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Iboga
|  Botanical name: Tabernanthe iboga
Also known as: Iboga, Eboga, Eboka bush, mabasoka, mbondo, obona
Family name: Apocynaceae
Natural habitat: Gabon, Congo, Angola, Cameroon
For many West African tribes, this plant is "a bridge to the ancestors", an instrument of initiation to the true world. It has been used since ancient times for divination, diagnose illnesses and as a stimulant.
The members of the Bwiti cult in Gabon and Congo are known as the main users of Tabernanthe iboga. Their religion is almost based upon this powerful plant. The root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub has been used for the initiation of society members entering adulthood. They regard it as the true tree of knowledge that came directly from the Garden of Eden so that people could use it to recognize God, the world and initiated into the paradisiacal secrets. The Bwiti cult is about 150 years old and shows several parallels with the Peyote cult and the Santo Daime church.
In Africa a lot of psychoactive plants are thought to have arisen from a person. This is thought of the Iboga as well. According to the mythology of the West African Fang:
Zame ye Mebege (the last of the creator gods) gave us Eboka. One day … he saw … the Pygmy Bitamu, high in an Atanga tree, gathering its fruit. He made him fall. He died, and Zame brought his spirit to him. Zame cut off the little fingers and the little toes of the cadaver of the Pygmy and planted them in various parts of the forest. They grew into the Eboka bush.
The Tabernanthe Iboga is an evergreen shrub which can reach a maximum height of 2 meters. The leaves are 10 – 15 cm in length. The strong, heavily branching roots have a yellow, brownish color. The roots are harvested from living plants. Only a part of the roots are taken so the plant can remain alive and develop new roots.
There are a lot of reports and signs that Tabernanthe iboga can or may be a fantastic help in fighting (drug)addictions. Unfortunately, despite all the reports and signs, there is still almost no scientific research done at this powerful plant from Africa upon today. | | 
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