About Kambo
“Kambo” is an ancient indigenous medicine taken from the secretion of the Amazonian giant monkey frog. When applied topically to the skin Kambo activates a radical physical, emotional and mental cleansing process.
What is Kambo?
Kambo is the name given to the secretion of the giant monkey frog that lives in the Amazon Jungle. It is applied topically to the skin by the indigenous tribes to heal and strengthen the mind, body and spirit.
During a Kambo treatment, small superficial burns are made on the skin with a red hot ember vine or incense stick. The very top layer of the skin is removed, exposing the dermis underneath and the Kambo secretion is then applied to the wounds. It is thought that this method of application allows the medicine to communicate with the brain via the lymphatic system.
The Kambo secretion contains a cocktail of bioactive peptides and neuropeptides which have a powerful effect on the body, brain and nervous system and essentially allow the body to heal itself.
Kambo Tradition
There is a legend that tells that the Natives of the Kaxinawa tribe were very ill and the Shaman and medicine man, Kampu, had done everything that was possible to cure them. He had used all of his knowledge and medicines but he was unable to heal his people. Kampu then entered the forest and, while under the effect of a powerful visionary plant medicine called “Ayahuasca”, received an incredible vision.
He was shown the Kambo frog and how to use its medicine to heal the people of his village.
Returning to the tribe and following the lessons from the vision that he had received, Kampu used the Kambo medicine to cure his people. After Kampu’s death, it is believed that his spirit has started living in the frog and the indigenous began to use its secretion to stay active and healthy.
Kambo - Warrior Medicine
The indigenous tribes use Kambo for many reasons. Physically it is used to fight disease and illness, as a remedy for snake and other venomous bites, to heal fevers and to increase fertility. It is also used before a hunt by the tribesmen to sharpen the senses and increase physical prowess.
Spiritually it is used to remove ‘panema’, which the tribes define as dark, heavy or negative energies that manifest as sickness, bad luck, depression, laziness and a clouded mind. By removing ‘panema’, a person is free to live an abundant life full of good fortune, vitality and to stay in peak physical and mental condition.
FREE Members Access
Get FREE guest access to 5 Kambo training videos
from the NEW practitioner e-learning course.
Kambo Peptides
The bioactive peptides and neuropeptides present in Kambo cover a wide range of potential medical uses including depression, migraines, blood circulation problems, fertility problems, AIDS, hepatitis, cancer and brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.
The peptides perform hormone-like tasks and provide support to vital cellular processes. Some of these peptides have a potent effect on the gastrointestinal muscles, gastric and pancreatic secretions, blood circulation, and on the stimulation of the adrenal cortex and pituitary gland.
Kambo has amazing anti-inflammatory effects and a capacity to destroy various types of microbes and viruses. Kambo contains multiple antimicrobial peptides effective against drug-resistant strains of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites and virus.
Is Kambo Safe?
Kambo is safe for the vast majority of people although there are some contraindications such as serious heart problems or a history of blood clots and strokes.
Is Kambo Ethical?
Kambo is obtained by the tribesmen by carefully catching the frogs and then wiping the secretion from their skin. The frogs are usually found near rivers in the Amazon area. When it’s raining, the frogs gather around the rivers and make a particular sound. The tribesman imitate this sound to lure and subsequently catch the frogs.
The frogs don’t have any natural predators so they are very timid and easy to catch.
The frogs are then harmlessly stressed to induce the secretion: a waxy substance that can then be soaked into wooden sticks from the back and legs of the frog. The poison is then left on these sticks to dry. When enough secretion has been collected, the frog is released back into the wild. Great care is taken to leave the frog unharmed during the gathering process.
What Happens at Kambo Ceremony?
Kambo is generally used in a ceremonial setting either as a group or in a 1-1 session. After careful consideration by the practitioner, a number of burns will be made on the skin using the tip of a hot incense stick. The burns are then gently rubbed with tissue paper to remove only the top layer of skin. The medicine is then applied to the wounds and the process begins. When the recipient starts to feel nauseous and ready to purge they begin drinking water. The water helps by increasing nausea and adding volume to the purge.
Vittorio Erspamer
Vittorio Erspamer, of the University of Rome, was an Italian pharmacologist and chemist who’s research activities spanned more than 60 years and 2 Nobel prize nominations. He was known for the identification, synthesis and pharmacological studies of more than sixty new chemical compounds, most notably serotonin and octopamine. Most of the new compounds he discovered were isolated from animals, predominantly amphibians.
Kambo Medical Research
Erspamer was the first to analyze Kambo in the lab. After considerable research Erspamer concluded that Kambo contains a ‘fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications, unequalled by any other amphibian’. His research findings brought considerable attention to the area of peptides and neuropeptides from the medical community. This has proven an invaluable milestone in the advancement of particular branches of medical science.
The Kambo Peptides
The peptides discovered by Erspamer in Kambo trigger a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Human cells are very compatible with the beneficial properties of Kambo, unlike many substances that are removed by the body’s immune system.
Thus far, researchers have discovered nine peptides, some of which are bio-active – meaning that they perform specific functions in the body. These peptides act like hormones while others help by supporting certain important cellular processes. Because of its benefits, many peptides have since been isolated from the Kambo secretion and have been synthesized by the medical industry.
Kambo Immune System Benefits
Other interesting properties include Kambo’s anti-inflammatory effects and its ability to destroy various types of microbes and viruses. Recent studies have shown that Kambo contains multiple antimicrobial peptides effective against drug-resistant strains of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. This is very exciting news for the development of new and more efficient medicines and therapies able to treat antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious diseases.
What are the Benefits?
Kambo has a variety of benefits, both short and long term. The short term benefits include a full body cleanse, deep relaxation and a powerful boost of energy. Long term benefits can include resistance to physical illness, alleviation of chronic health conditions and and overall sense of wellbeing.
Kambo works in different ways for different people, it's not a one size fits all cure but rather a dynamic process that we like to call the "multi-dimenional purge". Kambo can help to clear out physical, emotional and energetic blocks that allow the body to heal itself. Kambo is only the messenger, it's the body and brain that does the work.
What does Kambo feel like?
The effects of Kambo can vary in intensity but are over fairly quickly, usually lasting no more than 20-40 minutes. The first thing one will notice is a rise in body temperature, as the heart rate becomes more rapid and the blood vessels dilate. Heat will be felt mainly in the upper body and head but can be felt in other areas. This is not an unpleasant feeling at all and many describe it as euphoric. As the process continues one may start to feel nauseaous and uneasy as the glands of the body begin to secrete, contractions start at the levle of the smooth muscle of the gut then finally the bile is flushed from the gallbladder.
The Kambo Purge
Once the bile is flushed from the gallbladder into the stomach the nausea will increase and a strong urge to vomit will be felt. At this point the recipient can begin drinking water which helps to give more volume to the purge and makes for an easier expulsion. As soon as the purgung begins the recipient will begin to feel better. After the purging is finished the recipient will feel a huge sense of relief.
How Will I Feel After?
Within 30 mins or so of the Kambo treatment a profound sense of calm and peace is usually reported. This is referred to as the "Kambo afterglow" and it can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Other things that you may feel incldue an increase in physical strength, a sharpening of the senses, and a state of heightened mental alertness. These effects are the reason the indigenous tribesman use Kambo as a hunting medicine. Other effects tend to include a consistently elevated mood, increased physical and mental energy, decreased stress, and enhanced focus.
The Kambo Experience
Kambo clears any negative physical and emotional energies which deny us a balanced and peaceful life. When we are plagued with emotional toxins, and our physical and mental energy is low this is a sure sign that a Kambo treatment is needed. Many have described their Kambo experiences as like being reborn, passing a point of no return after which they are changed mentally and physically. After Kambo many have reported that they have renewed courage to take on new ventures in life and to revisit old situations that used to fill them with fear and anxiety. Kambo gives us the strength to face whatever life throws at us.
How Kambo Removes Emotional Blocks
Kambo allows us to process our feelings; by bringing up that which which has been suppressed and long since forgotten. By removing the “panema” and the remains of unprocessed and unhealthy feelings from the past, we slowly begin to reveal our true self. Kambo clears the way, promoting a deeper understanding of the world and ourselves. The clearer we become, the more we resonate with truth and the more we align with the way things really are. In this “flow” state, we effortlessly allow joy and happiness into our lives and return to our natural state of freedom and peace.
The Healing Power of Kambo
A Kambo treatment can take many shapes. There can be vomiting, shaking, sweating, crying or a feeling of complete oneness and bliss. Whatever happens you can be sure that deep transformation is happening. The frog is a symbol of the reclaiming of personal power. It reminds us of who we truly are. Allow the frog to show you the way and watch as your life begins to blossom in ways you can’t imagine.
FREE Members Access
Get FREE guest access to 5 Kambo training videos
from the NEW practitioner e-learning course.