FAQ
We have organised the questions into different categories. You are welcome to explore the FAQ intuitively, or by theme.
NB: There is a category-specific search bar available.
The Iboga Full Flood retreats offered by HIMA are open to all adults (ages 18 to 60) who do not present any medical or psychiatric contraindications and who feel a sincere calling for healing, inner transformation, and deep reconnection with themselves.
You’re warmly invited to explore our Health Guidelines.
Participation may be considered beyond the age of 60, but only if the person is in excellent health, has no medical risk factors, and maintains a regular physical activity. This is subject to approval by our team following a full review of the medical file.
⚠️ Some conditions make participation impossible, including:
• Heart conditions (high blood pressure, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke...) or neurological disorders, and severe respiratory issues
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders (bipolar disorder, psychosis, severe or unstable depression, etc.)
• Medication that is incompatible with Iboga (antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, opioids, etc.)
A medical certificate is required for all participants to confirm that there are no contraindications.
Medication must never be stopped without prior consultation with your doctor.
📩 Before registering:
• Read our Conditions of Registration carefully
• Review HIMA’s Medical and Safety Guidelines
• Complete the registration form honestly, especially the sections related to your physical and mental health.
Your honesty is essential to ensure a process that is safe, respectful, and profoundly transformative.
🌿 If the Full Flood ceremony is not suitable for your current situation, a micro-dosing programme — more gentle and progressive — may be proposed as an alternative.
Absolutely! Solo travellers are warmly welcomed and often find a deep sense of connection within our group (maximum of 7 participants, along with the shamans and support team).
The retreat provides a safe and supportive space where each person is encouraged to embark on their own journey of transformation, whether they come alone or with a partner. We are by your side throughout the entire process.
Participants are generally between the ages of 20 and 60.
However, this retreat is open to all adults who feel called to embark on this transformative journey, regardless of age, provided they are of legal age and in good health. From the age of 60 onwards, we kindly ask participants to contact the HIMA team and provide a specific medical certificate (details will be given during a consultation with the team).
The diversity of ages often enriches the group dynamic and the depth of shared experiences.
No. Participation is strictly reserved for adults aged 18 and over. No exceptions are possible.
Yes, it is absolutely possible to take part in a Cacao ceremony from the age of 12. However, a parent or legal guardian must be present during the ceremony, and the HIMA team must be informed in advance so the dosage of Cacao can be adjusted accordingly.
No. It is not possible to attend a retreat with Iboga if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Iboga is a very powerful plant that deeply affects the nervous, emotional and energetic systems. For the absolute safety of both mother and baby, Iboga is strictly contraindicated throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
We understand that some pregnant women or new mothers feel a sincere calling to work with sacred plants, but this is not the right time for Iboga.
We invite you to return to us at a later time when the conditions are more suitable for this deep work.
It is possible, however, to attend a ceremonial cacao gathering, as cacao is a much gentler plant and more appropriate in these situations.
We host retreats in various locations around the world. The city and dates of each retreat are clearly mentioned in our official announcements (website, social media, brochures, etc.).
The exact location is shared only with registered participants via a confirmation email containing all the necessary logistical details.
2. Healing with Iboga
Iboga is an extraordinarily powerful healing plant, capable of acting on all levels of being: physical, emotional, mental, energetic, spiritual, and even karmic.
At HIMA, we work with the whole root bark of Iboga, within a safe and sacred ceremonial framework, to allow each person to access deep and tangible transformation.
Here are some concrete examples of what Iboga can genuinely shift in your life:
🔹 On the emotional level:
• True healing of deep emotional wounds, whether old or repressed (sadness, anger, abandonment, rejection, humiliation, betrayal, injustice...).Iboga helps heal the root of the five major soul wounds identified by Lise Bourbeau. Rather than managing or learning to cope with them, it clears the cellular and vibrational memory that holds them. This is a true and lasting transmutation.
• Release of heavy emotional burdens linked to childhood trauma, family systems or past emotional relationships.
• Dissolution of chronic anxiety, through understanding its true source and uprooting the unconscious mechanisms that fuel it.Dr Iboga does not simply soothe the symptoms — he reveals, illuminates and liberates their origin, restoring a stable inner sense of safety.
• Resolution of unconscious fears, outdated protection mechanisms and deeply embedded self-sabotage patterns.
• Reopening of the heart: reconnecting with joy, gentleness, self-love, the ability to love fully, to receive, and to form healthy, aligned relationships.
🔸 On the mental and behavioural level:
• Awareness and deep clearing of limiting beliefs and false thought patterns inherited from childhood, society or past trauma.Iboga not only helps to identify these unconscious structures, but also deactivates them at the root by releasing the emotional and energetic imprint that sustains them.
• Breaking free from repetitive cycles (in relationships, work, emotions…).
• Mental clarity, sharpened discernment, a stronger ability to make aligned decisions, and a better balance between intuition and rational thought.
• Liberation from compulsive or destructive behaviours, including “mild” addictions such as:
Excessive use of social media or screens
Habitual consumption of pornography
Tobacco, coffee, or mild stimulants
Automatic behaviours linked to boredom, stress or self-sabotage
Iboga works directly on the neural, emotional and energetic circuits connected to these behaviours, enabling individuals to regain sovereignty, understand the root of their compulsions, and be freed from them in a lasting way.
⚠️ Important: HIMA is not equipped to support cases of severe or active addiction (alcoholism, hard drugs, methadone, etc.). These situations require medical support in a clinical setting.We recommend that individuals in such circumstances contact specialised therapeutic clinics, supervised by trained healthcare professionals.
🌿 On the energetic and spiritual level
• Removal of energetic parasites or devices that may interfere with your will, your thoughts, your emotions, or your life path.
• Clearing of karmic and transgenerational memories that hinder your evolution.
• Re-encoding of the energy field, rebalancing of the subtle bodies, enabling deep energetic harmony and a more fluid circulation of life force.
• Expansion of consciousness: spiritual awakening, access to clear inner guidance, reconnection with guides, soul families, ancestral lineages and your soul’s mission.
• Re-grounding in the physical body: an embodied, peaceful, and conscious presence — a deep return to Self.
• Clarity about your energetic environment: understanding external influences (relationships, places, commitments, habits) and releasing what no longer aligns with your true vibration.
✨ In practical terms, after an Full Flood iboga retreat at HIMA, you may experience:
• A deep sense of lightness, as if a long-held internal burden has been lifted. Many describe a profound cleansing across the emotional, mental, energetic and even physical planes.
• A new, clear and stable perspective on yourself, your needs, boundaries, and life direction. You’ll see more clearly what supports your alignment, what weighs you down, and what must change.
• A lasting inner peace, unlike anything you may have known before — not a temporary relief, but a grounded calm rooted in realignment with your core essence.
• The feeling of having truly found yourself again: a reconnection with your essence, your heart, your truth. This return to Self is often accompanied by a greater love for yourself and deeper acceptance of your life journey.
• A natural motivation to act and create — no longer driven by fear or pressure, but by a genuine, internal impulse. You feel supported from within.
• A new lens through which to view your past — no longer as a string of wounds or failures, but as an initiatory path from which you’ve drawn strength. This new outlook enables profound reconciliation with yourself and your story.
• Tangible shifts in your relationships, thought patterns and behaviours. You embody your truth more fully, and it naturally reflects in your actions and interactions.
• Greater emotional and energetic discernment: you more easily recognise what misaligns you, assert boundaries with clarity, and naturally protect yourself from invasive or discordant energies.
• A renewed trust in life and in your own abilities: fear recedes, clarity and courage rise. You begin to walk forward with more faith, coherence, and inner strength.
🌱 At HIMA, we welcome each person with profound respect and compassion.Every retreat is a sacred space where your healing and transformation can unfold in safety and truth.
If you feel the call, we warmly invite you to reach out, ask your questions, or schedule a preparation call with our team.We will be honoured to listen, guide, and explore together whether a Full Flood iboga retreat or a microdosing programme could be the right path for you.
Yes, this is absolutely possible.Iboga is a powerful medicinal plant, renowned for its ability to reach the root of emotional, psychological, mental, energetic, and karmic suffering.
During HIMA retreats, we offer a deeply safe, sacred, and compassionate space to welcome this kind of inner experience with gentleness and presence.
Our ceremonies are not “miracle solutions” or substitutes for medical treatment. However, when the calling is sincere and the preparation protocol is followed with commitment, Dr Iboga works with great wisdom to reveal, transform, and release the layers that weigh down and trap the being in states of sadness, confusion, or loss of meaning.
Many participants, after one or several ceremonies, report a profoundly transformed perspective on their life, a deep sense of release, and a renewed relationship with their personal story.
Depending on the severity or root cause of the depressive state, several ceremonies may be necessary, sometimes accompanied by a microdosing program, to allow for a complete and stabilized process.
Healing with Iboga is sometimes part of a larger journey, requiring more than one experience in order for the transformation to fully unfold on all levels.
We invite you to contact us if you feel concerned, so that we can evaluate together whether a Full Flood retreat or a microdosing program would be appropriate in your case.
⚠️ Important: If your depressive state is accompanied by ongoing medical treatment (e.g. antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, etc.), you will not be able to participate in an Iboga ceremony until the treatment has been safely discontinued with the approval of your doctor.
👉 For individuals currently under such treatment, we recommend reaching out to a clinic specialized in ibogaine therapy, medically supervised and more suitable for this type of situation.
🔒 Important: HIMA is not equipped to support individuals with diagnosed psychiatric conditions** such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, or severe, unstable depression.These situations require clinical support that we do not offer within our ceremonial setting.
📝 It is essential to be fully transparent in your registration form, particularly regarding your mental and emotional health.
Your honesty allows us to maintain a safe, fair, and aligned space for both you and the rest of the group.
Yes, this is absolutely possible.Many participants arrive at HIMA with a deep inner sense of stagnation, existential emptiness, or disconnection from their soul’s mission. An Iboga Full Flood retreat can initiate a unique, profound, and lasting transformation.
At HIMA, we are guided by a clear mission: to support each participant in realigning with their inner truth, their deepest aspirations, and their soul path. We offer a sacred, structured, and compassionate space where clarity, purpose, and renewed direction can emerge.
Dr Iboga acts as a powerful revealer. He brings to light the root causes that prevent us from fully embodying our lives, such as:
• unresolved emotional wounds,
• limiting beliefs,
• repetitive behavioural patterns,
• energetic parasites or systems,
• existential fatigue or loss of purpose and vitality.
Iboga brings these blockages to the surface with surgical precision, allowing for deep release — often where other therapeutic methods have had little or no effect.
This sacred medicine works at the root, across emotional, mental, energetic, karmic, and transgenerational levels. It re-anchors the being in the body, restores inner peace, and renews one’s perspective on life.
An Iboga Full Flood retreat is not simply an experience — it is a true calling to reclaim your inner power, to find your direction again, and to transform your life into a space aligned with your soul.
🌿 If you feel the call, we warmly invite you to contact us so we can assess together whether a Full Flood iboga retreat or a micro-dosing programme is the right fit for your current situation.
With Dr Iboga:
Yes, absolutely. Working with ancestral lineage is one of the deep possibilities that Iboga can open during HIMA ceremonies.This sacred plant is traditionally known for its powerful connection to ancestral healing and wisdom.
Dr Iboga is a living intelligence, capable of reaching into the layers of the subconscious and connecting us with our ancestral lineage—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and vibrationally.
This may manifest in many different ways, including:
• Visions or messages from ancestors
• Symbolic or direct encounters with a family member
• The release of unexpressed ancestral emotions
• Reconciliation with a branch of your family tree
• A restored sense of belonging
Iboga acts as a bridge between worlds, helping to restore a flow of love, memory, and truth between you and your origins.
This process may also involve the release of transgenerational memories, whether emotional, behavioural, or energetic.Dr Iboga can go as far as to cleanse what we call the vibrational and epigenetic code, where unconscious inherited patterns are sometimes stored.
This kind of ancestral healing can bring:
• Deep inner clarity
• Peace with the past
• Reconnection to your spiritual roots
• Greater freedom to walk your own path, free from inherited burdens
Each experience is unique. Some participants come with a clear intention to work on their family lineage, while for others, the connection arises naturally and unexpectedly. In all cases, Iboga works with deep precision and wisdom, in accordance with your guides, guided by your soul and by what is ready to be healed.
With Ix Cacao:
✨ This type of ancestral connection is also possible through our cacao ceremonies.Mama Cacao—also known as Ix Cacao—works in a gentler, more subtle way, primarily through the heart. She allows us to reconnect with our ancestors through love, gratitude, forgiveness, and spiritual presence.This process often requires greater consistency and repetition, as well as a slower rhythm. It may involve attending several ceremonies, or even a personal commitment to train with the medicine of cacao.
For those who feel this deeper calling, HIMA offers a full training programme on how to prepare a ceremonial cacao, to support this ancestral work through the path of the heart.
Yes, this is entirely possible within the HIMA ceremonial framework.
🌿 With Cacao:
Cacao is a powerful energetic purifier. During Cacao ceremonies, shamans work in alliance with the spirit of the plant to support this kind of cleansing.
🌿 With Iboga:
Iboga is a sacred plant endowed with living intelligence, capable of identifying, deactivating, and extracting certain types of energetic parasites or implants present in the body or in the subtle fields.
These energetic interferences may:
• Influence thoughts, behaviours, or emotions• Create blockages, chronic fatigue, or a sense of internal stagnation• Interfere with the soul’s alignment or divert one from their true path
Dr Iboga knows precisely what needs to be removed, and when.This type of work can only unfold in a deeply respectful and well-prepared space.
It depends on several key factors:
• The quality of your dietary and energetic preparation beforehand (see registration conditions and the preparation document sent after registration)
• Strict respect for the protocol before and during the retreat
• Honesty from the participant regarding their health, spiritual history, and intentions
During the first days of the retreat, before the Full-Flood ceremony, we also prepare your energetic body to receive the medicine.
This includes vibrational, physical, and spiritual practices that allow the plant to act with greater clarity and depth.
⚠️ Disclaimer:The energetic clearing work offered during HIMA ceremonies is not part of a conventional medical approach, and must not be confused with physical antiparasitic treatment or intestinal detoxification.If you suspect intestinal parasites or any organic infection, it is essential to consult a qualified medical practitioner to obtain a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.HIMA ceremonies do not replace medical care or any form of allopathic treatment.
3. Preparation & Safety
Participants will receive detailed instructions upon registration, included in the confirmation email.
These instructions cover dietary guidelines, mental and physical preparation, and a list of items to bring.
Following these steps will help optimise your experience. Certain requirements—particularly those concerning the avoidance of alcohol and drugs—are mandatory in order to participate in the full-flood ceremony.
Emotional and mental preparation for a Full Flood Iboga retreat often begins well before your arrival.
From the moment you decide to participate, the spirit of the plant — whom we call Doctor Iboga — already begins to work with you.
In the days or weeks leading up to the ceremony, it is common to experience intense emotions, life situations or moments of realisation that bring to light what needs to be healed and transformed during the retreat.
Many participants report having dreams in which they were visited by Doctor Iboga a few days or weeks before the retreat.
We encourage you to take note of whatever arises within you: sensations, dreams, recurring thoughts or emotions, moments of doubt or insight. This is also a powerful time to deepen your healing intentions.
The clearer, more sincere and more specific your intentions are, the more the work with Iboga will be able to align with them.
That said, even without a clearly defined intention, Dr Iboga will guide you towards what is right: the plant always acts with great wisdom and compassion.
We do not give any specific instructions regarding meditation or mental preparation. The process will unfold naturally, in connection with the spirit of the plant.
Feel free to contact us for a consultation if you feel the need to talk or to be supported during this preparatory phase. This exchange will allow you to ask your questions, clarify your intentions, and feel fully supported throughout this healing process.
No. Participants are asked to stop consuming coffee, tea (including black, green, and white teas), maté, and all caffeinated or stimulating beverages at least two weeks before the retreat — ideally one month in advance.
This is an essential condition of participation in our retreats.
☕ These stimulating substances interfere with Iboga’s action on the nervous system, the heart, and the vital energy. They are incompatible with the deep healing work that the plant offers.
You’re warmly invited to explore our Health Guidelines.
📝 It is important to read the registration conditions carefully, as they detail all the elements that must be respected to ensure a safe and coherent process.
📩 A full preparation guide will be sent to you by email once your registration is confirmed, including all dietary, emotional and energetic instructions to follow prior to the retreat.
That depends on the medication. If you are taking any treatment beyond minor or temporary remedies (e.g., for a cold or headache), you must first check whether your medication is compatible with Iboga. We recommend visiting our IBOGA Health and Safety Guidelines, where a regularly updated list of contraindicated medications is available.
👉 If your medication is deemed compatible, it is mandatory to book a consultation with the HIMA team to assess whether a Full Flood retreat is suitable for your situation.
If Full Flood is contraindicated, you may be eligible for a microdosing programme as a gentler and safer alternative. Please contact the HIMA team to explore this further.
⚠️ Never discontinue any medication without the advice of your doctor. We take safety and integrity seriously, and each case is assessed with care and respect.
This is a shamanic retreat. Therefore, there is no medical team or medical equipment on site. However, first aid equipment is available, and it is possible to reach a hospital quickly in case of emergency.
To preserve the harmony of the ceremony and ensure the safety of all participants, our protocol is strict and thorough: Iboga doses are carefully measured and administered in safe conditions, in alignment with the specific framework of HIMA.
A medical certificate is mandatory prior to participation. It serves to confirm that you do not present any major contraindications (such as heart conditions, hypertension, psychiatric disorders, or incompatible medications).
Our safety protocol is built on three essential pillars:
Serious preparation in the weeks leading up to the retreat.
Complete respect for the ceremonial protocol, including careful attention to the guidance given by the shamans.
Full transparency regarding your physical and emotional health during the registration process.
Furthermore, the proximity of a hospital with emergency services is a key criterion in the choice of our retreat locations.If needed, the HIMA team has a dedicated vehicle ready to transport a participant immediately to a medical facility.
This framework allows Iboga to unfold its healing work in a deeply secure way — provided that each participant fully respects the protocol and takes responsibility for their part in this sacred journey.
No. It is strongly advised not to consume alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or any psychoactive substances in the weeks leading up to the retreat.
To ensure your safety and allow for the deep and effective work of the Iboga to unfold, we ask that you strictly observe the following timelines:
Alcohol: must be stopped at least 7 days before the retreat, and ideally 2 to 4 weeks beforehand.
Cannabis, psychedelic mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and other psychoactive substances: must be stopped at least 1 month before the retreat, and ideally 2 months in advance. These substances can significantly impact the nervous and energetic systems, and may interfere with the work of the plant.
This period of abstinence is essential to allow Iboga to work deeply, without interference, and to establish a strong and stable foundation for your transformational process.
Important:
• These substances may interfere unpredictably with Iboga, compromising the healing process and posing risks to safety.
• If this detox period is not respected, HIMA cannot guarantee the success or safety of the ceremony.
• Based on experience, Dr Iboga tends to work more intensely with those who disregard the preparation protocol.
• HIMA reserves the right to refuse any participant who has consumed these substances too close to the retreat, with no refund possible.
• These conditions are clearly outlined in the preparation document sent after registration. Ignoring them automatically voids any refund claims.
Yes, it is possible to join an Iboga retreat after working with other sacred plants, provided that a sufficient integration period is respected.
👉 We require a minimum of two weeks between your last experience and the start of the retreat with HIMA, in order to give the body, mind, and energetic field time to fully integrate the previous work.
Ideally, a one-month gap is strongly recommended, so that you can approach the Iboga with a clear, stable, and fully available inner space.
It is essential to inform us transparently if you have recently taken part in another ceremony involving sacred plants and/or ancestral medicines.This information is crucial for assessing your registration and for our ability to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all participants.
❗️If this information is not shared prior to the retreat, HIMA reserves the right to deny your participation in the ceremony, with no refund possible.
We recommend visiting our IBOGA Health and Safety Guidelines.
Unlike synthetic psychedelic substances, Iboga does not create “bad trips” in the recreational sense.
What Iboga reveals is always linked to your healing. Even when the experience feels uncomfortable or intense, it is showing you what needs to be seen, healed, or released.
That said, it is essential to approach the ceremony with humility, honesty, and respect.
If your preparation (diet, detox, rest) has been neglected, the experience may be harder to integrate.Likewise, if you come in with a controlling or performance-driven mindset, or seeking a thrill, the process can become very challenging.
Sacred plants owe us nothing. They are not here to entertain us. They choose to help us heal — it is our responsibility to honour that gift.
An Iboga ceremony is not a “psychedelic trip.” It is a sacred and transformative healing journey.
We have witnessed difficult ceremonies in those who came in with disrespect or a lack of preparation.
Full transparency about your physical, mental and emotional state is essential.Honesty is a form of respect — towards yourself, the HIMA team, and the spirit of the plant.
Dr Iboga works with great wisdom, but it is up to us to approach this process with seriousness and integrity.
No. At present, HIMA retreats are not suitable for individuals with diagnosed psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other behavioural disorders.
You’re warmly invited to explore our Health Guidelines.
These conditions require specific medical and therapeutic support, which we do not offer within the framework of our shamanic retreats.
Our retreats do not in any way replace psychiatric care or clinical supervision.
👉 We encourage you to seek out clinics that specialise in the therapeutic use of ibogaine, under the care of qualified medical professionals trained to handle such cases.
No. HIMA retreats are not designed to support individuals with severe or active addictions.
These situations require specific medical care, along with a detox programme, psychological support, and a structured therapeutic protocol, which we do not provide within our shamanic framework.👉 We recommend seeking out ibogaine clinics specialised in addiction treatment.
However, we are able to support certain forms of so-called “mild” dependencies, such as:
• Nicotine addiction
• Dependence on coffee or sugar
• Screen, social media, or pornography addiction
• Compulsive behaviours related to work, food, or sexuality
These issues can be addressed within the context of our retreats or microdosing programmes with HIMA.
In the context of our retreats, a “drug” refers to any substance that creates dependency and artificially alters one’s mental, emotional, or physical state.This includes, but is not limited to:
• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Psychedelic substances used recreationally
• Stimulants and sedatives
• Medications used outside their prescribed context
Unlike these addictive substances, Iboga is not a drug — it is a sacred medicine recognised for its power in treating addiction.Iboga works deeply to help individuals free themselves from compulsive behaviours, destructive patterns, and dependencies — including heroin, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis, and antidepressants.
👉 It is essential not to confuse Iboga with drugs: where drugs imprison, Iboga liberates.
Yes. Some physical and psychological conditions make the use of Iboga dangerous or strictly prohibited.
The main contraindications include:
• Heart conditions (even past or stabilised)
• Severe or unstable high blood pressure
• History of stroke or heart attack
• Incompatible medications (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, opioids, methadone)
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression)
• States of extreme mental or emotional fragility without therapeutic support
👉 Before registering, it is essential to:
• Read our IBOGA Health and Safety Guidelines
• Read the full Terms of Registration
• Complete the application form honestly, with full disclosure of your physical and emotional health
❗️In case of doubt, please contact the HIMA team.
🩺 A valid medical certificate is strongly recommanded for all participants.
4. Ceremony Setting & Shamanic Protocol
The Full Flood Iboga retreat takes place over 5 days – 4 nights, with a programme designed to support each stage of your transformational journey, from preparation to integration.
Each day combines space, presence, healing, and guidance, within a safe and sacred environment, in connection with the spirit of Iboga.
✨ Day 1 – Arrival & Opening of the Process:
Welcoming participants between 2pm and 5pm.Settling in, grounding into the space, and first connections with the team and other participants.
• Sound & Chakras Workshop – energetic harmonisation, voice activation
• World Movement Workshop – body-based practices to awaken vital energy, release tension and reconnect with oneself
• Time for personal introspection and centring – to begin setting your intentions
✨ Day 2 – Preparation for the Ceremony:
A full day dedicated to energetic, emotional, and physical preparation for the Full Flood ceremony.
• Individual or duo energy healing session – rebalancing the energetic field, voice activation
• Second Sound & Chakras Workshop – deepening vibrational alignment
• World Movement Workshop – rhythm, grounding, recentring
• Time for introspection and clarification of intentions
• Q&A Circle – collective preparation
• In the evening: Iboga Shamanic Ceremony – Full Flood
🌿 Days 3 & 4 – Ceremony, Deep Journey, Integration:
Two full days dedicated to the core of the healing process with Iboga.
• Continuation of the ceremony
• Rest, silence, deep introspection
• Ongoing presence and support from the team – energy work and guidance as needed
• Progressive integration within a nurturing and secure space
🌞 Day 5 – Celebration & Closing:
• Conscious closing brunch
• Sharing circle – expression, integration, anchoring of insights
• Energetic integration workshop
• Departure between 12pm and 2pm, with a transformed inner space, ready to embrace a new chapter in life.
The effects of Iboga vary greatly from one person to another.
They depend on many factors, including:
the amount of Iboga administered,
how the doses are taken (all at once or in several stages),
the participant’s physical, energetic, and emotional constitution,
and the intentions set for the ceremony.
All of these aspects are discussed and clarified before the ceremony, during the individual interview with the HIMA team and throughout the preparatory circle.Our approach is always personalised, adapted to each person’s journey, and guided within a safe and supportive framework.
🌿 On a physical level, the effects can be intense. This is why participants remain lying down throughout the ceremony. One common aspect of the process is purging, which may involve nausea, vomiting, or bowel movements.
This purge is not an undesirable side effect, but rather a natural release initiated by the plant to help the body, heart, and spirit let go of what no longer belongs to them.It reflects the deep cleansing work carried out by the plant. Everything takes place within a secure setting, with the caring presence of the team, who support your comfort and accompany you closely throughout the ceremony.
Dr Iboga works with deep intelligence, identifying exactly what needs to be released and removing it from the system with precision — liberating the body, nervous system, and subtle energy fields from what no longer serves:
repressed emotions (sadness, anger, frustration...),
energetic parasites,
blockages,
distorted “codes”.
This detoxification process is an integral part of the healing, with the constant and gentle presence of the HIMA team supporting you through every phase.
🌌 On a perceptual and psychic level, Iboga may induce:
visions (not to be confused with hallucinations),
messages from the subconscious or the spirit of the plant,
sounds, words, or symbols carrying teachings.
These effects can sometimes be uncomfortable or unsettling, especially when they bring unresolved wounds to the surface. However, they are never random — each image, sensation, or perception is part of a process of release, understanding, or deep reprogramming.
Throughout this journey, the HIMA team is present, attentive, and caring at every moment.You are never alone. We accompany you with respect, care, and support through every stage of the process.
⏳ The journey with the plant unfolds over two days.Some participants gradually regain mobility within 24 hours of taking Iboga. Others may need more time to integrate and recover.
By 36 hours, most participants are able to move around normally again. However, depending on your sensitivity and what has been released, a longer period of rest may be needed.
🛌 We strongly recommend planning for several days of rest following a Full-Flood Iboga retreat, to allow your body, heart, and mind to fully adjust to the inner transformation.
🌺 At HIMA, we ensure a constant and caring presence throughout the entire process. Our priority is that you feel fully supported, held, and safe during this powerful shamanic journey.The path with Iboga is demanding, but it offers unparalleled healing and liberation — when the container is respected and secure.
During Iboga ceremonies facilitated by HIMA, we serve the plant in its purest and most natural form: the powdered root bark of the Tabernanthe Iboga plant.
This bark contains a complex spectrum of alkaloids, each playing a specific role in the healing process. We work with the full spectrum of the plant — never isolated extracts.
Iboga is taken orally, following a precise and secure shamanic protocol agreed upon in advance with the HIMA team.
The Iboga is always ingested in the presence of the facilitators, within the sacred space of the ceremony. Each dose is accompanied and carefully observed.
Our approach is always personalised, respectful, and safe. All dosages are administered within clearly defined safety limits, to ensure an optimal and protected healing environment for each participant.
Beyond the physical substance, we work in close connection with the living spirit of the plant, whom we call Dr Iboga — a sacred and deeply wise consciousness.
Every step of the ceremony is carried out in alignment with his guidance, and in accordance with precise shamanic protocols that allow the opening of a true space for healing.
Yes. Energy healing and energetic workshops are an integral part of the healing process offered during our Iboga retreats.
Before the Iboga ceremony:
Each participant receives an individual or duo shamanic healing session
We hold energetic rebalancing workshops using sound, movement, and voice
These sessions are designed to prepare the energetic field, align the subtle bodies, and create a stable, receptive inner space for the work of Dr Iboga.They are essential to welcome the sacred medicine with full awareness and to support smooth integration.
After the Iboga ceremony:
Energetic integration workshops are also offered, to help the body and system anchor, stabilise, and assimilate the transformations experienced.
During the Iboga ceremony:
Dr Iboga is a living intelligence who guides the ceremony with great precision. No external energy work is performed unless the plant clearly requests it from the shamans.
In rare cases, if an energetic blockage prevents the medicine from flowing fully, the shamans or facilitators may be guided to intervene gently and respectfully, in collaboration with the spirit of the plant.
At HIMA, we consider that the role of the team is to support, hold the space, and serve the sacred plant’s work with humility and presence.
Sleeping in the same space where the ceremony takes place is an integral part of the ritual framework and the shamanic healing protocol.This is rooted in a sacred intention: to extend the energy of the ceremony throughout the night within a held and protected space, and to establish a strong, unified energetic field from the moment participants arrive — a field ready to hold the upcoming transformation.
This configuration allows for:
• Strengthening the healing process by maintaining energetic connection with the plant and the vibrational field of the group
• Enabling shamans and facilitators to ensure energetic and emotional safety during the sensitive hours of nocturnal integration
• Stabilising and preserving the sacred space, allowing the therapeutic energies to continue working deeply, even during sleep
• Creating a sacred energetic container among participants and within the ceremonial space from the very beginning
This proximity also fosters a strong sense of community, grounding, and mutual support, which is essential for integrating the experiences and navigating the inner journey with confidence.
No. At HIMA, we do not work with ibogaine, which is a purified extract of one of the many alkaloids found in the Tabernanthe Iboga plant.
We work exclusively with the whole root bark, finely ground into powder, in its complete and natural form. This bark contains a full spectrum of alkaloids — ibogaine being one of them — along with many other compounds that act synergistically to support the healing process on physical, emotional, mental, and energetic levels.
HIMA’s approach is shamanic, holistic, and sacred:
We do not separate the molecule from the plant’s intelligence.
• We work in connection with the living spirit of the plant, whom we call Dr Iboga.
Extracts such as ibogaine are used in certain medical clinics, especially in the treatment of addictions. This is not our framework.
Our ceremonies are intended for those who feel called to enter a healing process guided by the wisdom of Dr Iboga.
5. Intimate & Personal Life
Yes. It is not necessary to abstain from sexual relations before the retreat.Each person is free to follow their own rhythm and desires in this regard.
We simply recommend listening to your body, and remaining attuned to your energetic and emotional state in the days leading up to the ceremony, in order to arrive in the best possible condition.
It may also be helpful to bring awareness to the energetic exchanges that occur during sexual intimacy, and to consciously choose the energies with which you wish to enter the ceremony.
6. Post-Ceremony Rhythm
It depends on the individual.Some people will feel quickly revitalised and ready to resume their activities, while others may need several days, or even a full week, to fully savour and integrate the experience.
Our recommendation is to allow at least 2 to 3 days of rest after the ceremony, without professional commitments or intense physical activity, in order to honour your integration rhythm and support a smooth recovery.
Ideally, give yourself a full week of rest and integration — to explore the surroundings or simply to nurture yourself.
Again, this depends on your physical, mental, and energetic state.Some people regain their stability quickly and feel able to drive as soon as they leave the retreat, while others may remain in a state of deep energetic processing or fatigue for several days and may not be fit to drive.
In general, the 24-hour integration period included in our Full Flood retreats allows most participants to travel home independently. However, each experience is unique. As a precaution, we recommend that you plan for the possibility of needing a driver or taxi, or consider organised transport or carpooling with another group member if necessary.Ideally, it is best not to drive within 48 hours after the ceremony.
It is important to listen to your body, remain cautious, and choose an organised transport solution (such as a taxi or carpool) if needed at the end of your retreat.
7. Support & Participation
Only registered participants may attend the retreat. To ensure the safety and integrity of the space, we cannot accept companions who are not taking part in the Iboga ceremony.
However, we do offer private ceremonies upon request, in an intimate and co-created setting, tailored to your needs.
Yes. Before the ceremony, we open a private WhatsApp group exclusively for participants.This group remains open for one year, allowing you to share your experiences, ask questions, receive insights from others, and stay connected to the retreat energy.
It is a confidential and supportive space to continue walking the path together, and it is included in your registration.
In addition to this group support, individual follow-up is available as an optional service, with pricing depending on your needs: follow-up consultations, video calls, coaching, or shamanic healing sessions.
If you feel the call, you are welcome to reach out to our team to set up personalised one-to-one support.
8. Logistics & Organisation
The retreat includes 4 nights of accommodation, all meals (from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5), the Iboga ceremony, as well as preparation and integration workshops, sharing and support circles, and an individual or duo energy healing session.
Transport to and from the retreat centre is not included.
Two main facilitators are present at each retreat.
Depending on the size of the group and specific needs, one or two additional team members may also be present — this may include trainee practitioners or participants from the volunteer programme.
The team ensures that each participant is supported with care, presence, and availability throughout the retreat, with full respect for each person’s individual pace and experience.The number of participants per retreat is carefully limited to uphold this level of attention.
Our retreats are international. English is fluently spoken by the entire HIMA team, allowing everyone to feel welcomed and understood, regardless of their native language.
We also speak French and Spanish, and we adapt to each group to ensure kind and fluid communication throughout the process.
Some facilitators, such as Jadhe (who speaks Chinese and Portuguese), also speak additional languages.If you would like to know whether your language will be spoken during a specific retreat, please feel free to email us regarding that retreat.
A shorter stay is not possible, as the retreat is carefully structured over 5 days to provide a complete transformative experience and ensure that you return home in full safety.
As for extending your stay on-site, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on your integration process and following an assessment by the HIMA team.Any additional nights and meals will be charged separately, according to the rates defined by the HIMA team.
Our cancellation policy is outlined during the registration process and in the General Terms & Conditions:
• 90 days before the retreat: free cancellation and full refund
• 30 days before the retreat: 50% refund
• 15 days before the retreat: non-refundable*
*If we are able to find another participant to take your place, we may be able to issue a refund.We keep the number of participants per retreat intentionally low. If you are able to find someone to replace you, it is possible to transfer your spot.
No. Our retreats are designed as sacred spaces for reconnection with the self, where all the energy is dedicated to introspection, healing, and integration.
There are no excursions organised outside the retreat venue, in order to preserve the energetic continuity of the process and maintain a safe and contained group environment.
Free time is devoted to rest, grounding, journaling, or to energetic practices offered by the HIMA team in alignment with the shamanic healing journey.
9.Volunteering,Events&Private Ceremonies
Yes. HIMA offers volunteering programmes for those called to a deep path of healing with sacred plants. These programmes require a long-term commitment — over several months — to both HIMA and the sacred plants. They are genuine paths of transformation and life change.
Two paths are available:
🔸 A transmission path, for those who feel the call to support others, to learn how to serve Iboga, and to train as facilitators in a ceremonial, shamanic context aligned with HIMA’s protocols.
🔹 A voluntary commitment path, for those who wish to actively support HIMA’s work while receiving the healing of the plants themselves.
These programmes include:
• Several Iboga ceremonies in both Full Flood and Stream formats
• A multi-week microdosing journey
• Shamanic cacao ceremonies
• Times of teaching, practice, and integration
Volunteers may contribute in various ways:
• Helping with general logistics (preparing and cleaning sacred spaces, welcoming participants, maintaining the venue)
• Assisting in the kitchen (helping to prepare simple, diet-appropriate meals)
• Learning to serve a sacred plant in ceremony under the guidance of the HIMA team
• Observing and integrating the energetic protocols required to maintain a safe and sacred ceremonial space
These programmes are built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, reciprocity, transformation, and love.
Each application is reviewed with care. This is not simply logistical help — it is a true calling of the heart: a deep commitment to HIMA, to the Spirit of the plants, and to yourself.
It is an alliance between your soul’s journey, our vision of healing, and the ancestral wisdom of the sacred plants.
More information will be available soon on a dedicated page on our website.
Yes, we offer private ceremonies upon request. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and to receive a personalised quote.