Welcome to Casita Iboga, dedicated to the practice of healing and teaching with Iboga, Kambo and other natural medicines.
Our setting is serene, in a secure area nestled between two small gated communities comprised mostly of American expatriates seeking the good life that this area offers. Visitors here all agree that our casita, overlooking a beautiful estuary and westward to the Pacific, is an ideal site for personal transformation. Far from the tourist crowds and noisy distractions found both to the north and south of us, we endeavor to maintain Casita Iboga as one of the smallest and most personalized therapeutic environments to be found anywhere. The relaxing, casual at-home atmosphere is a world away from the commercial, institutional setting found elsewhere.
We generally work with one patient at a time. That allows us to offer highly individualized care by knowledgeable, dedicated professionals, all of whom have experienced their own transformative journeys and are actively engaged in continuing personal growth. Exceptions are made for the treatment of family members or others close to a client, when both parties find the situation acceptable.
We are located conveniently midway between Rosarito and Ensenada, a short drive into Baja from the San Diego/ Tijuana border.
Casita Iboga is a cooperative effort by Iboga professionals and other practitioners who seek to teach and learn the healing arts with the aid of plant (and other) medicine, incorporating a wide range of techniques and disciplines, with the broad goals of personal healing, growth and community building. We strive to build a better tomorrow, starting right now.
Interested? Acompáñanos!
Casita Iboga was founded on two ideas. First, Iboga is an intensely personal experience, and as caregivers, we must provide the optimal setting for transformation and healing to occur. Although many experience life-changing journeys with this medicine in less welcoming institutional settings, we find that most would prefer our peaceful, rustic location and our personalized care.
The second- Iboga treatment shouldn't be cost-prohibitive- is the basis for our continuing effort to provide high-quality service at the lowest price possible. We believe that safe, personalized treatment by experienced professionals in a comfortable place should be available to everyone. Many who might be otherwise limited due to cost considerations to an underground treatment in a motel may instead benefit from a much richer experience through the expert care we provide in this beautiful environment conducive to reflection and rejuvenation.
Tabernanthe Iboga is a West African shrub from whose roots the medicine ibogaine is extracted. Ibogaine is effective in treating addiction to heroin (and all opioids), alcohol, cocaine, methamhetamine and other substances by completely elimininating or significantly reducing withdrawal symptoms rapidly and effectively in a single dose. It also has persistent anti-craving and anti-depressant effects that can last for up to 3 months post-therapy.
Iboga is a sacrament in the Bwiti culture of West Africa and is central to their rite of initiation. The plant gives profound insight into the very root of one's self-defeating behaviors and unhealthy dependencies. For those without substance abuse issues, Iboga is very effective at bringing one back into their past to uncover and heal trauma. The therapeutic effects are lasting and one dose is enough for most.
Iboga and Ibogaine are easily researched on the web- there are hundreds of experiental anecdotes and 25+ years of scientific studies available. Just Google it- links and videos abound. You may have seen it on a Law and Order SVU episode, or heard about on the radio program, This American Life.
Our site is not intended to meet ALL the information needs that an individual seeking Iboga generally has. We focus our effort on delivering personalized therapy hands-on in an intimate healing environment. We are thankful for the following resources of information about the many aspects of Iboga. A good start for your research can be found at:
You won't need to take Iboga continually to benefit from it, nor is it in any way addicting. This is not a party drug, but an intense journey into your own self. Most treatments take four to five days.
Iboga is not for everyone, but it may be for you, If you'd like to talk about it, please call or email. All communications are held in the strictest confidence.
Iboga changes lives!
We provide addiction interruption and detoxification therapy using Iboga to assist those who seek independence from substances including heroin and other opioids, stimulants, and alcohol.
Our sessions follow the most current, proven best practices. Medical assistance is always available when needed. Our experience with the medicine combined with rigorous commitment to detail in the screening process as well as in the administration of the medicine has resulted in a record of safety unparalleled elsewhere. Support and assistance is provided 24 hours a day throughout the program.
We offer a holistic approach to overcoming addiction that incorporates proven elements including health promotion, aftercare, and harm reduction. Our main goal is always to empower people to continue to improve their quality of life.
Since the dawn of man, indigenous shamanic cultures have been using psychoactive medicinal plants in ceremonies for healing the mind, body and spirit. With intentional use, these plants effect the opening of one's mind by increasing the capacity for a range of perceptions normally inaccessible. They expand awareness, increase consciousness of the wonders of life and ability to connect to the divine in one's self, in nature and the universe.
From West African origins as a spiritual tool in ceremonial practices and as a healing medicine, Iboga has proven itself in our western world as a powerful means for spiritual exploration and intense personal psychotherapy. Many individuals have experienced the benefits of this root for the treatment of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, as well as other emotional issues and mood disorders. The power of the plant to uncover and heal past trauma is dramatic and effective. Approached within a context of specific therapeutic intent, Iboga can provide an rich experience that is very cathartic and healing and on many levels. Many compare the beneficial effects favorably to a decade or more of psychotherapy!
Iboga allows entry into a "waking dream" experience to provide visionary insight into the psyche from a perspective outside "normal" human consciousness. From that perspective it provides awareness of the processes that may be blocking ones’ personal development. With this heightened awareness, the path to a deeper understanding of self, personal motivation and outlook on life is revealed, leading toward a greater capacity for self-compassion, understanding, inspiration and profound personal growth.
We gladly collaborate with those interested in crafting their own unique setting for a transformative session in the safe and therapeutic environment we provide.
We ask that you complete an application for our review. The psychospiritual application is here.
Ibogaine is a powerful tool for self exploration. An experience with ibogaine provides a significant window of opportunity to look deeper into self and explore those issues related to growth, healing and recovery. To complement the unique and transformative experience that is Iboga, we provide selected therapies which contribute to optimum health and increased well-being. We also offer a variety of other therapies tailored to the specific needs of the individual- all presented a la carte, though some available only by advanced arrangement. Please don't hesitate to ask, we aim to provide the highest degree of personalization to meet your needs!
Massage Therapy/Bodywork
Massage therapy can aid in restimulating the body after inactivity, abuse or neglect. It helps to improve circulation, rid the body of toxins released during a session, reduce tension, and increase the vital energy level.
Guided Breathwork
It is possible to induce profound changes in consciousness through focused breathing techniques. Breathwork meditation can induce a state of consciousness which can lead to increased relaxation, expansiveness and sense of well-being that aids in centering the body and mind. Iboga enhances the connection, providing ready access to a technique that is extremely useful, completely portable, and sustainable over a lifetime.
Energy Work
This complementary therapy focuses on rebalancing and harmonizing one's energetic field. This healing work is done by positioning and moving the hands over the body in a without actual physical contact.
Exercise and Stretching
Our facility is located alongside an estuary with many paths wonderful for exploring and is also blessed with a wide sandy beach for impromptu walks and meditation. We also facilitate yoga sessions or other simple stretching techniques we find aid in the return to the body post-Iboga. Sea kayaks, horseback riding, and yoga are also among the resources we can offer.
Art Therapy
Artistic expression of a visionary experience can catalyze powerful healing through a symbolic exploration of conscious and unconscious material. Art therapy can be an important part of the interpretation and re-integration of an ibogaine experience.
Nutritional Planning
Diet and nutrition are highly important factors in relation to recovery and overcoming cravings. To foster mindfulness of strengthening and maintaining health, we actively discuss integrating healthy eating habits and using vitamins, supplements, herbs and other nutritional therapies.
Aftercare/Personal Sustainability Counseling
Returning to everyday life post-Iboga with a well-considered plan is of vital importance. We will help explore potential options for aftercare, strategies for dealing with stress, recognizing potential relapse issues, and help to create a plan for furthering positive goals with continued self-actualization and success. We may also offer referrals for various services such as counseling, psychotherapy, long-term aftercare, health services, pain management assistance, group support, educational activities and other healing modalities.
Kambo, also called Sapo, is a secretion of the Giant Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa Bicolor), native to the Amazon. Used there for many thousand years for malaria, snakebite, and other serious conditions, as well as panema or bad luck. The medicine has unique properties that offer a broad promotion of general health, with amazing results for the immune system, chronic pain, and other serious conditions. In addition, the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are phenomenal. The restorative effect is unlike anything you've ever experienced.
We work in a variety of modalities with kambo, as a singular therapeutic tool and in combination with Iboga and other therapies. The combination is a powerful source of mind/body healing!
From R.M., a SoCal resident and client for a psychospiritual exploration session:
"I cannot endorse Casita Iboga strongly enough. When I arrived, I was greeted by James who was courteous, professional and welcoming. The environment was the perfect mix of comfort, privacy and peacefulness, surrounded on all sides by natural, beautiful landscapes. James was very honest, open and clear when he explained how the process worked, what I could expect and some pitfalls to avoid. He was there with me for every step of the way, he was always responsive to anything I needed and was willing to do whatever was necessary to make sure my treatment was successful. Over the span of days I spent at Casita Iboga, I was always given healthy, fresh food to eat, the bedroom I stayed in was very well furnished and incredibly comfortable. When I needed space to be alone, I had it. When I needed company to help me process the experience, I had it. I was safe, well cared for and when I left, I felt prepared and healthy, better than I had felt in many years. Months later, I am still in regular contact with Casita Iboga, I have never felt abandoned or left adrift, but also, I was not over-directed. My treatment was a very personal experience, and I have always felt that Casita Iboga has given me direction in the form of a sign rather than a guide. They helped me to find my own way, rather than show me the whole path. I would say it's worth the trip to Mexico, but that's not accurate. The journey outside my comfort zone was a critical part of the process and crossing the border was a part of that. The trip wasn't part of the cost, it was part of the benefit."
From B.A., an addiction interruption and substance detox client:
More testimonials from satisfied former clients are available,
by phone, email, or even in person in some areas