Blog
Types of Programs Offered at Ambio
The Stages of an Ibogaine Treatment
Your Path to Well-Being and Recovery
Ibogaine treatments at Ambio can vary depending on the program you are enrolled in.
Ambio’s group programs require people to refrain from alcohol and drugs, as well as certain types of medications, for a minimum period of time prior to coming. People arrive and go through the entire course of the 5-day program together as a cohort.
Ambio’s individualized programs serve all functions. Whether you are coming for drug detoxification, or have another medical condition that requires an extra level of care, individual programs happen at your own pace, on your own schedule.
There may be other people on-site with us, but we will approach the entire treatment from beginning to end according to your needs.
These programs can also vary in length from 5 days to over 21 days.
From booking to your arrival at the clinic, you will be equipped with the basic information needed to best prepare yourself for treatment, and work to develop an understanding of where you will be going afterwards.
Please note: Unless otherwise discussed with our medical team, you will have to refrain from using alcohol, stimulants, and certain other medications for a period of time prior to treatment.
It is important that you are thorough and complete with your application so we can provide appropriate instructions.
We offer one-on-one coaching sessions with trained and experienced coaches both before and after your stay. These can be invaluable in preparing.
When you arrive at the clinic you will undergo medical intake and a series of tests, which include a blood panel and electrocardiogram. The medical team will help to arrange any medications that you are prescribed, particularly if you are going through our detox program.
You can discuss the details of this with one of our intake coordinators.
On the day of your treatment you will fast during the afternoon, and certain medications from the stabilization period will be stopped by midday or sooner.
We demonstrate useful breath-work practices, incorporate bodywork, and provide meditative time to prepare.
We administer ibogaine flood dosages at night. These begin with a test dose, as well as several subsequent dosages during the first few hours. This makes the onset of the experience more manageable and allows the team to observe your reaction to the ibogaine.
Ibogaine’s oneirogenic (dream-generating) effects were described by Dr. Kenneth Alper as passing through three distinct phases:
The day after a flood dose of ibogaine people generally need a lot of rest and relaxation. We affectionately refer to this as the “gray day.”
Some people feel a huge amount of relief, a sense of calmness, a general sense of well-being, and a sensitivity to the environment. For others, this day can be challenging, including some lingering withdrawals, exhaustion from the lack of sleep.
In a lot of cases there is some mixture of the two. Spending the day in reflection, getting bodywork, soaking in hot water or a steam room, or otherwise taking good care of yourself are recommended, if you feel inclined to leave the bed at all.
After a good night of sleep, people generally start to feel their energy return. This can happen in stages over the next few days.
Sometimes during this period people feel that they sleep less, but also need a bit less sleep. For people who have had sleep issues prior, it is important to make efforts to try to get onto a regular schedule, which may be easier than usual, but may also take a few days.
[Ambio uses an all-natural, non-pharmaceutical sleep cocktail, which we make available on our online shop. Dr. Andrew Huberman also has some very useful sleep resources.)
Ambio offers a number of different support groups for both you and a family member or loved one. These are offered on a regular basis, and information will be provided to you upon completion of the program.
It can be very beneficial to stay connected with people who have been through a similar process, and it can be equally beneficial for your loved one to hear from others and gain perspective on the changes underway.
It is not uncommon for it to take 7-10 days for your energy to fully return after an ibogaine treatment. No one is suggesting that the process is easy, but the general feedback we receive is that it is well worth it in the long run.
One of the most important benefits of ibogaine is its ability to stimulate neuroplasticity, or the ability for the brain and body to change from one state to another. People have called this period after ibogaine a “neurological second childhood.”
Nolan Williams at Stanford University referred to a “Benjamin Buttoning of the Brain” that turned back the biological age on the brains of special operators with traumatic brain injuries by an average of 1.4 years. This reparative and transformational process can take time to unfold.
Neuroplasticity is something we experience abundantly when we are young and growing, but decreasingly so as we age. Those who are most interested in increasing neuroplasticity are typically elderly people.
In research that has been conducted the trifecta of DIET, MEDITATION, and EXERCISE are, apart from ibogaine, the most efficient way to support neuroplasticity.
Implementing healthy changes in these three areas can be highly beneficial in extending the post-treatment benefits that you experience.
Ibogaine treatment offers a transformative pathway to addiction recovery, mental health enhancement, and even healing from traumatic brain injuries.
If you would like to learn more about ibogaine treatment center considerations or whether an ibogaine treatment is right for you, please get in touch with our staff or visit our Personal Change page for more information.
