Dr. Michael Marder is Ikerbasque Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country where, for example, he teaches courses in “Ecology and Phenomenology,” and “Philosophical Anthropology.” His research interests include ethical and political philosophy, environmental philosophy, and phenomenology, and he has authored a number of books on these topics. I invite Michael on the podcast to discuss plant phenomenology, or what he calls “phytophenomenology,” in other words, a combination of phenomenology, botany, and population ecology. Considering many psychedelics stem from a range of plant species, we’re going to find out what it is like to be a plant; to what degree plants are sentient and intelligent; and how the above relate to psychedelics in general and what we can infer about Tabernanthe iboga. Topics of our discussion include: what “phenomenology” is and its application to plant subjectivity; alienness of plant life; rather than anthropomorphize plants, Michael wants to vegetalize humans; signs of plant intelligence and communication; Nietzsche’s “will to power” and Heidegger’s “standing reserve” as two sides of the same coin; plant phenotypic expression through human consumers; plants using humans possibly more than humans using plants; psychedelics affording experiences of the world through their plant consciousness and perception; the ethics of eating a plant’s psychoactive alkaloids, considering alkaloids are defense mechanisms caused by stressors in the plant’s environment (akin to eating meat from stressed animals, similarly speaking); plant and animal co-evolution; and “clashing lifeworlds,” e.g., experiencing the intersection of sober and psychedelic lifeworlds. To find out more about Michael, visit his website at (https://www.michaelmarder.org). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Michael and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/88-ep3-6_psychedelic-phenomenology-or-what-is-it-like-to-be-a-psychedelic-plant_michael-marder/).

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Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Dr. Felix Krengel recently completed his PhD in biological sciences at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City. His research interests include phytochemistry, metabolomics, and plant tissue culture, focusing particularly on the biosynthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids by Mexican species of the Apocynaceae plant family. I invite Felix on the podcast to discuss his and his colleagues’ research into novel alkaloidal extraction and purification methods, resulting in three published papers in 2019. They are one of very few laboratories in the world, as far as I can tell, exploring the forefront of alternative botanical sources of ibogan-type alkaloids, especially ibogaine. Topics of our discussion include: the difference between primary and secondary metabolites; the difference between plant family/genus/species; his and his team’s research into Mexican Tabernaemontana species that produce ibogan-type alkaloids such as coronaridine, ibogamine, voacangine, ibogaine (“CIVI-complex”); factors affecting alkaloid concentrations in plants; variations in inner and outer root bark alkaloid concentration and its significance; using solvents to liberate alkaloids from wood products; “fake iboga” alkaloids; minor or auxiliary alkaloids; the role of environmental stress in producing alkaloids, alkaloids being one of a plant’s defense mechanisms; economic viability of ibogaine extraction from Voacanga and other non-Tabernanthe iboga species; and genetic modification of plants as potential means to increase ibogaine production. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Felix and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/87-ep3-5_alternative-botanical-sources-of-ibogan-alkaloids_felix-krengel/).

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DISCLAIMER

Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Dr. Chris Jenks has applied his background in organic chemistry to ibogaine extraction studies since the 1990s. Over the years, he developed simpler and less expensive procedures and manufacturing methods to extract ibogaine from various plant materials, resulting in multiple manuals and papers detailing the process. The driving force behind his efforts is to provide abundant ibogaine from alternative cultivated sources to people in need, especially those seeking addiction treatment. I invite Chris on the podcast to discuss his and his predecessors’ contributions to non-traditional iboga consumption methods. Members of the Bwiti religion have consumed iboga for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years. Total alkaloid extract, or TA for short, and ibogaine hydrochloride (HCl), are the result of Western extraction processes that drastically reduce the amount of wood product one needs to consume. In this episode, we’ll hear Chris’s perspective and discovery of iboga alkaloid extraction and purification from the Tabernanthe iboga plant species. Topics of our discussion include: his initial major discovery of TA extract and the refinement of his extraction and purification processes; PTA or purified total alkaloid; RA or residual/recovery alkaloids; what is lost if anything during the extraction process; historical timeline of iboga extraction starting in France; the Western mindset regarding capturing the essence of a thing through distillation and extraction; concerns and comments on Tabernanthe iboga extinction; previous (short-lived) ambition of becoming an iboga farmer; and whether he knows of cases wherein Bwiti members consumed extracted iboga products. To find out more about Chris, visit his website at (http://www.puzzlepiece.org/ibogaine/index.html). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Chris and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/86-ep3-4_ta-extract-and-hcl-methods-and-history_chris-jenks/).

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DISCLAIMER

Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.