Chor Boogie and Elizabeth Bast launch Indiegogo Campaign for New Book

San Francisco, CA

Early in 2014, world-renowned spray paint artist Chor Boogie traversed life lessons and experienced a drug relapse after being clean for over 13 years. Now, he and his wife Elizabeth Bast are speaking out about his miraculous treatment with iboga, a plant medicine sacred to the indigenous people of Central West Africa, known for its spiritual healing and powerful addiction-breaking effects.

After feeling disheartened by the toxic pharmaceutical treatment options for opiate addiction and the low rates of long-term recovery, Elizabeth learned about iboga. Chor and his wife Elizabeth found a 10th generation African Bwiti shaman by the name of Moughenda Mikala, with a healing retreat center and government licensed detox program in Costa Rica.

"Chor courageously agreed to try this radical option. He offered his full participation, and I saw a healing miracle unlike any in my life," reports Elizabeth. "Within 24 hours of the first treatment, Chor was a new man. He was completely purified of his cravings and physical dependence. His spirit returned to his eyes. Light returned to his face. The second ceremony in our 8-day retreat offered teachings and guidance for a new path in life."

Elizabeth completed an intimate memoir about their journey called "Heart Medicine: A True Love Story - One Couple's Quest for the Sacred Iboga Medicine & the Cure for Addiction." To help publish and promote the first run of this book, they've created an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign running from March 16th to May 14th, 2015. Perks will feature Chor's recent iboga-inspired art; high-quality prints and original paintings on canvas. Additional funds from the campaign's stretch goals will support their iboga provider's training.

"After experiencing our own healing miracle, we both felt the call to learn more and help others," says the couple. "We have been accepted to apprentice with Moughenda. We will dedicate this next year to studying this sacred medicine and the Bwiti tradition. We will one day be able to serve as iboga providers, in countries where this sacred medicine is legal," says Elizabeth. The couple went to Gabon, Africa in December 2014 to begin the first module of training with Moughenda and his tribe.

Iboga research has been increasing in recent years. MAPS-sponsored researchers are 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. Founded in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana.

According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, drug overdose death rates have been steadily rising since 1992, with a 118% increase from 1999 to 2011 alone.

In 2012, 183,000 drug related deaths occurred globally, mostly overdoses, with opioid overdose being the largest category, states the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime 2014 World Drug Report.

Methadone treatment and other kinds of "drug replacement therapies" can last between one to 20 years, or more. These legal drugs are known to be as toxic and addictive as heroin, though they are more stable than street drugs and can sometimes alleviate the dangers associated with the black market.

"The world is in dire need of more qualified iboga providers," says Elizabeth.

To view the campaign, go to: igg.me/at/heartmedicine

About Elizabeth Bast and Chor Boogie:
Elizabeth Bast serves as a writer, poet, yoga teacher, yogic lifestyle coach, visual & performance artist, fusion temple dancer, and musician. She studied at New College of San Francisco with an emphasis on Art and Social Change. ebast.net

Chor Boogie a.k.a. Joaquin Lamar Hailey is an internationally acclaimed spray-paint artist. His visionary murals and art exhibitions have graced many countries across the globe. He was recently honored by Societe Perrier as being number three among the the TOP TEN U.S. Street Artists of 2014. He approaches his use of color as a form of therapy and visual medicine, and has been dubbed "the color shaman" by comrades and fans. chorboogie.com