‘In Waves and War’ Review: Moving Doc About Afghanistan Vets Treating PTSD With Hallucinogens Is an Odyssey of the Mind
variety.comMichael Nordine Every American soldier has left Afghanistan, but that doesn’t mean Afghanistan has left them. Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen’s heartfelt documentary gives new meaning to the term “forever war” by showing the lasting impact that multiple deployments have had on a trio of Navy SEALs still struggling to truly come home years after retiring from the military. “In Waves and War” — the title is taken from a passage in “The Odyssey” about moving on from suffering in order to embark on a new adventure — focuses on, and ultimately becomes part of, an emerging movement to treat post-traumatic stress disorder via two hallucinogens that have shown remarkable results when taken in tandem.
Those would be ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. The former is derived from the bark root of the iboga tree in Gabon, while the latter is extracted from Sonoran Desert toads — an imposing cocktail to be sure, but one presented by the filmmakers as something of a miracle drug.
The first phase lasts upwards of 12 hours and, as shown in artfully animated sequences, allows users to tap into long-buried memories and feelings in a way that’s as confrontational as it is cathartic. (One of the veterans who tries it finds himself on the set of “The Wonder Years,” a relatable childhood favorite that informed his idea of the ideal family unit — and one that couldn’t have resembled his own upbringing less.) A clinician describes ibogaine as “sandblasting” the psyche before “the toad” polishes it, ultimately helping the user feel whole again.
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