Kambo: Turning Poison Into Medicine
Medicinal properties of the Amazonian tree frog venom
For many people, the thought of intentionally vomiting is unpleasant enough to disregard this alternative method to health entirely. But for those who struggle with chronic conditions or are on an exploratory path, temporary physical discomfort can seem like a small price to pay for wellness. Kambo is an ancient indigenous medicine taken from the venomous secretion of the Amazonian tree frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor (also known as giant leaf frog, bicolor tree-frog, giant monkey frog, or waxy-monkey treefrog). It is administered through small burns in the skin, immediately triggering a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Kambo activates a powerful cleansing and detoxification process—an expression of which is, yes, vomiting—that is known to heal the body, strengthen the mind and restore the spirit. Fascinated by the concept of turning poison into medicine, I decided to see for myself how a remedy can be extracted from a toxin.
What Is Kambo?
Kambo is the waxy substance that the frog naturally secretes for protection as a defense mechanism against natural predators or skin infections. This resin is collected by humanely capturing the frogs, lightly scraping the wax from their legs, and then releasing them back into the jungle. It is a gentle process, with deep care and respect for the animals. This remedy is produced naturally and viewed as a living medicine, honoring the natural world and the frogs that produce it.
While the science behind Kambo treatments is varied, it points to anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal qualities brought about by the intense detoxifying nature of the experience. This venom is a combination of peptides and neuropeptides, leading to a powerful effect on both the brain and body. Kambo communicates with the brain through the lymphatic system using neuropeptides to encourage the body to release toxins. As a result, one can experience an increase in cognitive functioning, boosted immune system, balancing of the nervous system, healing of autoimmune or chronic health conditions as well as releasing emotional blocks. Kambo ceremonies have long been utilized by Amazonian tribes for their multiple healing properties. Indigenous people have used Kambo to heal and cleanse the body, strengthen its natural defenses and increase stamina and hunting skills.
How Does It Work?
As there is a wide range of compounds and peptides found within Kambo, they are able to act on the body and brain’s messaging and signaling pathways to influence biological responses and behaviors, from moods and thought patterns in the brain to muscle contractions and digestion in the body. For example, the “adenoregulin peptide regulates the action of a series of different neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, that has an initial calming effect that is later followed by increased focus, mental sharpness, and speed of response to external stimuli. Phyllokinin has an impact on the dilation of blood vessels, causing greater blood flow in the affected areas, and also has a part to play in allowing other peptides in Kambo to cross the blood-brain barrier, creating the means by which Kambo can influence the chemical balance of the brain, as well as the physical symptoms it induces in the body. Sauvagine helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of brain activity through its action on your adrenal glands, and in its triggering of increased dopamine release. Also has effects on the hormones and receptors that play a role in stress and depressive related disorders, plus those associated with addiction and other self-defeating behaviors.”[1]
Kambo works on both a physical and metaphysical level. Although there is nothing psychoactive about this experience, it can be an emotional process through its energetic shifts. Through purging energetic blocks, balance is restored on an emotional level as well, raising vibration frequencies and discarding negative energies. It is said to reset, restore and revive the body, offering a multitude of benefits if you are willing to trust the medicine and tolerate the side effects.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, trouble swallowing, loss of vision, swelling of lips, eyes and face, and loss of bladder control are common side effects of the experience, although often brief in duration. There are several conditions for which Kambo is contraindicated. Those with serious heart conditions, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or currently taking prescription medication are among those encouraged to contact their medical provider before attending a ceremony. There are obvious risks involved with participation, yet treatments have also shown promising improvements of several conditions. These traditions have evolved over hundreds of years and have proven to be both safe and effective when administered by a trained practitioner and applied properly in accordance with ancient traditions.
The Kambo Experience
There are a variety of ways to partake in Kambo, yet both set and setting remain important. My experience was in a small group of three participants that began with a ceremony. I was invited to set an intention and call on the medicine of the giant monkey tree frog to assist my individual healing journey. I was also encouraged to maintain an open heart and mind, trusting that the medicine will go where it is needed. A sacred snuff called Rape was blown up each of my nostrils at the same time Sananga, a powerful plant medicine known for energetic cleansing and improving vision, was dropped into my eyes. This process was meant to ground me, increase spiritual insight as well as provide preliminary purification. After the intense burning subsided, we were instructed to drink a liter of water that went down easily after 12 hours of dry fasting. Three pencil eraser-sized burns were made on my forearm to open the skin to better absorb the resin that was then placed on top of each fresh burn.
Within minutes, the Kambo enters the lymphatic system and bloodstream. I felt heat rising through my body, bringing an intense wave of nausea with it. Shortly thereafter, violent vomiting began. Toxins are stored in our liver bile, and the purging process helps eliminate these toxins. The water gave my body something to physically purge in addition to its metaphorical components. I was crying, my head and heart were pounding, vision slightly blurred and my face started to swell, known as ‘frog face’. All of my senses felt heightened as I worked to cleanse my body of something larger than my present comprehension.
The experience was uncomfortable, yet I was reminded before we began that humans are capable of withstanding any discomfort for short amounts of time. The key was to not fight the sensations, and instead go with the flow. After about 30 minutes, the resin was removed from my skin and I was flooded by a sense of lightness and openness. The relief that followed after the side effects subsided was equally euphoric, allowing a deep peace to wash over me. A sense of belonging and community with my fellow participants also emerged. There was something reassuring about being in the company of others, despite having vomited in bright green buckets together.
My experience was profound as my self-perception shifted, followed by dramatic and immediate physical effects. I have severe Raynauds syndrome (circulatory disorder) and during the ceremony, I felt my hands and feet tingling and burning. The Kambo impacted the dilation of blood vessels and increased my blood flow to my extremities. My fingers or toes no longer turn white, numb, and painful when stepping outside during most months of the year. I take daily cold-water plunges and can emerge from my dips with pink hands. This for me is significant, as little else has been able to provide relief for my condition. My energy has also increased, and as someone who has struggled with chronic lymes disease, this too is compelling. Because everyone is different, each person will have a unique experience with this medicine. But for me, these tangible results leave me grateful for this uncommon remedy.
Future of Kambo
Research is examining the science of Kambo and the biochemical makeup of the secretion itself. “Since 1966, many peptides in Kambo secretion have been isolated, characterized, and synthesized. As a testimony to its medicinal properties, there are more than 70 Kambo patents registered in the pharmaceutical world, mainly in the United States.”[2] Vittorio Erspamer from the University of Rome, famed for his prior discovery of serotonin, was one of the first westerners to be interested in the composition of Kambo. As he has devoted much of his research to the study of peptides, he further discovered that Kambo contained high concentrations of undiscovered peptides that have uses in medicine and beyond.
As we learn more about the benefits of peptides, natural medicines continue to surface, reminding us that there is “wisdom beyond the science.” Alternative practices are more about intuitively listening to the call of what is right for you. If you find yourself being curious, there are likely benefits in the process. If it doesn’t speak your name, you are also right in that it is not recommended for everyone. A part of healing is about restoring and aligning communication with your body, listening to its needs and finding your path. For some it is more traditional, for others it includes more alternative methods. The beauty of the tree frog medicine is that we can’t cognitively know in advance what it will work on; instead, we’re asked to trust our body to interact with the venom in a manner where it can intuitively be receptive to its medicine. There is something larger at play and when we lean into the unseen, we create opportunities for remarkable healing.
*This post is for informational purposes and based on personal experiences and not intended to be medical advice
To learn more about the science of Kambo:
[1] https://www.planetkambo.com/post/kambo-science
[2]https://albertojosevarela.com/en/investigating-the-healing-power-of-kambo-the-solution-to-so-many-human-malaises-comes-from-the-frogs-of-the-amazon/