What is Kambo?

 What is Kambo useful for?

Since Kambo’s discovery by westerners, many have found it to be a potent and effective medicine for a variety of different ailments such as depression, arthritis, infections, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory conditions, addiction, emotional trauma and the list goes on….

Some call it a miracle cure for almost any condition. The “sweat” that the frog secretes is full of scientifically studied peptides, some of which stimulate endogenous opioid receptors in a unique way. Some of the compounds cross the blood brain barrier, and others even manipulate the permeability of the blood brain barrier, possibly working synergistically to allow other compounds from the cocktail into the brain that would not normally get through.

Many call Kambo the ultimate detoxification. It seems to pull stored toxins out of various organ systems and purge them out of the body in a variety of ways. Some would say it also detoxifies one energetically and spiritually.

Is Kambo Toxic?

None of the peptides have been identified as toxic to mammalian cells. They are however potently toxic to bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, making it a great full spectrum antibiotic. There is no know toxicity to the liver, kidneys or brain.

How Many Sessions Do I Need?

The amount of sessions one may need is largely dependent on the individuals health, and their goal in taking Kambo. Kambo is most effective when done in a series. Any chronic health issue, doing several treatments in a short amount of time is ideal to get the upper hand on things like bacteria, inflammation, or detoxification. Some people like to do a 3 day in a row cleanse. For others with health challenges, it may be better to do 3 weeks in a row, with a week in between to give them time to recover and properly detox. Some people find that once every 6 weeks is good maintenance for them. Some people do it once and never do it again. It really is up to the individual.

If you are trying to accomplish a goal with this medicine, such as get relief from depression, or clear an emotional trauma, I highly suggest committing to at least 3 treatments. The first treatment is often an introduction to the frog’s spirit. I always say it is like soaking dirty dishes before cleaning them off. Sometimes you have some old, hard and crusty gunk that needs to be softened a bit before fully cleaning it out. The following sessions, people tend to get better at navigating the experience and surrendering to it, enhancing their progress and getting more and more effective results.

It’s absolutely okay to do Kambo once simply to try it, but I encourage those with an intention to give it atleast 2-3 sessions minimum.

What does it feel like when you take Kambo?

Kambo is a fairly quick experience. Usually only lasting 20-30 minutes, you’re typically over the hardest part of it in no time. First, superficial burns are made to the skin, just removing the top layer to expose the lymphatic tissue.  The re-hydrated frog secretion in then applied to the burns. Shortly after application of the medicine, your heart will pound harder and faster. A rushing feeling of can occur. You’ll experience a hot flushing sensation similar to a niacin flush. You may feel a pressure build up in your head.

Then the nausea will come on. Purging through vomiting is an important part of the experience as it allows you to remove physical and energetic toxins. You may have to use the restroom, have shaking, sweating, emotional releases or heavy mucus production. These are all normal ways of purging. After about 20-30 minutes you start to feel much better and are able to safely drive home after resting.

Depending on the individual’s health, the aftereffects can vary tremendously. If you are relatively healthy, you will likely experience increased energy, better mood, reduced need for food or water, reduced pain, more motivation, improved clarity, feeling of peace and wellbeing, etc. If you have a chronic illness such as Lyme’s disease, fatigue, candida overgrowth, or an autoimmune condition, you may experience a heavy detox. Something called “die-off” or herxheimer reaction can cause fatigue, achiness, or irritability while you’re detoxing. Because Kambo is such a potent antibiotic, it kills a number of pathogenic bacteria that live in your body, causing them to burst open and release their biotoxins. Die-off symptoms can last anywhere from 2-8 days. If you experience die-off, it’s usually a sign that you needed this medicine. Generally, after the die off phase, the person will feel better than before they took the Kambo.

The medicine is not hallucinogenic or psychoactive like other Amazonian medicines such as Ayahuasca, Toe or Mapacho. There is a strong spiritual component to it, however. Many people receive clarity, have emotional releases, have old memories bubble up, and experience uncanny synchronicities.. While Kambo is not hallucinogenic, it is certainly mind expansive in a very unique way, unlike any other substance.

Is Kambo Safe?

Despite the extreme physical reaction, Kambo is actually a very safe procedure if done properly under supervision by a qualified practitioner. There are some people who should not receive Kambo including those with certain heart conditions, Addison’s disease, pregnant or breastfeeding, received chemotherapy in the last 6 weeks, have had an aneurysm or stroke, are on immunosuppressant drugs for an organ transplant, have a severe psychiatric condition, or are extremely frail.

Please note:

Those who have done Toad medicine or 5-Meo-DMT in the last 4 weeks should not take Kambo. Severe reactions have been observed. It is best to wait 4-6 weeks after doing Toad or 5MEO before doing Kambo. Kambo is perfectly fine to take prior to Toad or 5-MEO-DMT.

Are the Frogs Harmed in this Process?

No, the frog is treated with utmost respect and compassion when harvesting the venom. Kambo can only be collected from wild caught frogs living in their native Amazonian jungle habitat. Frogs in captivity do not produce the venom. Some speculate that the frog’s diet of insects play a role in the potency and properties of the venom.

In the traditional method, the frog’s limbs are gently tied spreading it’s arms and legs in a cross-like fashion and the frog is sang to and delicately stroked on the back to provoke the frog to sweat the secretions from its skin.  The indigenous tribes believe that if you harm the frog in any way, it’s spirit will be angered and not provide healing.  After collection, the frog is then released back into its wild habitat. Often times, the frogs will be marked with an ink that wears off in about a week, so that if a frog is caught with an ink mark, they know it has not had enough time to replenish its venom and to collect it too frequently would give it a disadvantage at defending its self against predators.

The medicine I use comes from the International Association of Kambo Practitioners (IAKP) and is ethically sourced directly from the Matsés in Brazil. The frogs are treated very kindly, only taking the first 20% of their secretion. By purchasing these sticks of medicine, we are directly supporting the Matsés and empowering them to continue living in the jungle and protecting it from the Brazilian government. Each Kambo ceremony helps conserve our precious Amazon rainforest and the people who are there to protect it. I also donate a portion of all my earnings from working with Kambo directly to the tribes that protect and ethically harvest this medicine from the frogs.

Kambo & Ayahuasca

Kambo is an excellent way to prepare the mind and body for the effects of Ayahuasca. It is said the purging process experienced during Kambo can help reduce the amount of purging in the Ayahuasca ceremonies. It also helps clear the energy and prepare the mind for the psychological effects of Ayahuasca. The connection between Kambo and Ayahuasca is special – being that the spirit of Ayahuasca is what, according to legend, brought about the knowledge of Kambo use and its incredible benefits.

Is there any scientific research on Kambo?

Yes, Below are a few scientific papers you can read on some of the compounds identified in Kambo secretion.

• Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual.

• Pharmacological studies of ‘sapo’ from the frog Phyllomedusa bicolorskin: a drug used by the Peruvian Matses Indians in shamanic hunting practices.

• Antitumor and angiostatic peptides from frog skin secretions.

• A consistent nomenclature of antimicrobial peptides isolated from frogs of the subfamily Phyllomedusinae.

• Frog secretions and hunting magic in the upper Amazon: identification of a peptide that interacts with an adenosine receptor.

• Isolation of dermatoxin from frog skin, an antibacterial peptide encoded by a novel member of the dermaseptin genes family.

• Deltorphins: a family of naturally occurring peptides with high affinity and selectivity for delta opioid binding sites.

• Production and purification of a novel antibiotic peptide, adenoregulin, from a recombinant Escherichia coli.

• Comparison of expression of monomeric and multimeric adenoregulin genes in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastorias.

• Antitumor and angiostatic activities of the antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin B2.

• Synthesis and pharmacology of halogenated δ-opioid-selective [d-Ala(2)]deltorphin II peptide analogues