Tonight's root eating tribal rite of passage ritual episode was nothing less than totally amazing! One of the most incredible and deeply cultural programs I've seen on tv!

Yes, I found it amazing and sad that modernization is encroaching on them so quickly. I also wonder what the hallucinations were that we couldn't see and if they really were that profound?? Couldn't Bruce spill the beans now??

The show with Bruce eating the Iboga root is incredible. I'm real interested in the visions he had, especially the ones where he said he was able to experience the emotions he caused others to have in his childhood and throughout his life. It seemed very much like the "life review" that so many people who've had near-death experiences have talked about. The anthropological/geographical exploration is a great idea, but how about a show examining strictly "spiritual" phenomena? While American culture seems to think philosophical materialism and rationalism have absolutely explained everything away, most of the research I've done leads me to think there is a lot (A LOT) that we don't know about. Perhaps Discovery Channel could look into these kinds of experiences throughout the world. Just an idea. GREAT SHOW. Keep it up.

It was heart-wrenching for me to see the adverse reactions to the root (the throwing up, etc.). I just wanted to reach through the tv screen and comfort him.

Other than for the fact he said "he was certain he was going to die" at one point, it seems that Bruce felt his experience was entirely worth the trouble of vomiting. There were times in college when I engaged in activities which elicited the same response, and I would have to concur that most worthwhile experiences induce vomiting . I agree with Otis, though. It would have been enlightening to hear exactly, and in length, what Bruce experienced while under the effects of the Iboga root. Honestly, if I could get my hands on some of that stuff, I think I'd be up for the trip. Life-altering, mystical experiences fascinate me.

The man is totally insane! I just finshished watching this weeks show....I was totally into the hallucinations period. I was on pins and needles with him while he was going thru it. Think,, you are out in the middle of no where, with a drug you really don't know anything about,,, and you are scared to begin with... crazy! He must love his job, I would never do it. I think i would have been out of there after the first bug bite. Love the show, he goes far and beyound the call of duty. So you really learn something new each show....

The Iboga(ibogaine) root is being studied and is in a testing phase for the treatment of Heroin addiction. It seems to stop the person addicted to Heroin from going through the horrible withdrawl process and also takes away cravings after one "trip" The researchers are not even sure how it works on the brain but are really trying to speed up the process so more can be helped.
In the 1960's it was discovered that Ibogaine has the property of interrupting substance addiction when a heroin addict took it for recreational purposes. He(one addict that experienced it) emerged from a powerful 36 hour experience to find that he wasn’t dope sick, and stranger still, he wasn’t depressed and he wasn’t craving heroin.
Ibogaine causes a long REM state and at the same time purges the dopamine receptors in the brain. Ibogaine is psychoactive, so while the brain’s being physically reset it also evokes a deep dreamlike journey that neurochemically transports the addict to a physically and psychologically pre-addicted state where they can evaluate their habits from the standpoint of a non-addict without having to suffer through any terrifying withdrawal symptoms. It also affects the successful “waking up” of serotonin and dopamine sites in the brain, reducing cravings, depression, and anxiety permanently or for several months following treatment. (homosapiens.net/ibogaine/page/what.htm)
Just thought some of you might be interested in how important some of thses cultues are and how many lessons we have to learn from them.
Again,just mu opinion. I will keep watching Going Tribal and looking forward to new episodes!