Might a safer version of a psychedelic help treat depression?

Research in animals suggests that the new compound is neither toxic nor hallucinogenic and that it may help treat a range of psychiatric disorders, including depression and addiction, and possibly anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Ibogaine is a psychedelic drug extracted from the roots of iboga, a shrub native to the rainforests of West Africa.

While there have been no placebo-controlled clinical trials of ibogaine, anecdotal reports and small open-label studies suggest that it can reduce drug cravings and prevent relapse.