One Dose That Heals Addiction, PTSD, and Brain Injury? Dr. Nolan Williams on The Science of Ibogaine
Mark Hyman
Sep 3, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Choose ibogaine for significant depression relief
Ibogaine can produce a 20-30 point improvement on a 60-point depression scale, whereas typical antidepressants often only achieve a 2-3 point change.
Reverse brain age by 1.5 years with Ibogaine treatment
One month after a single dose of Ibogaine, AI analysis of MRI scans showed the brain's biological age was reversed by an average of one and a half years.
Reset dopamine reward system with ibogaine for reduced cravings
In a study on veterans, Ibogaine unexpectedly caused alcohol and coffee consumption to drop to near zero, suggesting it performs a global reset on the dopamine reward system.
Utilize ibogaine for automatic life review without therapist
Unlike MDMA, Ibogaine automatically puts the brain into a neutral, third-party state to review emotionally significant life memories without needing a therapist to guide the process.
Restore dopamine neuron health with ibogaine's GDNF upregulation
A key anti-addiction mechanism of Ibogaine is its ability to upregulate Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF), which restores the health of dopamine neurons.
Utilize EEG to personalize drug dosage for PTSD relief
The degree of brainwave slowing measured by EEG correlates with the reduction in PTSD symptoms, suggesting it could be used to personalize the drug's dosage for optimal effect.
Mitigate heart risk with magnesium before Ibogaine use
The primary cardiac risk of Ibogaine can be significantly mitigated by prophylactically administering magnesium, which stabilizes the heart before the drug is taken.
Utilize ibogaine for microdosing to address attention and depression
From 1930 to 1966, Ibogaine was sold on the French formulary as 'Lamberene' and used in daily microdoses for attention problems and depression.
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