Psychedelic drug ibogaine shows preliminary promise for traumatic brain injury: Study

Psychedelic drug ibogaine shows preliminary promise for traumatic brain injury: Study

In a small group of veterans diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury, treatment with a psychedelic drug, ibogaine was associated with improvements in daily function and mental health symptoms, a new study out of Stanford found.

"This could be one of the first treatments for traumatic brain injury," said Dr. Nolan Williams, associate professor of psychiatry at Stanford, and principal study investigator. "I think it's a moment of hope for veterans and folks with permanent neurological injury."

The Federal Drug Administration classifies ibogaine as a Schedule I drug, citing "high abuse potential" and "no accepted medical use." To receive the one-time dose, 30 Special Ops veterans traveled to a treatment site in Mexico where ibogaine use is unregulated.

The veterans received ibogaine under medical supervision while engaging in complementary activities including breathwork and yoga. Researchers found that both a few days and one month after the dose of ibogaine, the veterans reported improvement in cognitive abilities, in areas like daily life activities and interpersonal relationships, and in PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms.

Ibogaine is the psychoactive component of the iboga plant, which grows in Gabon and other countries of western equatorial Africa, and is used by local Bwiti religious practices for its hallucinogenic properties.