The quality of an iboga experience is determined in large part before you arrive. This is not an exaggeration. Practitioners who have worked with this medicine for decades say the same thing: preparation is half the ceremony. What you bring into the room — physiologically, psychologically, intentionally — shapes what is possible.
Iboga ceremony preparation begins with medical screening — EKG, blood panel, full medication review, and psychiatric history assessment. SSRIs require a supervised taper before ceremony is possible. Physical preparation involves abstaining from alcohol and drugs for at least two weeks, eating whole foods, and fasting 6–8 hours before the ceremony. Intention setting and clearing your calendar for 3–4 days are equally essential.
Medical preparation
Before any iboga ceremony, a comprehensive medical screening is required. This is not a formality. It is how we ensure that ceremony is safe for your specific body and history. The screening includes:
- Full medical history review
- EKG and cardiovascular assessment
- Blood panel (liver function, kidney function, and relevant markers)
- Review of all current medications
- Psychiatric history assessment
If you are currently taking SSRIs or SNRIs, you will need to complete a supervised taper — working with your prescribing physician — before ceremony is possible. This is an absolute requirement, not a preference. The timeline for tapering varies by medication and dosage; some require weeks, others months. The FAQ covers the full list of contraindications and what the process looks like.
Physical preparation
In the weeks before ceremony: abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs (minimum two weeks, ideally longer). Reduce or eliminate caffeine. Eat whole, unprocessed foods. Get adequate sleep. If you smoke, reducing significantly is beneficial.
In the 24 hours before ceremony: begin electrolyte loading. The ceremony produces significant physical demands on the body, and arriving well-hydrated and mineralised makes a meaningful difference in how the body handles the experience.
On the day of ceremony: fast for 6–8 hours before the ceremony begins. An empty stomach reduces the likelihood of nausea and supports absorption.
Setting intention
Iboga will show you what needs to be seen, regardless of what you intend. But intention still matters — it provides a direction, a compass. In the weeks before ceremony, spend time with the question: what is most in the way of the life I want to live? What have I been avoiding? What am I hoping for?
Write it down. Not as a script for the ceremony, but as a way of making the question explicit. The medicine will take it from there.
Practical preparation
Clear your calendar. The ceremony itself takes 12–24 hours, and the recovery period takes 2–3 days. Do not plan to return to demanding work or significant social obligations in the immediate aftermath. Arrange for someone to be available to support you during the recovery period if possible.
Inform the people close to you that you will be unavailable. You do not need to explain in detail — but being clear that you will be unreachable for several days reduces the stress of managing other people's expectations while you are in a sensitive state.
Preparing for what is difficult
Iboga is not gentle. The experience involves confronting the patterns and decisions and memories that have shaped your life — including the ones you have been avoiding. If you are entering ceremony hoping for a pleasant, comfortable experience, you will likely be disappointed. If you are entering with a genuine willingness to see what needs to be seen, the difficulty becomes something to work with rather than something to survive.
The preparation we offer includes a thorough conversation about what to expect — not as reassurance, but as honest orientation. Read the FAQ and then reach out via jake.nylund@gmail.com if you have specific questions about your situation. The integration page is worth reading before ceremony too — the preparation and integration phases are continuous with the ceremony itself, not separate from it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for an iboga ceremony?
Medical preparation comes first: EKG, blood panel, medication review, and psychiatric history assessment. If you are on SSRIs or SNRIs, a supervised taper is required before ceremony is possible. Physical preparation involves abstaining from alcohol and drugs for at least two weeks, eating whole foods, and fasting 6–8 hours before ceremony. Practical preparation means clearing your calendar for ceremony day plus 2–3 days of recovery.
Do I need to stop SSRIs before iboga ceremony?
Yes. SSRIs and SNRIs are absolute contraindications for ibogaine and whole-plant iboga. The risk of serotonin syndrome is real and potentially fatal. A supervised taper, conducted with your prescribing physician, is required before ceremony is possible. The timeline depends on the specific medication and dosage — some require weeks, others months. There are no exceptions.
How long before iboga ceremony should I stop drinking?
At minimum two weeks before ceremony, ideally longer. Alcohol affects liver function and the quality of the inner process the ceremony produces. The longer you abstain before ceremony, the cleaner your physiological state when you arrive.
What should I eat before iboga ceremony?
In the weeks before ceremony, eat whole unprocessed foods. Reduce caffeine. Abstain from alcohol. In the 24 hours before ceremony, focus on electrolyte loading — hydration and mineralisation. On the day of ceremony, fast for 6–8 hours. An empty stomach reduces nausea and supports absorption.
How do I set intention for iboga ceremony?
Spend time in the weeks before ceremony with the question: what is most in the way of the life you want to live? What have you been avoiding? What are you hoping for? Write it down — not as a script, but as a way of making the question explicit. Iboga will show you what needs to be seen regardless of what you intend, but intention provides a direction, a compass.