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(index.html) (CEOs, celebs and bored moms are dropping $20K to take the ‘Mount Everest’ of psychedelics in Mexico)  CEOs, celebs and bored moms are dropping $20K to take the...    (https://nypost.com/2026/10/02/health/4-symptoms-of-different-and-more-dangerous-teen-colorectal-cancer/) (Colorectal cancer rates are rising among teens — new study finds 4 most common symptoms)  Colorectal cancer rates are rising among teens — new study...    (https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/health/toddler-vomitted-blue-green-bile-nearly-died-from-controversial-drink/) (Toddler vomited blue-green bile and nearly died after consuming controversial drink)  Toddler vomited blue-green bile and nearly died after consuming...    (https://nypost.com/2026/01/17/health/doctor-shares-bad-news-about-what-happens-during-colonoscopies/) (Doctor shares ‘bad news’ about what really happens when you’re out for a colonoscopy)  Doctor shares ‘bad news’ about what really happens...    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(https://nypost.com/wellness/) Wellness  exclusive   CEOs, celebs and bored moms are dropping $20K to take the ‘Mount Everest’ of psychedelics in Mexico  By (https://nypost.com/author/mckenzie-beard/) McKenzie Beard    Published  Oct. 2, 2026, 6:58 a.m. ET      See more of our coverage in your search results.        Make New York Post a Preferred Source           ()     Mike Stratton was on a “hell ride,” unable to move, as visions laid bare buried thoughts, resentments and destructive habits that had eroded his quality of life. This was the 34-year-old’s first encounter with (https://nypost.com/health/what-is-ibogaine/) ibogaine , a compound extracted from plants native to Africa that is sometimes called the “Mount Everest” of psychedelics. “I remember being stuck in that loop for what felt like months or years,” Stratton, the co-founder of (https://marekhealth.com/) Marek Health , told The Post. Ibogaine has drawn interest for its potential to treat (https://nypost.com/2018/04/21/is-a-mind-altering-west-african-plant-the-answer-to-addiction/) substance use disorders and, more recently, (https://nypost.com/2026/04/18/us-news/trump-signs-order-to-fast-track-ibogaine-psychedelic-drug-research-to-treat-veterans-with-ptsd/) traumatic brain injuries and PTSD . Before his overdose death, Cindy Crawford’s son, Presley Gerber, talked about turning to the psychoactive substance in a bid (https://nypost.com/health/what-is-ibogaine/) to “rewire” his brain in the face of addiction. (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A man with a beard and a cap with "marek" on it talking to a woman, wearing a shirt with "MAREK HEALTH" on it)  10     Mike Stratton is the co-founder of the performance coaching platform Marek Health. Courtesy of Mike Stratton.    Gerber — who did his treatment at Beōnd Ibogaine in Cancún, Mexico — said it helped him face “what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, I started finding my way back to myself.” But a growing number of people are seeking out ibogaine not to ease addiction or trauma, but to transform lives that already look successful from the outside. “We’re starting to see leaders, whereas before, people were coming to us because it was life or death,” said (https://beondibogaine.com/blog/category/talia-eisenberg/) Talia Eisenberg , co-founder of (https://beondibogaine.com/) Beōnd Ibogaine . “The fastest-growing segment is health and optimization.” Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the US and is not approved for medical use, but it is permitted in Mexico, making the country a destination for Americans seeking treatment. Burned-out professionals, celebrities, biohackers, empty nesters searching for purpose and retirees contemplating their next chapter are among those traveling to clinics south of the border. Explore More  (https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/health/dad-autism-miracle-drug-drastically-improved-my-sons-symptoms/) (An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Matthew Bielski holding his young son outdoors in a wooded area, Image 2 shows Matthew Bielski's son Lev, sitting on a window sill with a first day of Pre-K sign)    (https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/health/dad-autism-miracle-drug-drastically-improved-my-sons-symptoms/) Dad says autism ‘miracle drug’ drastically and immediately improved his son’s severe symptoms      (https://nypost.com/2026/10/02/health/4-symptoms-of-different-and-more-dangerous-teen-colorectal-cancer/) (An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A doctor uses a pen to point to a tumor on a human large intestine anatomy model, Image 2 shows An Asian woman holding her stomach in pain while sitting on a couch in front of a laptop)    (https://nypost.com/2026/10/02/health/4-symptoms-of-different-and-more-dangerous-teen-colorectal-cancer/) Colorectal cancer rates are rising among teens — new study finds 4 most common symptoms      (https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/health/toddler-vomitted-blue-green-bile-nearly-died-from-controversial-drink/) (An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A toddler lies in a hospital bed, connected to medical equipment and tubes after contracting an E. coli infection from unpasteurized milk, Image 2 shows A 17-month-old girl with her eyes closed, lying in a hospital bed with a ventilator tube in her mouth and medical tubing attached to her chest and arm)    (https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/health/toddler-vomitted-blue-green-bile-nearly-died-from-controversial-drink/) Toddler vomited blue-green bile and nearly died after consuming controversial drink            Some now explicitly market to that crowd, touting ibogaine for “(https://ibogaquest.com/ibogaine-for-spiritual-growth-treatments-in-mexico/) spiritual growth ,” “(https://www.mindscaperetreat.com/5-day-ibogaine-retreat?utm_source=chatgpt.com) existential clarity ” and “peak performance.” For Stratton, the pursuit of optimization opened the door to something deeper. “I came for performance and I ended up leaving with peace,” he said. The journey, however, was anything but easy. ‘Running from hell’ Stratton built a career around optimizing the human body. But while he was building a company dedicated to improving other people’s health, his own was “in shambles.” He was barely exercising, eating poorly and working constantly, relying on coffee, nicotine pouches and prescription (https://nypost.com/2026/03/09/health/adhd-meds-for-adults-are-surging-the-typical-patient-may-surprise-you/) ADHD medication to power through the day. His relationships and self-esteem suffered. (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A man and a woman stand smiling in a backyard with a pool, palm trees and a building in the background.)  10     Stratton and Talia Eisenberg, co-founder of Beōnd Ibogaine, which opened its doors in February 2022.   “I was searching for a magical reset button where I didn’t have to take time off and it would take care of all of my misbehavior and all of my poor choices would be erased and I would feel anew again,” Stratton, who lives in Palm City, Florida, said. Ibogaine, he thought, might be just that. Part of what makes it unusual is what happens after the trip. The body converts it into noribogaine, which remains in the bloodstream much longer than the drug itself, potentially extending its effects. “[The] unresolved and unprocessed thoughts I’d been carrying and not even aware of — it all came bursting out of my head at once.” Mike Stratton   Scientists are also investigating whether ibogaine can promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and form new connections in response to experiences.  A (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/404812174_Ibogaine_induces_juvenile-like_plasticity_and_modulates_functional_and_structural_regulators_of_plasticity_in_the_adult_mouse_visual_cortex) 2026 study found success in mice. While human research is preliminary, a recent (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41687815/) brain-imaging study of military veterans found changes in brain activity and connectivity after treatment. (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (Ibogaine TPA HCl extract tincture, Ibogaine TPA-HCl 95% powder and Tabernanthe iboga root.)  10     Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound extracted from the root bark of a shrub. Getty Images   “The deepest evidence today is still in addiction and trauma populations,” said Dr. Eduardo Ramirez, Beōnd’s clinical director. “But the most active new research … is in healthy people using ibogaine for optimization, resilience and longevity.” Into the Beōnd — and the ‘hell ride’ of a flood dose A stay at Beōnd costs between $12,500 and $20,000. Health and optimization clients — who have included “Wolf of Wall Street” (https://nypost.com/2023/09/07/jordan-belfort-psychedelic-ibogaine-cured-my-opiate-problem/) Jordan Belfort and (https://nypost.com/2025/07/01/health/what-being-a-vegetarian-did-to-my-biological-age-and-nutrient-makeup/) Function Health founder (https://www.instagram.com/p/DRC1zSZDxTf/) Mark Hyman — typically stay for 10 days. Before arrival, the clinic reviews clients’ health histories, medications and substance use. They often also conduct cardiac testing, because ibogaine can interfere with the heart’s electrical system, potentially triggering dangerous abnormal rhythms. “Ibogaine is not a recreational psychedelic,” Ramirez warned. “People shouldn’t take it outside of a medical setting.” (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A modern living room with light-colored furniture and an open view of a patio with a swimming pool)  10     Clients at Beōnd are invited to participate in group activities, but they are also encouraged to take time alone for themselves, like in their guestrooms. Courtesy of Beond   Clients work with coaches to identify goals and prepare for the experience. Onsite, they do group sessions, yoga, (https://nypost.com/2026/02/10/health/breathing-wrong-messes-with-your-health-5-steps-to-fix-it/) breathwork , massage and (https://nypost.com/2024/05/15/health/sitting-still-is-hard-but-experts-say-the-benefits-of-meditation-are-worth-the-struggle/) meditation , which Eisenberg said help “make the most of the actual ibogaine.” Stratton went in for his “flood dose” — a larger amount intended to induce the full psychedelic experience — with an open mind. Then he panicked. “I made a mistake. How do I get out of this?” he remembered asking a nurse. Blindfolded in a hospital bed, he felt restless and paralyzed as vivid memories raced through his mind. “All I knew was that I’d just survived hell, and I feel like a million dollars now.” Mike Stratton   Ramirez explained that while psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD ) “tend to be more sensory and dreamlike, ibogaine is often described as a structured, waking-dream life review with more effort and less euphoria.” “All these mental tapes of what my inner narrative was around the person I am, my perspective of reality, the built-up, unresolved and unprocessed thoughts I’d been carrying and not even aware of — it all came bursting out of my head at once,” Stratton said. “It was a hell ride.” (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A family in cowboy hats celebrating a baby's first birthday with cake, with a dog by their feet)  10     Melissa Pruett, her fiancé, Andrew, and son Ever after her trip to Beōnd. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   An intimate conversation with your ‘higher self’ Melissa Pruett, a 37-year-old small-business owner, expected her flood dose to feel like she was “strapped to a rocket.” Instead, it was “soft, gentle and sweet.” She arrived at Beōnd after the birth of her first biological child shook her lifelong confidence. “I’ve always been able to find the glass not just half full, but overflowing,” Pruett, who lives in Austin, Texas, said. But postpartum life brought new physical limitations, (https://nypost.com/2026/07/06/health/10-postpartum-issues-no-one-ever-told-you-about/) hormonal upheaval and a deepening sense of inadequacy. For months, she searched for a way back to herself — but the spiritual and creative practices that once nourished her began to feel “more difficult, more forced.” (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A woman in a white and black embroidered dress with an IV in her arm looks right while a mirror reflects a shelf of colorful items and another woman.)  10     Pruett credits ibogaine with helping her navigate her postpartum journey. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   Then she met someone who had undergone ibogaine treatment, leading her to Beōnd. “I knew that when I walked through that one-way door, I would be forever changed,” she said. After her flood dose, Pruett felt as if an electrical current were rippling through her brain. Rather than elaborate visuals, she described an intimate conversation with her “higher self,” accompanied by a sensation she likened to “neurosurgery” inside her head. One of her intentions has been to figure out what she wasn’t seeing but needed to. Under ibogaine’s influence, the answer came with startling clarity: “Just how enough you are.” The message struck a chord. The following day, she felt “20 out of ten incredible.” (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A woman in a hospital bed reads a book)  10     Pruett during her ibogaine “flood dose,” as she worked through questions written before the experience. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   “I had so much creativity flowing through me,” she said, “just this sort of open channel gushing out.” The morning after Stratton’s flood dose, he woke up angry about the experience. Around noon, he jumped into the pool — and something shifted. “I had no clutter in my thoughts. I felt present for the first time in years,” he said. “All I knew was that I’d just survived hell, and I feel like a million dollars now.” “It’s not a silver bullet … You have to be willing to look at yourself.” Talia Eisenberg   From optimization to integration Stories like these are driving interest in ibogaine for personal growth, but there’s a gap between what people report and what science has established. Ramirez said independent, peer-reviewed evidence that ibogaine improves creativity or executive performance doesn’t exist yet.  However, Beōnd tracks outcomes among its health and optimization clients and reports improvements in focus, sleep, cognitive function and emotional regulation. Clients also describe positive changes in their relationships, sense of purpose and professional lives. That includes “removing the friction of old patterns, unprocessed history or emotional reactivity that was quietly costing them energy and clarity,” Ramirez said. (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (White multi-story building with balconies and a thatched roof against a blue sky, framed by palm trees)  10     Beōnd provides medically supervised ibogaine therapy in Cancún, Mexico.   (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A person in a white caftan with closed eyes and head tilted back, stands while another person offers them a smoking chalice and feathers.)  10     Beōnd offers on-site activities like “smudging” ceremonies, seen here, to help round out the ibogaine experience. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett     For Stratton and Pruett, the real work began after their flood doses, as meditation, group activities and smaller “fractional” doses helped them process the experience. That longer-term work, known as integration, turns psychedelic insights into changes that carry over into everyday life. To do it, Pruett realized she would have to leave behind the productivity-driven mindset that had long defined her self-worth. She began focusing on small victories, journaling about “the things I can give myself credit for,” even when they were “teeny, tiny, microscopic.” Five months later, those changes had reshaped how she shows up as a mother, partner, friend and business owner. Stratton returned home feeling “addicted to health and exercise” and calling ibogaine “the ultimate pattern interruptor.” Eventually, the euphoria faded and familiar routines and pressures returned — but the experience offered a glimpse of another way of living. He has since returned to Beōnd multiple times. (index.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 10 article images.) (A bearded man sits on a rock by a river with a mountain in the background)  10     Stratton has returned to Beōnd several times since his initial visit to continue working with ibogaine. Courtesy of Mike Stratton     “It became a tool to process inventory, get caught up to speed and to learn,” he said. “The root of it … is love and compassion not only for others, but for myself.” Even Eisenberg cautions against viewing ibogaine as an instant fix.  “It’s very life-giving … but it’s not a silver bullet,” she said. “You have to be willing to look at yourself.”  For Stratton, ibogaine didn’t eliminate stress or familiar habits. It gave him a different way of relating to them. “Before, I was willing to sell my soul to the devil for a result,” he said. “Now I’m more focused on putting my best foot forward.”  Filed under (https://nypost.com/tag/biohacking/) biohacking   (https://nypost.com/tag/exclusive/) exclusive   (https://nypost.com/tag/experimental-drugs/) experimental drugs   (https://nypost.com/tag/mexico/) mexico   (https://nypost.com/tag/psychedelics/) psychedelics   (https://nypost.com/tag/vacations/) vacations   (https://nypost.com/2026/10/02/) 10/2/26    (https://nypost.com/2026/09/30/health/could-your-car-calm-stress-lincolns-100k-suvs-have-10-minute-mini-spa/) Read Next  (https://nypost.com/2026/09/30/health/could-your-car-calm-stress-lincolns-100k-suvs-have-10-minute-mini-spa/) Could your car be a stress-calming machine? Inside the 10-...               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Courtesy of Mike Stratton.   (A man and a woman stand smiling in a backyard with a pool, palm trees and a building in the background.)   Stratton and Talia Eisenberg, co-founder of Beōnd Ibogaine, which opened its doors in February 2022.   (Ibogaine TPA HCl extract tincture, Ibogaine TPA-HCl 95% powder and Tabernanthe iboga root.)   Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound extracted from the root bark of a shrub. Getty Images   (A modern living room with light-colored furniture and an open view of a patio with a swimming pool)   Clients at Beōnd are invited to participate in group activities, but they are also encouraged to take time alone for themselves, like in their guestrooms. Courtesy of Beond   (A family in cowboy hats celebrating a baby's first birthday with cake, with a dog by their feet)   Melissa Pruett, her fiancé, Andrew, and son Ever after her trip to Beōnd. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   (A woman in a white and black embroidered dress with an IV in her arm looks right while a mirror reflects a shelf of colorful items and another woman.)   Pruett credits ibogaine with helping her navigate her postpartum journey. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   (A woman in a hospital bed reads a book)   Pruett during her ibogaine "flood dose," as she worked through questions written before the experience. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   (White multi-story building with balconies and a thatched roof against a blue sky, framed by palm trees)   Beōnd provides medically supervised ibogaine therapy in Cancún, Mexico.   (A person in a white caftan with closed eyes and head tilted back, stands while another person offers them a smoking chalice and feathers.)   Beōnd offers on-site activities like "smudging" ceremonies, seen here, to help round out the ibogaine experience. Courtesy of Melissa Pruett   (A bearded man sits on a rock by a river with a mountain in the background)   Stratton has returned to Beōnd several times since his initial visit to continue working with ibogaine. 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