San Francisco, CA — [July 2026] — The Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines is pleased to announce the return of its flagship educational offering, Roots of Psychedelic Therapy: Shamanism, Ritual and Traditional Uses of Sacred Plants, running July 28 – November 10, 2026. This immersive hybrid online course explores the historical, cultural, ceremonial, and contemporary foundations of sacred plant medicines while examining their relationship to today’s rapidly evolving field of psychedelic therapy.
Honoring the Cultural Roots of Psychedelic Healing
As psychedelic therapies continue to gain mainstream attention, there is an increasing need to understand where these medicines come from, and the Indigenous knowledge systems, ceremonial traditions, and cultural contexts that have safeguarded them for generations.
Roots of Psychedelic Therapy offers students a rare opportunity to study sacred plant medicines through interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge anthropology, history, ecology, law, ethics, and contemporary psychedelic science. Rather than viewing psychedelics solely through a biomedical lens, the course invites participants to engage with the complex cultural, political, and spiritual dimensions of these medicines.
Throughout sixteen weeks, students will explore topics including Amazonian shamanism, Mazatec mushroom traditions, the Bwiti use of iboga, peyote history and Indigenous sovereignty, conservation of sacred medicines, intellectual property and Indigenous rights, religious freedom, ethics and accountability, cultural appropriation, and the relationship between ceremonial traditions and psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In keeping with Chacruna’s mission, the course emphasizes reciprocity, respect for Indigenous traditions, and critical reflection on how psychedelic science can move forward in ways that are equitable, culturally informed, and socially responsible.
Course Overview
Dates: July 28 – November 10, 2026 (registration ends August 4)
Format: Hybrid online course featuring one-hour pre-recorded lectures alongside weekly live Zoom discussions and Q&A sessions
Live Sessions: Tuesdays, 10:30am–12:00pm PT / 1:30pm–3:00pm ET
Tuition: $1,100 USD
CE Credits: 28 Continuing Education Credits available
Scholarships: Apply Here!
Each week, participants complete a pre-recorded lecture and assigned readings before joining faculty for a live, interactive discussion that encourages dialogue, critical inquiry, and community learning.
Faculty
The course features an internationally recognized faculty of scholars, researchers, legal experts, and practitioners, including Nidia Olvera Hernández, PhD; Osiris García Cerqueda, PhD; Glenn Shepard, PhD; Bruno Ramos Gomes, PhD; Anna (Anya) Ermakova, PhD; Henrique Fernandes Antunes, PhD; Chris Byrnes, JD; Graham Pechenik, JD; Allison Hoots, JD; Osiris Sinuhé González Romero, PhD; Kevin Feeny, PhD, JD; Clancy Cavnar, PsyD; and Citlali Rodríguez Venegas, PhD.
Drawing on decades of research and lived experience, faculty members examine sacred plant traditions from multiple regions of the world while encouraging students to think critically about ethics, reciprocity, conservation, Indigenous rights, and the future of psychedelic healing.
Learn More & Enroll Today
Whether you are a therapist, researcher, educator, student, facilitator, or simply interested in the cultural foundations of psychedelic medicines, Roots of Psychedelic Therapy provides a comprehensive and justice-centered educational experience that places Indigenous knowledge and cultural understanding at the heart of the psychedelic renaissance.
About the Chacruna Institute
The Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization co-founded by Brazilian anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate and American psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar, based in Northern California and with strong ties to Brazil and Mexico. We promote reciprocity in the psychedelic community, and support the protection of sacred plants and cultural traditions. We advance psychedelic justice through curating critical conversations and uplifting the voices of women, queer people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, and the Global South in the field of psychedelic science.
Media Contact:
Lorien Chavez
Chacruna Institute
[email protected]
415-390-6157
