
Trauma & Emotinal Healing
Iboga has been used for thousands of years not to fix people — but to reveal them to themselves. In the sacred highlands of Tepoztlán, Mexico, Root Healing offers the only program that combines authentic Missoko Bwiti tradition, medical-grade safety, and a philosophy of genuine empowerment — so you can leave knowing who you are and how to live as yourself.
Who is it for?
This program is designed for individuals experiencing:
- PTSD and complex trauma — including single-incident and developmental trauma
- Combat, first responder, and occupational trauma
- Treatment-resistant depression and anxiety rooted in unresolved trauma
- Emotional disconnection, numbness, or chronic dissociation
- Trauma-related behavioral patterns that have not responded to conventional treatment
We work with a small number of participants at a time to ensure the depth of care this work requires. Each applicant undergoes a thorough intake process to confirm suitability and readiness before being accepted into the program.

Whats Included
Pre-Arrival
- Full medical screening
- Intake consultation with the Root Healing team
- Preparatory guidance and intention-setting support
At the Retreat
- Accommodation at our boutique retreat center in Tepoztlan, Mexico
- At least 2 Traditional Iboga ceremonies
- Continuous medical monitoring with advanced EKG and safety equipment
- Daily integration sessions with our core team
- Nutritional and holistic wellness support throughout the stay
Post-Retreat
- Structured integration support following departure
Program length and specific inclusions are tailored to each participant and confirmed during the application process.
How it Works
The Program Experience
Preparation
Every participant completes a comprehensive pre-arrival process including full medical and cardiac screening, a detailed intake consultation with our team, and preparatory guidance to establish intention and readiness for the work ahead.
The Iboga Experience
Working within the ceremonial framework of the Bwiti tradition, participants undergo iboga ceremony facilitated by our experienced team of traditional practitioners and supported by continuous medical monitoring. This will start around the fire before guests go to lay down in the ceremony space for the remainder of the night. In the morning begins processing day which is one of the most important parts of the experience that often gets overlooked by other facilitators.
Integration
Integration support is embedded throughout the retreat and continues after participants return home. The neuroplasticity window opened by iboga is a period of significant psychological receptivity, and structured integration is essential to translating the experience into durable, lasting change.
Our Approach
Root Healing was founded on the conviction that iboga is most effective when held within its original context. The Bwiti tradition of West-Central Africa is not supplemental to this work — it is the primary modality. We describe Bwiti as the Language of Iboga: just as you need to speak French to understand a teacher speaking French, you need the framework of Bwiti to fully receive what iboga communicates. It is through this tradition — practiced by the Bwiti people for thousands of years — that iboga reveals the roots of suffering and the path toward lasting healing.
Many programs in this space attempt to overlay Western clinical psychology onto iboga work. This approach misunderstands the medicine. Iboga does not require a new framework to be effective — it has its own, and it is among the oldest healing traditions on Earth. Our role is to hold that tradition with integrity while ensuring the highest standards of modern medical safety surround it.
What you will not find here is a pathology label, a symptom checklist, or a treatment plan that treats you as less than whole. What you will find is a team that believes in you completely — and a medicine and traditional container that will show you why that belief is justified.
To that end, Root Healing employs state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring equipment, rigorous pre-screening protocols, and other supportive supplemental tools. Our core team — not outsourced to just the medical staff — is present with every participant throughout the entire process.

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Safe and Trusted
Safety Protocol Summary:
Pre-Screening & Eligibility
24/7 Medical Monitoring
Care & Medication Guidelines
Customer testimonials
What our customers say about us

The Importance of the Tradition
The Missoko Bwiti tradition, which is utilized in all of our programs is a powerful system to help people reconnect to themselves and their life and also remain connected.
The "Language of Iboga"
When we say that Bwiti is the Language of Iboga, we mean that Bwiti provides the framework through which Iboga's teachings can be fully understood and received. Just as you would need to speak French to truly understand a teacher speaking French, you need the context of Bwiti to truly comprehend what the spirit of Iboga is communicating to you. It is through these traditional teachings, practices, and perspectives that Iboga reveals what lies at the root of your suffering and shows you the path toward lasting healing. Without this language, the messages may still come — but with Bwiti, you gain the ability to hear them clearly, integrate them deeply, and carry them forward into your life long after the experience itself.
Authentic Bwiti Guidance
All Iboga sessions are led by facilitators trained and initiated in the Missoko Bwiti lineage, drawing directly from a tradition that has worked with Iboga for thousands of years. Guests experience traditional Iboga ceremonies, including fire talks, ritual teachings, and sacramental use of the whole Iboga plant, rather than isolated ibogaine.
The team that supports you in this program.

Giuliana Rivero
Facilitator and Manager of Mexico CenterLearn More About Giuliana
Alessandro (Moabi)
Lead FacilitatorLearn More About Moabi
Ryan "Ghenigho" Rich
Program Development, Treatments, and FacilitatorLearn More About Ghenigho
Sarah Siegel
Facilitator and Program DevelopmentLearn More About Sarah
Megan Hu PhD
Neuroscience Advisor, Program DevelopmentLearn More About Megan
Tobias Erny
Program Development, Treatments, and FacilitatorLearn More About Tobias
Customer testimonials
What our customers say about us
2026 Bwiti Iboga Retreats Schedule
- Tepotzlan, Mexico
May 4th - 9th
- Tepotzlan, Mexico
June 12 - 17
- Tepotzlan, Mexico
June 24 - 29
- Tepotzlan, Mexico
July 3 - 8
- Europe
- Europe
- Europe
April 17 - 22
- Europe
May 22 - 27 *
- Europe
June 4 - 9 *
- Europe
June 29 - July 3 *
- Europe
July 14 - 19
- Europe
August 27 - Sept 1 *
- Europe
September 11 - 16 *
- Europe
September 25 - 30 *
- Europe
November 5 - 10
- Europe
December 10 - 15 *
If you have any questions about our programs, let us know and we will be happy to help you.
As a small, heart-led team experiencing a high volume of inquiries, we must focus our personalized correspondence on those who have completed our Application Form. This form helps us ensure medical safety and alignment for the path ahead, but also helps us understand your needs better.
Once you submit your application, we will review it thoughtfully and personally reach out to guide you through the next steps.
If you don't hear from us right away, please know we are carefully working through requests in the order they were received. We appreciate your patience and your sincere interest in our community.
