Ibogaine | Iboga

At root perceptions, we recognise that medicine is more than chemistry — it's spirit, lineage, and intention. Ibogaine can be extracted from two different plants: the sacred Tabernanthe iboga, and the more sustainable Voacanga africana. While both Ibogaine PTA HCl and Ibogaine HCl may be pharmacologically similar, the source, process, and energetic quality of the medicine can shape the experience in profoundly different ways. 

Here's a deeper exploration of the differences between derived Iboga TA (Total Alkaloid), Iboga Ibogaine PTA HCl (Purified Total Alkaloid Ibogaine Hydrochloride), and Voacanga Ibogaine HCl (Pure Ibogaine Hydrochloride), with a focus on therapeutic use, spirit, and experience. 

Iboga TA — or Total Alkaloid extract — is a full-spectrum preparation made directly from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, a sacred shrub deeply rooted in the ceremonial traditions of the Bwiti people in Central West Africa. Unlike purified forms such as Ibogaine HCl or PTA HCl, TA preserves the natural balance of all alkaloids present in the plant, including ibogaine, ibogamine, ibogaline, and other trace compounds — all in the proportions they occur in nature. This makes TA the closest extract to the raw root bark, but with reduced plant matter and more controlled dosing. It retains much of the spirit, vibration, complexity, and depth of the whole plant experience, and is often referred to as “the whole medicine.”

As a full-spectrum extract, TA offers a deeply immersive experience. It contains all natural alkaloids found in iboga and is considered the closest alternative to traditional ceremonial use. TA is known for its strong spiritual presence, often described as ancestral, wise, and directive — a medicine that not only heals, but teaches and guides.

This form is typically used in ceremonial or psycho-spiritual healing settings, where intention, setting, and support structures are essential. It is known to produce visionary states, emotional purging, and deep introspection, allowing individuals to access buried memories, unresolved trauma, and higher aspects of self. The journey with TA can last 24 to 36 hours or longer, and often requires extended integration and recovery time.

TA is best suited for those seeking soul-level transformation, ancestral reconnection, or initiatory inner work — a path not just of healing, but of awakening.

Ibogaine PTA HCl is derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant. This form of ibogaine is known as PTA, or Purified Total Alkaloid, meaning it contains not just ibogaine, but a spectrum of naturally occurring alkaloids such as ibogaline, ibogamine, and others. These alkaloids are often extracted and refined into an Ibogaine HCI salt (the original ibogaine O.G.), offering greater purity, precision, and consistency while retaining the plant's essential complexity.

Unlike pure ibogaine, PTA HCl still carries a strong spiritual presence, often described as wise, guiding, and deeply connected. Many who work with it report feeling accompanied by the plant’s intelligence — not just experiencing the medicine, but being in relationship with it. PTA offers a refined and balanced middle ground — still rich in spirit, but easier to work with in therapeutic or semi-clinical contexts. This form is particularly suited to psycho-spiritual healing, trauma integration, and initiatory inner work, where the goal is not just to interrupt patterns but to reconnect with one’s deeper self, lineage, and life path.

The experience with Iboga Ibogaine PTA HCl is often layered and multidimensional, balancing grounded insight with subtle visionary states. It is a strong choice for those drawn to plant-led healing, and for those who hold a deep respect for the sacred intelligence and presence of iboga as a teacher.

Voacanga-derived Ibogaine HCl, by contrast, is made by extracting voacangine from the Voacanga Africana tree — a plant with no traditional ceremonial use — and chemically converting it into ibogaine. The final product is purified into high-purity ibogaine hydrochloride, typically over 98%, but it lacks the entourage of companion alkaloids found in the iboga plant.

This form of ibogaine is pharmacologically effective but generally considered spiritually neutral. It carries no ceremonial lineage and is often described as mechanical, clinical, or emotionally flat. While it can still produce significant detox and interruption of addictive patterns, the journey is usually more cognitive and somatic than visionary or relational.

Voacanga Ibogaine HCl is commonly used in clinical detox settings, where the focus is on short-term neurochemical reset, opioid detoxification, or symptom relief. Though powerful, it often lacks the depth and spirit-led guidance of iboga-derived medicine and may not respond as strongly to intention or ritual. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as “a vessel without the soul” — effective, but not always transformative in the deeper, holistic sense. Despite this, some clinics have begun selling the spirit of iboga alongside it — a marketing gesture that can obscure the profound differences between a chemically similar extract and a medicine rooted in lineage, ritual, and spiritual context. 

Each medicine carries its own intelligence, purpose, and spirit — and whether you're seeking physical detox, emotional healing, or spiritual transformation, we’re here to help you discover which path — and which plant — is right for your journey.