About Kambo
“Kambo” is an ancient indigenous medicine taken from the venomous secretion of the Amazonian Sapo Tree Frog. When applied topically on the skin Kambo activates a radical physical, emotional and mental cleansing process.
What is Kambo?
Kambo is the name given to the venomous secretion of a tree frog that is applied topically on the skin by the indigenous tribes of the Amazon to heal and strengthen the mind, body and spirit.
During a Kambo treatment the medicine is applied to the skin after small superficial burns are made with a red hot ember vine or incense stick. Only the very top layer of the skin is burned. Once the burns have been made, the Kambo resin is applied to the wounds and this allows the medicine to communicate with the brain via the lymphatic system.
The medicine contains a cocktail of bioactive peptides and neuropeptides which have a powerful effect on the body and brain and 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 Sapo Frog and how to use it’s 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.
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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 while others 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.
About Kambo
The bioactive and neuro peptides present in Kambo have been used to treat a wide range of potential medical uses including migraines, blood circulation problems, fertility problems, AIDS, hepatitis, cancer and brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.
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.
How Kambo Works
Kambo is generally used in a ceremonial setting either as a group or a 1-1 session. Kambo must always be done in a fasted state so the stomach is empty. 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. At this point the participant will be asked to drink 1.5 - 2 litres of water. This is so there is something in the stomach that can be purged during the process. The medicine is then applied to the wounds and the process begins.
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. Unlike many other natural and pharmaceutical substances, Kambo has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which allows it to work very deeply in the body and to access areas that are very difficult to treat. 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 it’s 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.
Scientific Kambo Studies
The peptides discovered by Erspamer in Kambo trigger a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Unlike many other natural and pharmaceutical substances, Kambo has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which allows it to work very deeply in the body and to access areas that are very difficult to treat. 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 it’s benefits, many peptides have since been isolated from the Kambo secretion and have been synthesized by the medical industry.
What does Kambo feel like?
The immediate effects of kambo are very intense and unpleasant but 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. Heat will be felt mainly in the upper body and head but can be felt in other areas. The blood pressure may rise or fall dramatically, accompanied by an increased awareness of the veins and arteries. Many people report a tingling or burning sensation in the extremities that can slowly spread to other areas of the body. Some may also feel a dissociative sleepiness or an energetic high.
The Kambo Purge
After this initial period a strong feeling of nausea washes over the body and this is a sign that the purge is coming. The purge can be vomiting, defecating or both. Other effects include a feeling of pressure in the head, neck, and torso, stomach pain, inflammation of the throat, dry mouth, blurred vision (or temporary blindness), difficulty moving, and numb, swollen lips and tongue.
After these effects have worn off, the heart rate has returned to normal and the purge has happened it is usually necessary to rest. A light nap at this point is very common.
The Post-Kambo Zen
Within 30 mins or so of the kambo treatment a profound sense of calm and peace is usually reported. This is from the neuropeptides Dermorphin and deltorphin working in the brain– These are small peptides composed of 7 amino acids. They are selective agonists of the opiate delta receptors, 4000 times more potent than strong analgesics and 40 times more than the endogenous endorphins. It is truly a blissful feeling.
The following few days after the Kambo treatment you may feel great physical strength, sharpened senses, and heightened mental alertness. These effects are the reason the indigenous tribesman use Kambo before a hunt. 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 born again, 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 Blocked Emotion
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.
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Get FREE guest access to 5 Kambo training videos
from the NEW practitioner e-learning course.