How to Prepare for an Iboga Retreat | Bwiti House

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6+ weeks before: medical screening

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• Complete our health questionnaire (cardiac, psychiatric, and family history).
• Obtain a 12-lead EKG (ECG) and a liver panel. Send results to our team. They are reviewed by U.S. medical doctors before you are accepted.
• Declare every medication and supplement you take: prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, herbal products. We screen for contraindications including QT-prolonging medications, MAOIs, and SSRIs.

Never stop a medication on your own. Some medications require a physician-supervised taper; others rule out participation. Our medical team will tell you what is possible and how to do it safely.

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2 weeks before: body and mind

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• Eat clean: whole foods, lighter meals, more water. There is no rigid required diet, but a cleaner body means less purging during ceremony and deeper spiritual work.
• Avoid alcohol and all recreational drugs from this point on.
• Reduce caffeine gradually to soften withdrawal headaches during the retreat.
• Begin setting your intentions. Iboga is a teacher. Write down the questions you are bringing to the medicine.
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Travel week

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• Fly into Libreville (LBV), Gabon. Our team coordinates your transport to the village.
• Check visa requirements for your nationality well in advance; e-visas are available for most travelers. The Bwiti House team coordinates your entire visa application for you, fully remotely via email. No need to visit any consulate or embassy.
• Pack: passport, comfortable loose clothing, insect repellent, any approved personal medications in original packaging, and a journal.
• Consult a travel-medicine clinic about standard Gabon travel health advice (e.g., yellow fever vaccination requirements and malaria precautions).
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48 hours before ceremony

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• Follow the instructions given by your provider on site.
• Stay well hydrated unless instructed otherwise.
• Rest. Arrive at ceremony as rested as travel allows.

Who must not take iboga

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For your safety, we decline applicants with: a history of heart disease, arrhythmia, or long QT syndrome; a pathological EKG; significant liver or kidney impairment; a personal history of psychosis or schizophrenia; pregnancy or breastfeeding; or medications that cannot be safely paused. If any of these apply to you, tell us before booking travel.

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Medical support at Bwiti House

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Our retreat center is 15 minutes from the Bifoun Medical Center, a government-recognized hospital with cardiac monitoring, emergency response capacity, and intensive care services. Since 1990, no medical issues have been linked to iboga itself at our location, a record built on strict screening and experienced traditional providers.

Read our full safety protocols: iboga-safety-medical-protocols ‍

Bwiti House provides traditional Bwiti iboga retreats, not medical treatment. This page is educational and harm-reduction guidance, not medical advice. Consult a physician about your specific health situation.

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