KAMBO
Kambô therapy uses a special resinous secretion from the back of the Amazonian tree frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor. It’s applied to the body by placing it on tiny burns made in the skin, so that it can access the lymphatic system. Lots of Amazonian tribes use Kambô to clear out stuck energy, which they refer to as "Panema" as they believe it can cause illness and block clarity when hunting.
Kambô can assist with issues like lethargy and emotional struggles. It’s seen as a holistic remedy that taps into physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
A little history...
The use of Kambo originated among various indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin, particularly the Katukina, Kaxinawa, Matsés, Mayoruna, and Yawanawá peoples. These tribes have used the secretion for possibly thousands of years as a traditional medicine. Indigenous shamans would collect the waxy secretion from the frog's skin after capturing it from its natural habitat in the rainforest canopy.
For these Amazonian tribes, kambo served multiple purposes. Warriors used it as a "hunting magic to increase stamina, strength, and focus before hunting expeditions. Shamans administered it to treat various ailments, from malaria and snake bites to fever and infections. The ritual was also believed to purify the body and spirit, bringing luck and clearing "panema" - a concept describing negative energy or bad luck that affects hunting and everyday life.
Each of the five Amazonian tribes mentioned above (Katukina, Kaxinawa, Matsės, Mayoruna, and Yawanawa) has its own distinct origin story regarding kambo, though some elements overlap due to cultural exchange and shared forest environments.
...the West meets Kambo
Western awareness of Kambo began in the 1980s, largely attributed to journalist Peter Gorman, who experienced the ritual during his expeditions to the Amazon. Gorman first encountered Kambo in 1986 while living with the Matsés tribe and later wrote about his experiences in publications like Omni magazine, introducing many Westerners to the practice. You can easily access his story in his book "Sapo in My Soul".
Another key figure in Kambo's Western emergence was Italian photojournalist Vittorio Erspamer, who studied the biochemical properties of the frog secretion the 600 research identified powerful peptides in Kambo that showed potential ant analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The 1990s saw increased scientific interest in Kambo's bioactive compounds. Researchers identified over 70 peptides in the secretion. These compounds interact with various receptors in the human body, affecting the cardiovascular, digestive, neurological, and immune systems.
This research sparked interest in pharmaceutical applications, though no Kambo-derived drugs have yet gained widespread medical approval.
Expansion in the West
Kambo's significant movement into Western alternative health circles began in the early 2000s. Francisco Gomes Filho, a former rubber tapper known as Tabatinga, began introducing non-indigenous people to kambo. After receiving permission from the Katukina tribe, he started the International Association of Kambo (IAKP) along with Karen Darke and they invited many of the most experienced practitioners in the world to be part of its beginning, some of whom agreed. The IAKP has changed a lot in time, but still faces many issues associated with balancing appropriation issues with the need to adapt the practices for Western bodies and minds.
Around the same time, Europeans like Giovanni Lattanzi and Sonia Rapacioli established the first formal Kambo training programs for non-indigenous practitioners. These pioneers developed protocols adapted for Westerners while attempting to honour traditional indigenous methods.
By the mid-2000s, Kambo ceremonies had spread throughout Europe, with centres opening in countries like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. The practice reached the United States, Australia, and other Western countries by the 2010s, often associated with circles exploring other Amazonian practices and traditional ceremonies.
What's in Kambo?
Kambô is packed with various bioactive peptides that scientists are excited about. Different research companies have even patented some of these compounds, hoping to harness their healing potential. Some of these important peptides include:
Phyllocaerulein: Helps with gut flow, increases stomach acid, and can lower blood pressure.
Phyllomedusin and Phyllokinin: These can help relax blood vessels and affect gut movement, potentially influencing mood and behavior, too.
Sauvagine: Boosts adrenal function and can make muscles contract.
Dermaseptin B2: Works against microbes and may even help fight cancer.
Adenoregulin: Affects important neurotransmitters like adenosine and serotonin.
Deltorphin and Dermorphin: These act as natural pain relievers and help muscles relax.
There’s been plenty of research into these peptides, showing they can have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects.
Kambô encourages your body to boost its immune defences and flush out toxins via the liver, intestines, and skin. In the Amazon, it’s considered an energetic medicine believed to refresh your body’s cells and clear away negative energy.
Many people have shared their positive experiences with Kambô, finding relief from issues like fatigue, addiction, allergies, phobias, fertility challenges, depression, and more. Since many health problems are linked to energy blockages, Kambô can help unlock those blocks and restore balance, with results that can range from slight improvements to major transformations.
Kambo Application Methods
CEREMONIAL KAMBO
My ceremonial Kambo sessions are designed to help people tackle wellness issues tied to energetic blockages: physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual. Ceremonies are currently offered in a one-to-one format and are held in a sacred way to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe. The duration of a session is approximately 3 hours. Here what to expect:
Initial Assessment: We will go through your form and decide the number and location of your Kambo ports.
Ceremony Opening and Prayer: a brief opening of the space
Intention: We will share our intentions for the session - you an do this out loud, or internally, as you prefer.
Smudging and Meditation: after smudging you with Frankincence, I will guide you through a meditation to help you sink into a relaxed unarmoured state in preparation for the application.
Sananga: I will administer one drop in each eye - this medicine will help to soften any energetic blockages and will heighten your intuition and connection to the spirit of Kambo.
Drink Water: You will be asked to start drinking the water provided - you will need to drink 1.5 litres within approximately 10 minutes, to allow the toxins and bile to be expelled safely during the purging.
Ports Burning: While you drink your water, I will make a series of gentle burns using a small incense stick and remove the top layer of the skin.
Kambo dots Application: Once you will have finished your initial 1.5 litres of water, I will start applying small lumps of Kambo onto the skin ports.
Stacked Approach: I have been trained to use a "stacking" method - this means that i will not apply all the dots at once, but in incremental stages. We will generally start with one dot, and within a few minutes you will get a hot flush, raised heart rate, and nausea. I will monitor your reactions and keep adding the other points as required. I will also enpourage you to keep drinking water.
The Purge - The aim of the stacked aproach is to reach purging, and this generally happens for the majority of people. This is generally through the mouth (vomiting) although some people might feel the urge to use the bathroom as well. You may have several rounds of purging as the effects come in a wave-like pattern: this is the most uncomfortable part of the ceremony, but it generally does not last more than 20-30 minutes and there is a sense of relief that comes with purging, so try not to fight it.
Rest: at the end of your process I will remove your Kambo dots and you will be able to rest. We will then close the ceremony and have some soup together.
How you will feel after the session varies greatly from person to person. You will generally need some rest the day of the session. During the following days, you may feel fully energised or still tired and needing to rest. Both reactions are normal, so try to listen to your body. Keeping a healthy and balanced diet after the session and for as long as possible is strongly recommended to maximise the benefits.
KAMBO MICRODOTTING
For those who prefer not to (or can't) experience the full power of Kambo and avoid purging, I can offer single dots (generally up to 3) spaced about 10-15 minutes apart, in areas of the body that will have been previously identified for energetic or muscular pain release. This type of application is not done in a ceremonial fashion, there is no need to drink a lot of water (only oe glass nitially) and the process is much faster, lasting 60-75 minutes in total.
