Bufo Alvarius, a species of toad that contains 5-MeO-DMT. Photograph by H. Krisp.
New research into the benefits and therapeutic applications of psychedelics seems to appear every day, especially for substances like cannabis, MDMA, and psilocybin that have had a great deal of studies done in the last few years. As wonderful as this is for broadening our understanding of these powerful medicines, there’s still a great deal more that we need to learn, especially about lesser-studied psychedelics such as ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. Dr. Joseph Barsuglia, whom we interviewed about his first shamanic iboga experience last week, works as the Clinical Research Director at Crossroads Ibogaine Treatment Center in Mexico and spoke with us further about the research he is doing into these two very potent psychedelics which are often given in tandem during Crossroads’ treatment program.
Studying Ibogaine Treatment for Addiction
Joseph’s path into psychedelic research was a unique one. “I started off as a pastor in a Christian church, got motivated to study psychology, and then went into research and clinical assessment. About a year ago I finished a post-doc fellowship in dementia research and neuropsychology, and just through happenstance a friend introduced me to Dr. Martin Polanco, the founder of Crossroads. He offered me a great position, and I said ‘No way, this is my dream job!’”
The team at Crossroads is pursuing multiple forms of research into ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, and part of Joseph’s work is focused on following up with patients after their ibogaine treatment. “I work at Crossroads doing outcome research on the addiction patients that come through. It mainly consists of questionnaires and gathering information about how much and what kind of drugs they might be using, what their experience was like with the medicine, and then we follow them long term 6-12 months out to see how effective the treatment has been. There really hasn’t been a lot of research on humans because of the risk profiles and politics surrounding it, so we’re gathering outcome data retrospectively.”
The results that Joseph is seeing are incredible and almost unprecedented in terms of success for an addiction treatment program. “We just assessed 100 patients that came through our program from 4 months to 5 years out. Based off of what we are seeing, it is incomparable compared to what is currently out there in conventional treatment. It is not a magic bullet, but in about two-thirds of people, it is effective at interrupting their addiction.” Joseph hopes to take this amazing success and share it with people who need it most. “I have a background in publishing academic research, and I was really excited to jump into this area. It is very timely, especially with the magnitude of the opiate epidemic that is so bad in the northeast right now. I feel really passionately about advocating for the use of this medicine.”
Toad Medicine
Joseph’s research has also expanded into studying the effects of 5-MeO-DMT, not just at the clinic itself but through firsthand accounts shared from other facilitators who use traditional methods of extracting DMT from the venom of the native Bufo Alvarius toad. “We also do research at Crossroads on 5-MeO-DMT. Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT are about the two most potent psychedelics in terms of the experience as well as the healing potential. We are looking to partner with Dr. Octavio Rettig, who is a big proponent of the toad medicine. He gave us 500 testimonials of people who used the toad medicine, and we are going through people’s firsthand accounts, looking at what recurrent themes show up, what kind of experiences people are having, and so forth.”
Joseph is finding that the results from Dr. Rettig’s testimonials reinforce what they are already seeing at Crossroads in their addiction patients who undergo a 5-MeO-DMT journey after their ibogaine session. “Just reading through people’s experience, you get a kind of buzz or euphoria from it. People are talking about melting into God, being united with the universe, clearing longstanding trauma and pain that was stored in their bodies. It’s exciting. At Crossroads, we’re finding that the combination of the two is like…1+1=5, it’s just exponential.”
Hello. I have received 11 kambo sessions over the last 13 months. I have found it very powerful and cleansing, however I still have issues with tobacco and alcohol. My dear shamanic friends are back from Australia now and will be guiding me through the Eboga experience this summer. I am finally ready to let go. I have so much respect for these medicines and processes. One love. Carmen
If you guys are interested in iBogaine therapy in Asia, we are available and not too expensive compared to other places. Check us out.
Usually iBogaine needs to be done only once. But people do come back every year to continue their development.
Shaman Sasha
My late spirit guide, call sign “Hara Ra” or Gregory, prepared 5 Meo in a crystal form. He did not tell me it was DMT, but instead referred to it simply as 5 Meo. Would like to know how this is related to DMT.
My understanding is that 5 Meo in liquid form has the street name Foxy Methyl. Is this all the same thing?
No Foxy is 5-MeO-DIPT…similar name but quite different effects (some people refer to as being akin to a “psychedelic ecstasy”). 5-MeO-DMT is a much more powerful and potent substance with little recreational appeal, unlike the former.
projecting your filthy habits…I don’t take you personally, those are your issues, not mine…
fear is a choice, a choice you seem to make a lot more when you overload your brain and body with nitrogen and hydrogen-dominated chemical compounds, like dmt specifically, which is nothing but atoms of electrons without protons, ‘ radicals, singularities’, dmt is nitrogen and hydrogen atoms period. when you extract it and smoke it, you are also ingesting the 2nd dimension source energy, the souls of the plant matter you use. That energy is what causes the psychological addiction as well as the destroying of the aura, then the spirit and soul. You become a zombie. That is the plan. And the plan is working on you, not me. lol
I get my high being right about things, you need drugs , that is the difference between us right now, but i was where you are right now in your life, and trust me, you need to realize fear is a choice and balance is truth. Balance in math, in Law, in biology and physics, balance means truth
seek balance
Bufo works as well as Iboga for alcohol and nicotine.