UCLA has announced an innovative plan to build a psychedelic rooftop garden atop the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. This groundbreaking project aims to combine ecological medicine and psychedelic therapy in a unique research environment, providing new opportunities for the treatment of various mental health conditions.
The proposed garden, known as the "Living Ecological Medicine Laboratory," will feature a green space filled with native plants and pollinator habitats. Researchers will use this space to study the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies in a natural setting. This initiative builds on UCLA's ongoing research into psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA, which have shown promise in treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
Cultivating Connections conference at UCLA – Psychedelics meet Ecological Medicine. Streaming and limited in person registration available. pic.twitter.com/vsJKVp4qc2
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The project aligns with the university's broader goals of integrating ecological and mental health research. Dr. Helena Hansen, interim director of the Semel Institute, emphasized the importance of creating spaces that support both mental and environmental health. "We need to rethink the way medicine is practiced and relocate where it is practiced," Dr. Hansen stated, highlighting the innovative nature of this project.
The garden will serve as an outdoor laboratory where researchers can observe the therapeutic benefits of combining psychedelic treatments with exposure to nature. This approach is based on the growing body of evidence suggesting that natural environments can enhance the efficacy of mental health treatments by promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
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UCLA's initiative also includes a comprehensive training program for clinicians interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy. This program offers various levels of training, from short seminars to intensive nine-month courses, covering the use of psychedelics like ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA in therapeutic settings.
The announcement of the rooftop garden comes as California considers legislation to allow psychedelic-assisted therapy under the supervision of licensed facilitators. This legislative move reflects a broader trend of increasing acceptance and interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics .
The symposium "Cultivating Connections: Ecological Medicine Meets Psychedelic Therapies" hosted by UCLA will feature seminars, breakout sessions, and film screenings on integrating psychedelic therapy with ecological medicine. Topics will include designing ecological medicine laboratories and the role of social and health justice in human-environment interactions.
Dr. Charles Grob, founder and clinical director of the UCLA Psychedelic Studies Initiative, is one of the leading figures in this research. Dr. Grob has emphasized the potential of psychedelics to "reboot" the brain's circuitry, offering profound and lasting changes in patients' mental health .
