Kambo FAQ
Below are answers to the questions I get most often about kambo. If you have a question that is not covered here, you are welcome to get in touch directly.
What is kambo?
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Kambo is the secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor, also known as the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog. Indigenous people in Peru and Brazil refer to it by various names: Sapo, Dow-Kiet, and Vacina da Floresta, which translates as the vaccine of the forest.
It is not exactly a plant medicine but an animal secretion containing a complex cocktail of bioactive peptides that interact with the human body to promote cleansing, immune support, and clarity.
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Kambo is a traditional natural healing method used for physical detoxification, immune support, mental clarity, and the clearing of what indigenous cultures call panema, a concept loosely translated as stagnant energy or bad luck.
People seek kambo for a wide range of reasons including chronic fatigue, infections, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, immune issues, and a general sense of heaviness or being stuck. It is not a western-defined medicine and those who administer it are practitioners, not doctors.
If you have a specific health concern, get in touch before booking so we can discuss whether kambo is appropriate for you.
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No. Kambo is neither psychedelic nor psychoactive. You will not experience hallucinations, visions, or any altered state of consciousness.
Research by the FDA concluded it is not psychoactive, which is also supported by the International Association of Kambo Practitioners.
You remain fully conscious and present throughout the entire session.
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No. Kambo is not toxic to the human system.
While the word poison is sometimes used incorrectly due to the purging effect, kambo is a secretion containing powerful bioactive peptides that have many beneficial effects on the body.
Pharmaceutical companies have identified and recreated over 70 of these peptides synthetically, which reflects the level of scientific interest in its composition. You can read more on the science of kambo page.
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No. I source my kambo directly from the Matsés tribe elder and family I trained with in the Peruvian Amazon.
Frogs are treated with respect. They are picked up by letting the frog walk onto a stick, with no skin-to-skin contact. The frog is held gently while the secretion is scraped from its back, then released back into the jungle.
The Matsés never over-harvest. A frog is not re-harvested until the vine mark from the previous collection has disappeared.
The kambo experience
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A session begins with a health check and intake conversation. Small superficial burns are then made on the top layer of the skin, typically on the arm or leg. These are called gates or points. The kambo is mixed with water and applied to the points as small dots, where it is absorbed quickly through the lymphatic system.
Within minutes the body responds: a warm flush spreads through the face and upper body, the heart rate increases, and most people experience nausea and purging. This is the cleansing response and is central to how kambo works. The acute phase lasts 20 to 40 minutes. After that the points are removed, treated with a natural tree sap called Dragon's Blood which helps the skin heal cleanly, and you rest.
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Initially the body heats up and the skin, especially the face and chest, turns red. The heart rate increases and you may become more aware of your heartbeat. This is followed by a brief drop in blood pressure, which some people find pleasurable. Nausea and purging typically follow. The purge may begin mostly as water, progressing to yellow bile and then a thicker bile.
The entire process usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. Most people feel significantly better within an hour and return to normal relatively quickly after the points are removed.
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The acute phase of the experience lasts 20 to 40 minutes. A private session lasts around one to two hours. When you include preparation, the ceremony, and post-session rest and integration, most people set aside two to three hours in total.
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No. Only the very top layer of skin is removed to create the gates. Kambo enters through the lymphatic system and no blood is involved.
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Kambo points gradually fade over time. The degree of visibility depends on the location and your individual skin type.
Dragon's Blood, a natural antibacterial tree sap, is applied to the points after the session to support healing and prevent infection. Many people wear their kambo marks as a badge of honor.
Kambo Safety
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Yes, kambo is safe when used properly under the care of a trained practitioner.
A thorough health check before every session is essential. There are contraindications that must be discussed before proceeding.
You can read the full list on the kambo safety page.
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You should not take kambo if you have serious heart problems, are on medication for low blood pressure, have had a stroke or brain haemorrhage, have an aneurysm or blood clots, have serious mental health conditions (excluding depression, PTSD, and anxiety), are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, take immunosuppressants for organ transplant, have Addison's Disease, have severe epilepsy, are recovering from major surgery, have used Bufo in the past four weeks, are under 18 years old, or are pregnant, possibly pregnant, or breastfeeding a child under six months old.
This is not an exhaustive list. Please disclose all health complications to your practitioner before using kambo.
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The experience after receiving kambo is completely dependent on the individual. Most people report feeling refreshed, lighter, and more energised.
It is worth knowing about what is sometimes called the Herxheimer reaction, which simply means that occasionally someone will feel worse before feeling better as things move through the system.
It is recommended to keep the rest of the day free after a session to allow time for rest and integration.
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Every session is different. Sometimes you may feel alert and energised afterward. Other times you may feel emotionally drained and need to rest.
It is always recommended to give yourself the time to integrate the session and avoid strenuous commitments for the rest of the day.
Preparation
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Eat clean and light the day before. No food for 12 hours before your session. No coffee on the morning of your session. You may drink a small amount of herbal tea or water, but no honey. Stop all fluid intake two hours before your session. Avoid alcohol and drugs for 48 hours before and after. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Full preparation guidelines are on the preparing for kambo page.
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A minimum of 10 to 12 hours. Do not eat or drink anything on the morning of your session until instructed. After booking you will receive detailed instructions on food and drink for the day of and the days around your session.
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Eat clean and lighter foods the day before your session. Steamed vegetables, soups, fruits, quinoa, legumes, and avocado are all good choices.
Avoid very spicy, oily, processed, or fatty foods. Avoid meat, chicken, and fish on the day of your session and for a few days after. Avoid excessive salt and sugar.
Sessions and frequency
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This depends entirely on the individual. One session can be enough to produce significant results.
For deeper cleansing and detox, three sessions are often recommended. These can be done intensely over a few days or spread out over a month, known as the traditional Caboclo inoculation protocol. There is no evidence that three sessions in a moon cycle is strictly necessary for effectiveness.
Do not underestimate the potency of a single session.
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Kambo contains multiple bioactive peptides that positively affect the body.
Short-term benefits commonly reported include increased energy, increased resistance to stress, enhanced mood, reduced fatigue, improved immunity, hormonal regulation, and increased alertness and focus.
Some people also report deeper energetic and emotional effects including a sense of lightness, the clearing of heavy or stuck energy, and a renewed sense of direction and clarity.
You can read more on the benefits of kambo page.
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The first scientist known to bring kambo into a laboratory was Vittorio Erspamer of the University of Rome, who described it as "a fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications, unequalled by any other amphibian."
Over three decades of research have followed. More than 70 bioactive peptides have been identified and patented, primarily in the United States. Research continues into the pharmaceutical potential of these compounds.
For more detail, visit the science of kambo page.