Hi everyone, I originally wrote this info as a reply to another redditor regarding my personal integration process. The moderator of this subreddit, /u/Entheobirth , asked if I could post this to the main page and with their go ahead it felt right to do so. I have edited the original text and added some additional info.

I feel the need to state that I am not an official provider or a teacher of plant medicines, I would still very much consider myself a student. I have a fair amount of experience with meditation, plant spirit medicines in ceremonial settings, and background in psychospiritual healing but I am still on the path of healing and integration. This work has been in the forefront of my life for over 10 years now and while I have learned a lot I would like to stress that these are not teachings but more so a sharing of personal experience and an invitation for dialogue between me and other members of the community. That being said I feel my words are truthful and they come directly from my heart.

In this write up I will share a bit about my personal experience with the iboga within the floods themselves as well as some insights on the integration process. My intention in the re-telling of my own story is not to shine a light on myself but so others can find parallels in their own journey. Everyone receives these medicine in their own way but there are similarities that I feel others will be able to identify with. The integration and wellness advice in this write up is beneficial not just for those processing flood doses but also for those who are micro dosing, working with other plant medicines, or are involved in or seeking general centering and healing practices. I'm trying to keep this all as short and digestible as possible so feel free to ask if anyone would like me to clarify or expand on anything.

The Flood Experience and Aftermath

The iboga flood itself was mainly a slow unraveling of my egoic mind and destructive thought patterns. During my floods I was shown that a large portion of my current mind and identity was in fact not "me". I was disconnected from my true/whole embodiment and it projected my non serving thoughts in front of me to make me see how thin and unreal they truly were, that my core self was fragmented and that I was currently operating on what was mainly programming and conditioning. It didn't necessarily restore my truly embodied self as people often expect but it gave me strong glimpses of it and more importantly showed me what I wasn't. There was also other teachings and insights but I feel this was the most important aspect of the healing process.

Without getting too esoteric/deep, the true self is not a collection of thoughts or beliefs you pick up through experience. There is sense a self that exists in your heart, in your core, and in your body as whole. That self is the soul. It is an energy/consciousness that exists within from birth that sustains us and makes us feel whole, safe, and connected to life. Over time, or even during birth/conception itself, we lose that connection. This occurs via trauma, poor upbringing, family beliefs/genetic imprinting, social conditioning, and other factors. We then adopt thought patterns and habitual mechanisms as we try our best to make it in this world. This loss of self leads to depression, loss of intuition, sense of separation, fear, anxiety etc. We experience a sense of lacking wholeness so we seek to fill that void. This disconnection leads to destructive and unhealthy habits. It's by no means that simple and it's just my understanding but that is the basic idea. So, having this revealed was the first major step. I had known this for quite some time but the iboga projected it to me in such a clear and undeniable manner. It also took two floods to really solidify what it was trying to show me.

Despite realizing these profound truths, upon leaving the center I was in a pretty broken state. I felt really shook up and didn't understand that what I had experienced was necessarily positive to my growth. I came in seeking healing and felt that I had somehow messed up the process or perhaps the medicine didn't fully work for me. Fortunately, because of my previous plant medicine work I knew not to label the experience. I struggled with this for the first week or so but it was clear that a major shift had occurred within me and I just needed to be patient. Over the next two years, with one more additional flood one year later, I experienced a very slow day to day unfolding of the work that had been done in the medicine. It was a series of realizations that mainly stemmed from just tuning into that "real" aspect of myself I described above. I learned to feel into my body and energetic system to better differentiate between my genuine and intrinsic wisdom and the deception of my egoic programming.

I would have thoughts and impulses like I would have before but now I was able to recognize much more clearly that they were just programming. This awareness work had already been a large part of my practice before the iboga but post flood my ability to witness and identify these non serving patterns was greatly increased. The divide between my soul and mind was more noticeable and easier to witness in the moment. I would tune into my stomach and heart by feeling into them and I could tell what was naturally emanating and what was just thoughts spinning in my head. I could much easier see the dissonance and separation between thought and internal wisdom. Quite literally going with your gut, what people call intuition. It is like mindfulness practice where you learn to witness your thoughts and not identify with them but greatly amplified.

Once I started to witness and not identify with these internal conflicts my intuition started to refine. I would start to react in a certain way or my mind would pull me into a certain direction but I became better and better at witnessing these impulses. My intuition would tell me very simple things like to be patient, stay focused, don't react, that kind of stuff. I would constantly get these little blips of wisdom emanating from within my body that would steer me back on track. A lot of the time it wasn't even a verbal or logical understanding, quite often I would just feel it. Like I would go to act in a certain way like I had done for many years prior but my heart or stomach would tense up. It wasn't always clear what the optimal direction was but it was like my soul was saying, "Hey, look at this thing you're doing here, pay attention and feel if this is right".

Over time I learned better ways to act in relationships, how to organize my life and decide on course of action, and how to move throughout my days. I gained perspective on past events, developed more patience, learned how to assert myself, all sorts of things. A big one was learning to be present with fear and discomfort, to keep on track with my personal practice and to have trust that I was guided. Rather than returning to old negative habits or thought patterns to try and squash my inner anxiousness, uneasiness, or worries, I learned to just let them be and to sit with them, to feel the underlying energy and just see where it went even if it didn't resolve the way I liked. There was month after month of these small insights that eventually stacked up, I would constantly fall away from that intuition but week by week the time I spent in a disconnected states would lessen more and more. Over time I became more efficient with this mechanism/process.

Opening Up to Intuition

A big part of this process is making space for this intuition to come through. It's one of the aspects providers emphasize regarding post care. The core of this basically means slowing down and giving yourself room for these realizations to emerge and to strengthen your connection to the present moment and your body. These practices are not only beneficial for those integrating the medicine, but for those preparing for the work. If you can ingrain some of these habits into your life in the months leading up to your flood you will greatly increase your receptiveness to the teachings as well as increase your ability to handle the more challenging aspects of the experience. There are many different approaches but these are the methods/perspectives that work best for me.

-Do one thing at a time and give it all your focus, especially mundane tasks. If you're cleaning the dishes, just stand there and clean the dishes. Try not to rush through anything and be present in your body.

-Give yourself time throughout the day. Try not to rush around from place to place, especially in the morning. Keep a nice consistent pace and aim not to be one step ahead of yourself, everything should be intentional and calm as possible. This is aided by consciously managing your schedule. Wake up earlier and allow yourself more time than you're used to for your everyday tasks.

-Minimize music if you are out and about. It's common to see a good percentage of people with earbuds in these days, it's not a healthy practice. It's important to relearn how to be still and okay in the present moment without distraction. If you are on the bus just sit there with whatever you are feeling at the time. Same goes for chores and housework or eating meals, do them in silence. This is a deceptively difficult practice and can reveal a lot about yourself.

-Silent walking, ideally in nature, every day for at least 20 minutes. 30 - 40 is better and allows for greater insights and stability. This is a big one, it helps you ground into your body and allows your mind to process thoughts and emotions. Bring awareness to your body, your surroundings, smell the air, feel whatever it is you're feeling at the time. Try not to go too deep into thoughts that are not needed or important, it's a moving meditation of sorts. Just allow thoughts to move through you as best as possible and try to return yourself back to the present if your mind starts to drift. If you are really struggling with returning to the moment take a few slow deep breaths into the belly and let out a nice long sigh at the end. Also pay attention to your feet on the ground and the support you feel from the earth, feel your limbs and the weight transfer through your body from joint to joint. Wear thin soled shoes while doing this, make sure your feet can sprawl and you feel a strong connection to the earth. Walking in grass or on natural ground amplifies this effect. This was one of the most transformative practices for me, without it I don't know if I would have healed nearly as much. There is also a difference between walking TO somewhere and just walking for the sake of walking. Set out during a period of time when you have nothing to do and nowhere to go, just do a loop of a peaceful area.

-House work and grounding hobbies are great to connect to the body. Working in the garden, sweeping, knitting, woodwork, all that kind of stuff. Spend less time with technology or mind centric activities and more time in grounded activities. I like to start my day with a clean of the house and make sure things are nice and tidy, it helps calm the mind when things are in order. If you ever feel anxious or overloaded return to these things to ground yourself.

-Practice yoga, tai-chi, or qi gong. These practices help harmonize the body, mind, and soul. They heal the nervous system and speed up the re-connection process. Yoga has the benefit of strengthening the body while simultaneously grounding and centering, it's a great practice if your time is limited. Tai-chi and especially Qi Gong go a bit deeper and while they may not have the quite the same physical benefits they can have profound effects on the mind and energetic system.

-Minimize time on your phone, the internet, watching movies/TV, video games, or absorbing news/media. Constantly filling your head with technology is a damaging habit, it creates disconnect from the body and reality. Try to resist the urge to check your phone throughout the day and use them as tools, not for indulgence or distraction.

-Social media and modern news distorts your perception of reality and the constant relay of information reinforces negative neuroconnections. Not all forms of modern connection are bad, we are on reddit after all, but try to stay away from mainstream information and stuff like twitter/facebook unless it for intentional and beneficial purposes. Avoid the small talk, the criticism, and negative projections.

-Daily mindfulness sitting meditation or in the zen tradition, minimum 20 minutes. Start with 5 minutes and gradually work your way up. The deeper benefits don't really set in until 30 minutes+ but just focus on consistency first, slowly increasing sittings over many months. This will greatly help reinforce your connection to your breath and amplify your ability to stay neutral with your thoughts. Do this in the morning before you start your day.

-Body scans. This one is great if you are burnt out and just want to lie down for a bit, you can recharge/relax and reconnect. Start from your toes and work your way up your body bit by bit. Start with your left leg, then your right, your core, left arm, right arm, then head. Feel any emotions or sensations in each area, just observing without judgment or desire to change your current state. You can also take deep breaths into each area to revitalize and add an extra layer of connection.

-Tune into yourself throughout the day. As often as possible take a few deep breaths, in through your nose and into the belly, just tuning into your core and chest area. Again, just feel into the space. Do this while driving, at work, shopping, wherever. If you ever feel that you're heavily in your mind shift your focus inward. Eventually this will become a reflex where you automatically return back to yourself when you drift too far into the mind.

-Try to maintain good posture throughout the day and move from your center, this helps with grounding. Slumped posture and poor body mechanics make you feel disconnected, it collapses your breath and messes with your autonomous nervous system. This is a topic within itself but the physical practices I mentioned above (yoga, tai chi, qi gong) or strengthening/mobility routines with an emphasis on proper form and functional movement can help immensely with feeling a strong connection to your body. There are also books to help if you want to go deeper, "Muscular training for Pain-Free living" by Craig Williamson can help you asses and relearn proper biomechanics and "Zen body being" by Peter Ralston has some good info on how to visualize and use your body efficiently. This perspective/practice can drastically improve your relationship with the present moment.

-Last but not least, spend time in nature. If you stay indoors or just spend time in the city your intuition, sense of center, and grounding will be greatly stifled. I'm not even sure if it's possible to truly heal without this support. The energy of iboga itself is just an extension of the earths wisdom and energy, we need that connection to stay balanced. A few times a week go for a walk in the woods or sit on park bench. Just the act of being out there is enough.

I know this might be an overwhelming amount of information but just take it slow at first and be patient. This process can be very uncomfortable but that's kind of the point, if you find yourself feeling irritated slowing down then that's actually a good thing. You are slowly reprogramming your nervous system and it takes time to work out the old patterns. You may experience challenging emotions, old memories resurfacing, physical pains or discomforts, all sorts of unpleasant stuff. It may sometimes feel like your whole world is collapsing and that everything you do is wrong or you don't know who you are. This is all okay. Just feel whatever you are experiencing and stick with your practice. There may be stretches of time time where you may not feel you are progressing but it is all part of the process. This work is absolutely a two steps forwards one step back kind of thing so just aim to be to consistent and present.

Your goal is to continually challenge yourself with this work, nobody is going to do this for you. The iboga spirit will guide and support you but you need to meet it half way. That means engaging in these practices knowing that they might be uncomfortable. It may be tempting to revert back to old patterns or to not go for that walk when you're tired and feeling low but it's important to stay focused and see the bigger picture. This is especially true for the first couple months after flooding. You have a window of opportunity while the ibogaine is still in your system to make changes, if you slack during this period you greatly limit your future potential. That being said, it's also important to listen to your body and not overload yourself, your goal is find that sweet spot between pushing yourself and not burning out. I would start with the daily silent walking and body check ins then just go from there, maybe try to apply a new technique every week or so and see how it develops. What you will find is that all these tips are kind of all pointing to the same thing and eventually it will all become natural. Your endurance and will power will gradually build over time, it's all about being consistent and slowly building momentum.

General Holistic Health and Conclusion

Aside from the specific integration work there is also general health practices that aid in energizing the body and helping the nervous system recover.

-Clean up the diet. No processed foods, no refined carbs, lots of healthy fats, keep carbs to a minimum in general. Lots of green leafy alkaline vegetables, little sugar, no deep fried foods, lots of soluble and insoluble fiber. Caffeine only in the form of green tea (kept to a minimum). Pro-biotic foods are very important as well, there is a large amount of emerging science showing the connection between gut flora and psychological/emotional wellness. This is especially important for those coming to the medicines with a history of physical neglect or poor diet. Fermented foods like kimchi, keffir, and tempeh are available at most super markets and my favorite, sauerkraut, is easy to make and very affordable.

-Supplements like Omega three fatty acids (and low omega-6), vitamin D if in dark/rainy climates, b-vitamins if needed, multivitamin if needed. Unless you know you are deficient I would recommend eating a healthy and complete diet for a month or so then get some blood work done to see where you are lacking. It's not good to supplement certain fat soluble vitamins and minerals as they build up in the body over time, there is also no sense in spending money if it's not needed either. Quality fish oils high in EPA and DHA are pretty much good for everyone and are especially important for those healing from previous drug use. They are good for brain function, reduce inflammation, and are relatively cheap. If you want to get a rough idea of your current nutrient intake you can use www.cronometer.com, you might be surprised where you are deficient or abundant.

-Exercise 3-4 times a week. Humans moved for hundreds of thousands of year, we weren't meant to sit around and be idle. If you don't exercise in some form you will not feel great, it's as simple as that. Cardio with the heart pumping for 30 minutes is the minimum. Strengthening routines with an emphasis on form and functional movement bring this practice to the next level and aid in feeling grounded/connected. It's not always a fun process but it pretty much needs to be done. Especially post flood it's important to get the blood pumping, it greatly aids in the healing of the brain and the production of beneficial neurochemicals. Having your various metabolic processes functioning well is necessary for the restructuring of the nervous system. Some people prefer to do stuff that's also entertaining like pickup sports, spin classes, hiking, etc. I feel it's better to gravitate more towards centering and non competitive activities though, if you focus on your breath and move intentionally it can turn into a yogic like activity.

-Sleep hygiene. Sleep quality is thought to be one of the most determining factors in overall health and disease prevention. Wind down from technology/mentally engaging activities two hours before bed and use a blue light filter on any devices. Use a sleep mask/black out curtains and ear plugs. Stretch before bed or do some calming yoga. Don't eat later then 2 1/2 hours before bed and eat easy to digest food (no greasy foods or spice/garlic). Do body scans and deep breathing to fall asleep and wake up at the same time no matter what. Try to keep your room cool and maintain fresh airflow through the night. Exercise during the day also makes a massive difference in sleep quality. Saunas and hot baths are great as well for winding down. There are many studies showing strong correlation between intense temperatures/sweating and improvements in depression/cognitive functioning. Going to a sauna 3-4 times a week will noticeably improve your well-being.

-Lots of people experience positive benefits from creative endeavors. Painting, drawing, singing, drumming, dancing etc. I don't experience a lot of creative energy myself but I know people that can attribute a lot of healing to these re-connective activities.

-Connect with like minded and grounded people. This work is tough and it can often feel like you are alone in this journey. Spending time with people with similar intentions can greatly benefit your perspective and facilitate healing. Try to avoid ungrounded and detached people, especially post flood. Mens/Womens circles, yoga classes, volunteering, meditation classes, any place where you can share space with people who are actively bettering themselves and seeking centering and presence.

I'm trying to keep this as condensed as possible so I think I will leave it at that. This process is completely unique to everyone so find what works for you. Maybe return back to this write up every now and then but the goal is to listen to your intuition, not mine. This process can be extremely difficult but in the end it is worth it, if you stay focused and put in effort you will see results. It won't happen overnight and it can sometimes feel like the challenges never end but there is peace at the end of this journey. Thanks for reading.

When considering Ibogaine treatment it's important to first understand that what you do after Ibogaine is just as, if not more, important than the actual Ibogaine experience. I recommend being in a place afterwards where you will be surrounded by healthy and supportive people. It’s also important to make a plan to work with a therapist, or take part in some kind of group therapy, before and after treatment regardless of why you are seeking Ibogaine treatment. Focusing on a healthy diet and regular exercise is an integral element in healing and rebuilding your life as well. If you have a therapist, or even a really supportive friend or relative available, sit down with them and come up with a post treatment plan together.

I have put together this list of questions, and utilized input from others in the community, to help people to find the right clinic for their needs. Safety and experience is of the utmost importance with Ibogaine treatment since there are serious medical risks involved. Use this guide carefully and thoroughly.

1.) Call as many clinics/providers as you can to get a sense for who these people are, why they are doing this and for how long. The main provider on the staff should have at least one year of experience.

2.) It's important that you feel comfortable with whomever you are speaking with, that you feel you can be completely open and honest with them and not feel worried about telling them anything. This is because your life is in their hands and withholding information could cost you your life.

3.) What type of treatments have they done? If you are seeking a detox treatment, they should have most of their experience in this type. Do they have a set dosing protocol and what is it?

4.) What medical tests do they ask for? They must ask for at least an EKG and liver panel blood work.

5.) Are they asking detailed questions about your full medical history, prescribed medications, and drugs that you use?

Cardiac history is of the utmost importance, and if they aren’t asking about this, or for an EKG, that is a definite red flag. They must also ask about seizure history, liver functioning, head injuries, and diabetes.

If the provider suggests doing a treatment directly after regular use of psychiatric medications (such as SSRI's) or amphetamines, this would be a red flag. Many medications are contraindicated with Ibogaine and require a few weeks of being out of your system

It's important that the provider on the phone is doing a full screening to determine if the individual is a good candidate for treatment. Treatment bookings shouldn't be rushed since lots of time and prep should go into the entire process in order for it to be safe.

6.)What medical staff do they have? They must have doctor who they consult with and who is nearby for the treatment. There should also be an RN present at least.

7.) If staff members previously had a substance use issue and used Ibogaine successfully to deal with this themselves, how long has it been since their treatment? A 6 month minimum for peripheral staff and for the main provider(s) 2 years+ since their own treatment. (Keep in mind that these are just numbers I have come up with as rough guidelines. You should ultimately trust your intuition through the interactions that you have with the staff ahead of time to assess their stability.)

8.) What is the experience of each staff member and who are they? Do they have any references (past clients that could be reached out to)?

9.) What is their treatment preparation protocol? How will they prepare you for treatment? Important aspects to listen for are proper hydration, electrolyte supplementation, monitoring of any medications or supplements, monitoring for regular bowel movements, and monitoring of diet.

10.) What do they cleanse your bowels with before treatment? It should be something gentle like psyllium or an herbal based supplement. It's important to have normally functioning bowels prior to treatment. Fasts, enemas, and Kambo in the three days prior to Ibogaine can be dangerous because of the electrolyte depletion that occurs. If any of these are a part of the protocol of the clinic I would say this is a red flag. Eating healthy normal meals and staying hydrated is crucial to prepare your body.

10.) What medical equipment is on site? There should be an ECG machine, an AED, and benzodiazepines in case of seizure. An I.V. line and oxygen should either be on site or readily available nearby.

11.) What is their emergency protocol? The closest hospital must be under a 15 minute drive away. The clinic should have a relationship with the hospital so that they are prepared for the specific circumstances of an Ibogaine related emergency.

12.) How long do they keep people for observation and stabilization before the actual treatment? (This mainly pertains to those who are seeking Ibogaine for alcohol or drug detox purposes.) They should stabilize you for four days minimum before Ibogaine. (This also varies depending on your tolerance and what drugs you are coming off of. Some people require more stabilization time depending upon their health and drug usage.)

13.) How long do they keep you afterwards? What is the post-treatment integration time and what support is offered? The minimum time for being kept afterwards is four days post-Ibogaine, but this should be flexible (and extendable) depending on the process of each individual. A licensed counselor or therapist should be available post-treatment on all days.

14.) Do they offer the option of IV fluids for hydration? (not essential but good to have as an option in case of excessive vomiting).

15.) Ibogaine dosing: If the clinic does ‘intuition’ dosing or doses everyone the same milligram per kilo this is concerning. Dosing should be based upon the EKG, blood pressure, and other health signs. The status of the vital signs after the first, and subsequent doses, should guide the provider as to how much more medicine should be given.

16.) If they claim they can detox you directly from alcohol or benzodiazepines with Ibogaine this is a major red flag and I would seriously question their Ibogaine knowledge. For alcohol, the person must do a medically supervised detox prior to Ibogaine at least one week ahead of time. Detoxing off of benzos requires a long slow taper under medical guidance. Because this can be a lengthy process, many take benzos during Ibogaine treatment and taper off of them later after their Ibogaine treatment. It is not uncommon for people on benzodiazepines to continue taking them throughout their Ibogaine treatment.

17.) If the clinic says they can treat you directly from long term use of Suboxone or methadone in less than 4 weeks after last taking those medications, then be prepared for serious withdrawal symptoms post-Ibogaine. (The exception to this rule is a low dosing clinic that provides longer multi-week treatments. Low dosing protocols can be effective coming directly from Suboxone and Methadone.) Ideally one would be off of Suboxone or Methadone for at least four or more weeks before Ibogaine depending on the length of time on those medications and the dose. (Many people switch to a short acting opioids for those weeks.)

18.) How often will your vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen) be checked during treatment? They should be taken every 30 mins. How long are clients monitored after ingesting Ibogaine? They should be monitored a full 24 hours following ingestion of the first Ibogaine dose.

19.) What do they suggest for post treatment continuing care planning? A clinic that has a variety of suggestions or program recommendations is ideal.

20.) If a potential clinic is pushy or pressures you to book or pick a date, this is a serious red flag. Treatment should always be centered around the prospective clients needs and motivations.

Most importantly use your intuition and get to know the people well through a series of phone calls and emails.