Kambo Treatments

Before administering Kambo, the person undergoing the treatment is typically advised to fast or abstain from food and liquids for 8-16 hours.

Preparation for Kambo is fairly easy.

After our initial consultation via phone and email, we proceed with the right treatment that fits your needs. A single treatment may be enough to meet your needs while being highly beneficial. Although many practitioners advocate getting a series of 3-4 treatments within the timeframe of  1-4 months. Some participants like to progress with their treatments at a faster rate, while others may need longer breaks focussing on their integration. This will be assessed as we work Kambo together, having a in depth conversation and evaluating what timeline works best for the individual.

Prior to our initial meeting participants fill out a medical intake form that covers your general health, medications, supplements and intentions. All intake forms are done with patient confidentiality and privacy. This process helps the procedure to be done in the safest and most effective manner possible.

The traditional protocol we use is starting with the initial basic treatment, 3-8 points on the arm or leg. Depending on the length of your integration process, we  follow with a second treatment working the back and spine.  This is followed with a third specialized treatment, focussing on meridian points and optional auricular points. Often, beneficial results are being seen with the gradual progression, where individuals can opt on a fourth treatment for further healing needs if deemed necessary. Although,  three treatments is certainly capable and common of meeting a patients goals.

Each Kambo treatment you receive acts more and more efficiently building from the previous treatments.  Kambo works in incremental layers, removing energetic and biological toxins in stages.  Within the months of receiving the Kambo protocol, which can be called the initiation and inoculation process, the mind- body-spirit heals at a rapid rate. Once the traditional protocol is complete, (3-4 treatments over 1-4 months) coming for a single treatment maintenance session every 3 to 12 months will continue to improve and maximize your healing process. The continuation of the kambo practice is a practical way to strengthen your relationship with Kambo over the years to come.

On the day of treatment, you will only have a maximum of two cups of water prior to sitting with Kambo.  Too much water intake during the day can be a contraindication.  When the participant begins to sit for the actual treatment, the practitioner gages the water intake consisting of 1- 2 liters of water 10-20 min before application. This quick intake of water is beneficial for the purging process, aiding the removal of the bile and toxins within the body.

Along with the water protocols, Kambo is applied to individuals who are undergoing a short water fast. 8-20 hours of water fasting is the optimal time frame for treatments. Most medications and supplements work well with the practice of Kambo and are ok to take a few hours after the treatment.

When we start the treatments and ceremony, we proceed with a test a single test point to see any adverse reactions, which fortunately are extremely rare.  A test point allows insights into any potential sensitivities that can be easily reversed given the small amount of Kambo applied. During the test point we observe how the body reacts, helping the practitioner move forward with assessing how much frog secretion a participant may need to give the best results. A test point also allows the participant to become comfortable with the process as it is a temporary micro dose. The subtle reactions are quite pleasant, increasing vasodilation while loosening tension and anxiety within the body. The test point process typically takes  3-5 minutes.  Soon after the participant  feels comfortable and acclimated with the onset of the micro dose, we begin to apply the remainder of the secretion to the body over the next 10 minutes.

The initial effects begin to be felt quite quickly as peptides cross the blood brain barrier.  Patients usually feel the heart beat stronger while the body begins to strongly circulate blood flow. Kambo is know as a Heart Cleanse. A positive is attribute of the experience is the strengthening of the heart muscle with strong vasodilation to the body, often feeling very warm pleasant sensation.  The ears, hands, feet, and  cranial area can feel a sense of electrical tingling and can be a very gratifying, as the peptides are working and repairing many systems within the body.  This first phase is often known as the warm flush. This can last up to 5-10 minutes given the patients biochemistry.

The second stage of the treatment is where the blood pressure begins to safely drop, while the body is removing toxins into the bile tract. The bile that is produced by your liver contains toxins and heavy metals, where Kambo helps facilitate the removal of the bile.  The patient normally will feel nausea and have the early stages of the purge arising.  As a practitioner, we then begin to assist with helping the patient purge into a small bucket. The purge is viewed as a sacred release, removing energetic blockages, past trauma and toxins where much relief is often felt during and after the process.  The participant also may need to use the toilet, as the body is cleansing itself and releasing toxins through the intestines. This second stage of Kambo can typically last 10-20 minutes in gradual increments and phases.

The third phase of Kambo is the rest and recovery which can last roughly 15 minutes. After the sacred purging, the body will begin to regulate itself with improved vitality and circulation. Often people will go into a deep sense of relaxation and meditation. This process is held in a sacred manner, using aroma therapy, calming music and some silence, as the senses of the body feel very alive and rejuvenated.

Shortly after the treatment, we begin to close the ceremonial space with an assessment of your personal process while having a discussion regarding integration.  Individuals often will feel refreshed and rejuvenated going about their daily tasks, capable of driving home with improved energy, clarity and insight. During departure we highly recommend to break the water fast with a wholesome healthy meal. Packing a small meal or snacks is key. Kambo demands the energy from food for optimal recovery, restoring blood sugar and insulin levels. Food intake is important for also aiding in the further removal of toxins through digestion and bowel movements.

Applying the frog secretion is safe and easy.  Points, gates, or dots, as they are referred as, are small burn marks lifting a thin layer of the outer skin. Sizes of the points are no larger than the tip of a medium sized marker, while the pain level is comparable to a mosquito or horse fly bite.

Points heal rather fast, often leaving a slight discoloration for a few months. Dragons blood is applied after the treatment to help heal the marks, also acting as a natural band aid. During the preparation of the treatment, once the point and skin is opened up, we then liquefy the dried frog secretion into a mucus form. We shape and mold the wet secretion into a small sized ball, which then is placed over the point on the body, entering the body to cross the blood brain barrier.

After a successful treatment, we begin to evaluate your physical and emotional well being, while discussing future goals for secondary treatments and optimal health. We will work a in depth integration process, helping your needs and aiding with your healing process.

The set and setting for the treatment is of most importance. We conduct all treatments in a professional clinical sanitary setup, while also offering the treatment in a ceremonial sacred atmosphere.  We use traditional Kambo Icaro healing songs,  sound healing instruments, sage, guidance and space holding to make participants feel comfortable and safe with their experience.

Individuals who meet one or more of the following should not do Kambo.

• People with serious heart problems
• People who had a stroke
• People on medication for LOW blood pressure- (high blood pressure in not an issue)
• People who’ve had a brain hemorrhage
• People who have had aneurisms or blood clots
• People who lack the mental capacity to make the decision to take Kambo
• People with serious mental health problems, EXCLUDING depression and anxiety (Kambo is very
• beneficial in alleviating depression and anxiety)
• People undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for 4 months prior or afterwards
• People who take immune suppressants for organ transplant
• Woman who are pregnant or maybe so
• Woman who are breastfeeding a child under 6 months old
• Under 18

A shaman or practitioner uses a small, heated stick or vine to make superficial burns (called “dots”) or tiny openings on the person’s skin, usually on the upper arm or leg. These openings are quite small and are made painlessly. The dots heal after a month.

The Kambo secretion is then applied directly onto the openings, allowing the bioactive compounds found in the frog’s secretions to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The secretion contains a variety of peptides and bioactive compounds that may have various physiological effects.

In 2016 I proudly became a member of I.A.K.P, International Association of Kambo Practitioners. This was an intensive course in Washington State, furthering my knowledge regarding the administration and care of the the Amazonian kambo practice. I had the pleasure to train under Karen Uma Darke and Ginny Rutherford, two of the worlds most gifted Kambo practitioners and teachers.

In December of 2017 I had the opportunity to work with Amazonian Native Victor Escobar and his partner Natasha Devi, teachers of the Yarapa River region of the Amazon Rainforest. This was a valuable experience learning potent sappo methods within the tradition of Kambo while exploring the natural habitat of the phyllomedusa bicolor tree frog.

Kambo comes from the rainforests of the Upper Amazon. It is the secretion of a large green frog known as the Green Monkey Tree Frog scientifically named Phyllomedusa Bicolor; phyllo meaning “leaf: and medusa meaning “guardian.” Having no predators, the frog is found and breeds in great abundance throughout various parts of the Amazon. For nearly 800 years, Kambo has been used as potent medicine by many tribes including the Matses, Amahuaca, Katukina, Kulina, Yawanawa, Marubo, Nukini, and the Mayoruna.

Various tribes have their own tales of how they discovered Kambô, but a prominent legend originates in Brazil. According to the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) tradition, their tribe faced a grave illness, and their medicine man (known as Pajé in Brazil) had tried all known remedies without success. Under the influence of sacred plant medicines, he ventured into the forest and encountered a forest spirit.

This spirit presented a frog that secreted a white substance, teaching the Pajé how to use it for healing. Returning to the tribe, he followed the guidance and successfully cured his fellow tribe members, earning him the name Pajé Kampu or Kampum. After his passing, it was believed that his spirit dwelled within the frog, protecting the forest’s defenders. This secretion became Kambô, known by different names in various tribes.

Kambô’s use spread over thousands of years, benefiting the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) and numerous other indigenous groups, including the Amahuaca, Katukina, Kulina, Yawanawá, Matsés, Marubo, and Mayoruna in the Amazon.

In 1925, French priest Father Constantin Tastevin made the first documented observations of Kambô use among the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) tribe. In the 1980s, American Anthropologist Katherine Milton documented its usage among the Mayoruna tribe in Brazil, while Peter Gorman shared his experiences with the Matsés tribe in Peru.

During the 1990s, rubber tappers in Brazil learned about Kambô from Amazonian indigenous communities and began using it in towns like Acre. Francisco Gomes, who had lived among the Katukina tribe, pioneered Kambô’s use outside the Amazon. The practice eventually reached larger Brazilian cities.

In 2009/2010, Kambô began appearing in small European ceremonies, marking its global expansion. In early 2014, the International Association of Kambô Practitioners (IAKP) was established to ensure safe practices, protect clients and practitioners, and create a shared knowledge base for Kambô.

The secretion is ethically harvested by the Matses tribe in the Northern Amazon of Peru. A layer of secretion is taken off the back of the frogs while not harming their biological functions. There is a specific monkey call the collector uses to call the frogs down from the trees. After the medicine is collected, the frogs are returned back into the forest. The frogs have no known predators and are very friendly, while they continue to give their medicine in abundance to the collectors.

One of the first major observations regarding Kambo in the western world was made by Italian Chemist and Nobel Prize Nominee, Vittorio Erspamer, who was famous for his discovery of Serotonin. Vittorio was excited with his extensive research stating Kambo’s properties “Is a fantastic cocktail of bio peptides that holds great value to the World.” Currently the USA hold 80 patents derived from the Phyllomedusa Bicolor.

Traditionally, Kambo, also known as Sapo, was used in three ways.

1. Firstly as a way to cleanse, strengthen and energize the minds and bodies of the hunters. After taking Kambo they were able to run faster, have sharper senses, increase strength, lower appetite, and have deeper sleep. It was known as “Hunting Magic Medicine.”
2. Secondly, it has been used as a medicine for Malaria, fever, infections, snakebites, and to increase immunity.
3. Thirdly, it was used to clear away dark negative energy, fatigue and melancholy known as “Panema.” When Panema is cleared, everything becomes easier, obstacles can be overcome and life flows more naturally.

Anecdotally, Kambo is also being used for fertility, behavioral correction, mental well being, sexual attraction, along with assisting the healing of an assortment of physical ailments. Scientifically speaking, kambo contains an assortment of peptides, bioactive peptides and neuro peptides. Peptides are compounds that formed by linking one or more amino acids in a chain, connected by special bonds. The peptides in trigger a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Kambo has the ability, unlike many other natural and pharmaceutical substances, to cross the blood brain barrier, enabling it to reach deep into the body and bring support to otherwise difficult to treat areas.

Human cells open up to the beneficial properties of Kambo unlike many substances that are filtered and eliminated by the body’s highly intelligent defense system. The important neuropeptides within kambo, that are small protein like molecules, are used by neurons to communicate with each other. The neuronal signaling molecules are involved in a wide range of brain function including; analgesia, dopamine reward levels, balanced food intake, metabolism, reproduction, social behaviors, learning, memory, and oxytocin production.

On going research on peptides, kambo’s main components, continues to evolve finding medical applications in the world of medicine and pharmacology. The bioactive peptides and neuropeptides present in kambo are helping people all around the globe while it is gaining and increasing in popularity year by year. The frog’s secretion has also helped aid and give relief to complications such as…

Several years of research conducted at the University of Paris have shown the peptide Dermaseptin B2 to be very effective at killing certain types of cancer cells. Research at Queens University in Belfast recently won a prestigious award for their groundbreaking work with cancer and Kambo.

This is exciting news for the development of new and more efficient therapies able to treat antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious diseases.

Kambo aftercare and post treatment health is an aspect I consider to be a very important process within the practice. It is not just about receiving treatments, being rushed in and out the door. There is a strong focused integration process to assimilate into our daily lives after the treatments and ceremonies you receive. Along with your Kambo treatment plan, or as a separate entity, I offer calculated, simple and effective methods to practice for daily health, which will maximize your wellbeing. There are many synergistic modalities within the health field that we utilize with Kambo and other plant medicines. Using a multi faceted approach, combing unique treatments, can hold the longevity for the treatments you receive.

Together we will utilize simple techniques such as proper herbs and supplements, simple lymphatic daily exercise strategies, cold water therapy, breathe work, Kambo diet plans, energy harnessing systems, plant medicine education, correct meditation; all while bringing in a positive attitude and atmosphere into your daily lives.

Read full blog post on Kambo Aftercare & Integration

It’s important to note that Kambo is a traditional practice and is not without risks. It should only be administered by trained and experienced practitioners who are familiar with the proper techniques and safety measures. Additionally, individuals considering Kambo should consult with a healthcare professional, as it may not be suitable for everyone and can have potential risks and side effects. Always seek guidance and supervision if you are interested in exploring this traditional healing practice.

The frog is not harmed during this process, as it is released back into the wild after its secretions are ethically obtained.  5% percent of proceeds go to the Matse Tribe of Brazil for the preservations of their land