Can Ibogaine Help with Behavioral Addictions Like Gambling or Food Addiction?

Ibogaine has long been mentioned as a substance that can help us treat various addictions. It is primarily mentioned as something that can help you with drugs, but the iboga plant is every bit as potent for eliminating other vices. For example, many clinics use it for cigarette, alcohol, and other addictions.

Medical experts go so far as to claim that ibogaine is an excellent substance for food and gambling addicts. Numerous studies indicate that the alkaloid has a strong impact on how our brain is wired, directly affecting the body’s cravings. In fact, the same mechanism is one of the reasons why ibogaine might be used for depression and anxiety. 

In this article, we will explore the potential benefits of ibogaine for eating and gambling addictions. We’ll also talk about potential side effects, so you know what to expect if you go through this type of treatment. 

Eating Disorder Basics

Whether we’re talking about binge eating, bulimia, or anorexia, these disorders are often caused by distorted self-perception. Similar to other addictions, they creep up on people slowly, but they eventually affect our emotional stability, physical health, and life quality. 

Interestingly enough, eating disorders often have roots in unresolved emotional trauma. Over time, they usually develop into massive behavioral addictions, similar to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. 

Although eating disorders sound like something we can easily treat, the recovery rates are actually extremely low. Food isn’t scrutinized in the same way as drugs, which is why people “take it easy” when recovering from these addictions. 

How Ibogaine Works for Eating Disorders?

Based on the data we currently have, ibogaine has a major impact on various brain neurotransmitters. The substance is able to regulate dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate receptors, thereby altering how our brain functions.  

In other words, the substance affects our mood and gratification system, both of which perpetuate eating disorders. After taking ibogaine, you won’t feel the same exhilaration when overeating. Furthermore, it makes withdrawal much easier as it eliminates the underlying cravings.

To get the best results, you must have a team of medical experts by your side to administer the dosage. Given that this is still a psychoactive substance, it is really easy to go overboard. So, we recommend that you take your time searching for a reputable iboga treatment center where you will feel safe. 

Gambling Basics

Interestingly enough, most people don’t understand gambling addiction as well as the mechanisms that pull people into it. This type of behavior is often referred to as a gambling disorder or pathological gambling, and it is characterized by an unstoppable need to gamble, regardless of the potential consequences that might come from it.

A unique thing about this addiction is that it forces people to play beyond their financial limits. Similar to other addictions, a person will do everything in their power to get another “fix,” regardless of who will be hurt in the process. 

Unfortunately, gambling is such a type of addiction that it not only affects an addict but also creates a cascading effect that destroys their entire family. There have been numerous cases where these individuals not only depleted their savings but also put their homes at stake.

How Ibogaine Works for Gambling?

Ibogaine has a similar impact on gambling as it has on eating disorders and other compulsive issues. The substance, derived from West Africa’s Tabernanthe Iboga plant, has strong psychoactive effects vital for countering addictive tendencies. 

Basically, the substance reworks our brain chemicals by recalibrating neural pathways. In recent years, it has become a popular addition to emotional recovery treatments. Among other things, ibogaine has become critical for minimizing the chance of relapse.

Some experts mention the fact that ibogaine helps us tackle inherited beliefs we’ve adopted from our parents and grandparents. The alkaloid enables us to reconnect with our true selves, rather than being limited to a persona we believe we should be. In other words, ibogaine helps us embrace our personality despite its flaws. 

Benefits of Ibogaine 

Although scientists are still exploring the potential benefits of ibogaine for overeating, there are a few things we are almost certain of:

• Ibogaine reduces the compulsive urges, which would affect daily food intake.
• The substance disrupts addictive patterns that lead to these disorders.
• Ibogaine should increase your sense of self-worth. It would put your mind at ease, effectively tackling anxiety and depression.

Similarly, the substance can assist gamblers in the following manner: 

• Given that many gamblers drink, smoke, and do drugs before and while gambling, ibogaine can reduce the secondary cravings.
• The alkaloid makes you rethink your actions, which is especially important for gamblers who have spent substantial amounts of money in casinos.
• Given that the substance also uplifts your mood, it can help you break out of this vicious cycle.

The great thing about the substance is that it can help with a wide variety of issues through its complex stimulation. At its core, ibogaine improves how our brain functions and deals with trauma. Given that many of these addictions are rooted in trauma, this will effectively reduce the need for food.

On top of that, ibogaine also puts a stop to cravings. According to empirical data, it can significantly reduce the need for food in people with disorders and healthy individuals.

Safety Considerations and Conclusion

Although ibogaine holds an enormous therapeutic promise, it doesn’t come without its flaws. In the end, it is a psychoactive substance that should be taken in moderation and with the assistance of a professional medical team. 

As for side effects, you can expect various issues ranging from liver toxicity to heart-related problems. Nevertheless, the substance is generally well-received by people of good health. 

If you do decide to undergo an ibogaine treatment, we recommend you take your time to get acquainted with the process. Many people go to Mexico to perform the procedure, as ibogaine is illegal in the US. The good news is that you can do everything during a single visit, and come back home a new person.