The use of Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid derived from the roots of the African plant Iboga, might be a potential solution for treating brain injuries and diseases such as TBI, CTE, ALS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, due to its ability to promote the growth of new glial cells and forcing the neurons to make connections.
While some psychedelics may have contraindications if not properly screened, many are physiologically safe and grow naturally. The speaker advocates for the use of natural compounds rather than pharmaceuticals, which have contributed to the opioid epidemic and are a multi-billion dollar industry.
The use of prescription medication is not in the best interest of war veterans. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is helping veterans to titrate off their medications, and use psychedelic therapy as needed, which is usually only once or twice a year at most.
Microdosing psilocybin has shown to be effective in treating traumatic brain injuries as it replaces antidepressants and disrupts the default mode network, forcing neurons to create more connections in the underused parts of the brain.
The treatment weekends have a range of key themes, from feeling free to a renewed desire to live and appreciation for life, connecting with a higher power, and a readiness to give back to society.
Dr. Nolan Williams is studying the potential benefits of Ibogaine for treating traumatic brain injuries, blast injuries, CTE, ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's by encouraging the growth of new glial cells in degenerative brain diseases.