"Some people are calling it a miracle drug. It deals with all drug and alcohol addiction, all opiates and methamphetamine," she added.
One client is treated at a time, under constant monitoring, so every care and attention could be given. Treatment lasted 10 days, and included numerous healing treatments such as massage and counselling.
"We house them, feed them, give them a special diet and make them feel a part of the community," Mrs van Dorp said, adding that the results could be remarkable. She cited the case of a heroin addict of 38 years who she said was completely free of the addiction, with no withdrawal symptoms, the following day.
The clinic has been denied government funding but the couple hope one day to be able to offer treatment to all who need it, as opposed to those who can afford it.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to list the plant as legal for medical practitioners to prescribe, but its illegality in many parts of the world, including the US, Canada and Australia, was adding to demand for the clinic's facilities. A bigger clinic was now planned.
"We have back-to-back treatments for the next month," Mrs van Dorp said.
"We see this as a possible employment opportunity for many here in the Far North. We would like to create jobs for our community and help with the horrendous drug problem that is going on."
The youngest client so far has been 21, the oldest 65.
"They come from all walks of life and backgrounds," she added.
The rongoa garden they created in 2009 had a good deal to do with the beginnings of the clinic. Mrs van Dorp has worked with youth in the garden, and watching some of them and the battles they were having with drugs had opened her eyes to the extent of the drug issue in the community.
The couple had completed ibogaine provider training at the School of Gestalt Therapy in Barcelona, and will be attending a conference in Canada in October. Dr van Dorp also attended the National Association of Opiate Treatment Providers conference this year, where he spoke of the work he and his wife were doing.
"They were all very interested in it. Kaitaia is ahead of the bunch and leading the way in this treatment," he said.
Geoff Nolar, from the Multi-Disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, will speak about research that is about to be undertaken, which Te Whare Rongoa has agreed to be part of, on TV One's Close Up tomorrow night. MAPS is currently studying the long-term effects of ibogaine treatment on patients presently undergoing therapy in Mexico and New Zealand, and is collecting observational data for the first prospective ibogaine outcome studies in order to contribute to the growing scientific literature about ibogaine as a treatment for drug addiction.
PROFOUNDLY PSYCHEDELIC
The Multi-Disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies describes ibogaine as a psychoactive alkaloid, a mild stimulant in small doses and in larger doses inducing a profound psychedelic state.
Historically it has been used in healing ceremonies and initiations by members of the Bwiti religion in various parts of West Africa. People with substance abuse problems had found that larger doses could significantly reduce symptoms of withdrawal from opiates and temporarily eliminate substance-related cravings.
