A new study has found that the African psychedelic Ibogaine significantly alleviated the symptoms of war veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries play a major role in the high rates of depression and suicide seen among those who have served in wars, and mainstream treatments have not been very effective. Ibogaine is a plant-based psychoactive drug that has been used in Africa for a thousand years in spiritual and healing rituals. In these studies it successfully improved functioning, PTSD, depression and anxiety, with no adverse side effects.

Ibogaine first surfaced in medical science for its potential to treat opioid and cocaine addiction. It does this by increasing the signalling ability of several important molecules within the brain. Dr Nolan Williams and his team at Stanford Medicine were the first to try it on TBI patients. “The results are dramatic in safely and effectively reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.” Ibogaine’s success in treating TBI suggests that it has great potential for healing other neuro-psychiatric conditions that have similar pathology. The research team is already working on new studies to explore those possibilities.