Kambo

The Origins of Kambô

Each tribe has its own legend or story about how they came to use Kambô. The most prevalent legend comes from Brazil…

This Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) legend tells that the Indians of the tribe were very ill and their medicine man (Pajé in Brazil) had done everything that was possible to cure them. All medicinal herbs known were used, but none helped.

Under the effect of sacred plant medicines, he entered the forest and whilst there received a visit from a female spirit of the forest.

She brought in her hands a frog, from which she took a white secretion, and taught the Pajé how to apply it. Returning to the tribe and following the guidelines he had received, the Pajé was able to cure his brothers and sisters. From then on he was known as Pajé Kampu or Kampum.

Mixing Kambô Points

After his death, his spirit lived on in the frog, where it continued its mission to protect the health of those who defend the forest. The secretion became known as Kambô, but in some tribes it is called Sapo, Dow-Kiet, Kampu or Vacina da Floresta.

Usage spread, and for thousands of years, Kambô has been used as medicine by the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) people, and by many other indigenous groups including the Amahuaca, Katukina, Kulina, Yawanawá, Matsés, Marubo and Mayoruna. It is still used widely amongst indigenous people in the Amazon to this day.

Foto: acervo Museu Nacional, s/d. Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) – Povos Indigenas No Brasil

The first observations of Kambô use were made by a French priest, Father Constantin Tastevin in 1925 whilst he was staying with the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) tribe in the upper Juruá River in Brazil. In the 1980’s an American Anthropologist, Katherine Milton described Kambô use among the Mayoruna tribe in Brazil and in the 1980’s Peter Gorman wrote about his experiences taking Kambô with the Matsés tribe in Peru.

During the 1990’s, rubber tappers in Brazil learned about Kambô from the Amazon Indians. They began to take it out into the towns of Acre and apply it themselves. Having spent several years living with the Katukina, Francisco Gomes from Cruzeiro do Sol was one of the first people to pioneer the use of Kambô outside the Amazon. The practice spread and soon people in the larger cities of Brazil were using Kambô.

In 2009/2010 Kambô started to make its way out from South America and could be found in small ceremonies in Europe.

In early 2014 the IAKP was formed to safe guard clients, practitioners and Kambô by creating safe practices and a shared knowledge base.

Kambô: Overview and Details

What is Kambô?
Kambô is a secretion from the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa Bicolor), one of the largest Hylid frogs. This secretion is neither sweat nor poison; it does not cause illness or death on its own. In Amazonian traditions, it is considered a medicine, though not in the Western medical sense. Practitioners who administer Kambô are not medical doctors.
Scientific Insight
Italian scientist Vittorio Erspamer was the first to analyze Kambô in a lab. In 1986, he described it as containing a "fantastic chemical cocktail" with potential medical applications unmatched by any other amphibian. This cocktail includes peptides that have advanced the understanding of opioid receptors. Sixteen peptides have been identified and synthesized, leading to over 70 Kambô-related patents, primarily in the U.S.

Modern Use
Kambô's popularity is increasing as a natural aid for healing. It can be applied traditionally or in innovative ways, such as on Meridians, Chakras, Nadis, Marma Points, and even the ears (Auricular Kambô). Gentler techniques allow more people to experience its benefits safely.
About the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog
These frogs are nocturnal, arboreal, and have no natural predators. They inhabit the Upper Amazon rainforest in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Their conservation status is "Least Concern," but threats like habitat destruction could impact their population.

• Appearance: Vibrant green dorsum, creamy white belly, with dark chest, flank, and leg spots.

• Reproduction: Occurs year-round, peaking from November to May. Females deposit eggs in nests made of folded leaves above ponds or streams, with tadpoles emerging in 11-14 days.

• Secretion: Believed to be derived from their diet. Frogs don't produce it outside their natural environment. Proper collection methods ensure frogs are unharmed.

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Safety and Contraindications
Kambô is generally safe under the supervision of a trained practitioner. However, certain health conditions can make its use unsafe, and some situations require special precautions. It is crucial to disclose your complete health history to your practitioner before treatment. If any information is unclear, ask for clarification.

The following may not safely take Kambô:

Who Should Avoid Kambô

Kambô is generally safe when administered by trained practitioners. However, individuals with the following conditions or circumstances should not take Kambô:

1. Heart and Circulatory Conditions

   • Serious heart problems

   • History of a stroke

   • Aneurysms or blood clots

   • Brain hemorrhage

2. Medical and Mental Health

   • Taking medication for low blood pressure (rare cases)

   • Serious mental health issues (excluding depression and anxiety)

   • Lack of mental capacity to consent to Kambô

   • Addison’s disease

   • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

   • Severe and current epilepsy

3. Treatment and Recovery

   • Undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy (within 4–6 weeks)

   • Taking immune suppressants for an organ transplant

   • Recovering from major surgery

4. Women’s Health

   • Pregnant or potentially pregnant

   • Breastfeeding a child under six months

5. Other Restrictions

   • Individuals under 18 years old

   • Animals

Cautions When Taking Kambô

Special care should be taken for individuals in the following situations. They should consult their practitioner to determine whether Kambô is suitable:

1. Health and Immune System

   • Taking immune-suppressants for autoimmune disorders

   • Chronic inflammatory response syndrome from mold exposure

2. Lifestyle and Substance Use

   • Active drug or alcohol addiction

   • Long-term or water fasting (7 days before/after Kambô)

   • Recent use of Bufo 5-MeO-DMT (within 28 days)

3. Cleansing and Detoxification

   • Avoid colonics, enemas, liver flushes, or water-based detoxes within 3 days before or after Kambô.

Esophageal Conditions to Disclose

Kambô can cause intense vomiting, which may impact individuals with certain esophageal conditions. These do not necessarily prohibit Kambô use but should be disclosed to the practitioner:

1. Rupture Risks

   • Boerhaave’s Syndrome (spontaneous esophageal rupture)

   • Severe trauma or injury to the esophagus (e.g., from endoscopy)

2. Medical Conditions

   • Esophageal tumors or ulcers

   • Bulimia (current or past)

   • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

   • Untreated eosinophilic esophagitis

   • Esophageal varices

   • Portal hypertension

Always consult a trained and experienced practitioner before undergoing Kambô to ensure safety and suitability.