Ibogaine for the Injured Brain: A New Model for Treatment - Jonathan Dickinson
Release Date: 03/16/2026
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info_outlineIn this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Jonathan Dickinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Ambio Life Sciences, about the evolving role of ibogaine in psychedelic medicine.
Listen to the full episode: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-347/?ref=278
Jonathan shares his path from leading the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance to helping build one of the field’s most prominent ibogaine treatment organizations. Together they explore ibogaine’s expanding therapeutic potential for traumatic brain injury, addiction, and neurological conditions, along with the clinical realities of delivering this powerful medicine safely.
They also discuss the challenges of scaling ibogaine treatment, the importance of preparation and integration, and how traditional Bwiti knowledge from Gabon continues to shape ethical and culturally grounded approaches to this work.
Jonathan Dickinson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ambio Life Sciences and a leading expert on ibogaine therapy. With more than 15 years of experience in psychedelic research, clinical care, and traditional practice, he has helped shape global safety standards for ibogaine treatment.
A Mexico-licensed psychologist and former Executive Director of the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance, Jonathan has published research on ibogaine’s therapeutic potential for trauma, traumatic brain injury, and neurological conditions. He has also been initiated into the Bwiti traditions of Gabon and holds a Nagoya-compliant export license for Tabernanthe iboga root.
Highlights:
- Jonathan Dickinson’s path from the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance to Ambio Life Sciences
- How ibogaine treatment expanded beyond opioid detox
- The growing use of ibogaine for traumatic brain injury and veterans’ recovery
- Why ibogaine treatment requires extensive medical screening and preparation
- The importance of integration and community support after treatment
- What Bwiti traditions in Gabon teach about working with iboga
- The challenges of scaling ibogaine treatment safely
- Why ibogaine may create a longer window for lasting change