their area for centuries before it had to be hidden and protected from French colonialists. Some forms of Bwiti have merged with the French Colonialists’ Christianity, but this is absolutely not true for most of the Bwiti who were able to keep it hidden.
There are different forms of Bwiti, with Missoko Bwiti being the type that we draw influence from at Root Healing. Missoko Bwiti has zero outside influence and is true to its original form. To learn more, please visit our Missoko Bwiti page.
Why Do Our Guests Need An EKG?
One of the side-effects of ibogaine is that it blocks potassium ion channels in the heart, which leads to changes in someone’s cardiac rhythm (how fast and steady their heartbeats). IIbogaine is capable of leading to prolonged QT-interval, which can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats.
When taking Iboga, there’s a risk of serious negative effects among people with pre-existing heart conditions. This is why having cardiovascular disease is a strict contraindication against Iboga treatments.
An EKG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical signals in your heart. Undergoing an EKG helps our medical team assess your heart health and determine if you have any contraindications, such as changes in your QT interval before you use Iboga. More can be learned by reading our “Iboga and Ibogaine Safety” article.
How Does Ibogaine Prevent Withdrawal?
Currently, the mechanism via which Ibogaine prevents withdrawal is not fully understood.
Scientists believe it’s possible that the effects of increased serotonin levels may be one of the main mechanisms by which ibogaine reduces withdrawal. Serotonin is a “calming” neurotransmitter that helps with mood stabilization, plus it impacts many other cognitive processes including reward, learning, memory, sleep, appetite, and more.
There are also other neurotransmitters that are affected by Ibogaine that are currently under investigation. These include the kappa and mu-opioid receptors. Please visit our Iboga Detox page to learn more about the Assisted Detox program.
How much does an Iboga ceremony cost?
The cost of our Iboga experience is based on our all-inclusive 8-day retreat format, which includes two full Bwiti ceremonies, medical screening, accommodations, integration coaching, and more. Because each retreat is tailored to the location and group, we invite you to connect with an advisor and explore specific retreat pages (USA, Thailand and Portugal) for specific pricing and to see which retreat is right for you.
What does Iboga do?
Iboga works on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. Physically, it's known to reset the brain's dopamine pathways, which is highly effective for addiction and detox. Mentally and spiritually, the Iboga spirit acts as a "truth-teller," helping you access deep-seated memories and subconscious patterns to clear trauma, find clarity, and reconnect with your authentic self.
What are the teachings of Iboga?
The core teaching of Iboga, as taught in the Bwiti tradition, is to "know thyself." Iboga teaches personal responsibility, radical honesty, and the importance of letting go of what no longer serves you. It helps you see your life with objective clarity, empowering you to make conscious choices that are aligned with your soul's purpose, rather than being driven by past conditioning.
What are the side effects of Iboga?
Common physical effects during the ceremony include ataxia (difficulty with coordination and balance), nausea, and light/sound sensitivity. This is why you remain lying down in a safe, supervised environment. The primary safety concern with Iboga relates to pre-existing heart conditions. At Root Healing, we mitigate this risk with a mandatory, comprehensive medical screening process, including an EKG and liver function test reviewed by our medical team, to ensure every guest is a safe candidate for the experience.