Below is a brief description of Kambo, how it is used and what it is used for.
‘[Kambo is:] … a fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications unequalled by any other amphibian…’
Nobel prize nominee, Vittorio Erspamer 1986
Kambo is a unique and versatile substance derived from the skin secretions of the giant monkey frog native to areas of the Amazon rainforest. The substance is collected by gently scraping the sticky secretion from the skin of the frog. The frog is held in place or tied by it’s limbs so that the medicine can be collected. The procedure does not harm the frog.
What is it used for?
Kambo treats a wide array of maladies both mental / emotional and physical. Furthermore, it is used cyclically by healthy people to strengthen the immune system and stay healthy. It can be used as a holistic treatment protocol to reduce the general toxic load held in the body-mind as a result of modern lifestyles and diet.
How often?
Initially I recommend clients to undertake three ceremonies within a single lunar cycle (ie. within a month) as recommended by the indigenous tribesmen. (Though even one session can be extremely beneficial.) From then on the individual may choose to do one ceremony per season to keep themselves clear and clean, and their immunity strong the year round.
How is it applied?
Kambo must enter into the by way of the lymphatic system. For this, small superficial burns are made on the body (usually on the arm) of the person receiving the treatment then the kambo is applied to these ‘dots’ or ‘gateways’ so that the medicine can enter into the body. Many glasses of water are drunk just prior to the medicine being applied so as to flush the medicine from the body by way of purging (vomiting, defecating, sweating).
How does it work?
Kambo is intelligent and efficient. Once within the body, toxins are targetted and drawn into the stomach, usually to be purged (occasionally the process does not involve purging and is still highly beneficial).
Who is it for?
The complex peptides and neuro-peptides found in kambo medicine have been found to be effective in the treatment of:
blood circulation problems
hepatitis
cancer
vascular insufficiency
organ diseases
skin and eye problems
fertility problems
AID’s
depression
anxiety
brain diseases: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
migraines
However, Kambo is not suitable for everyone and there are various contra-Indications.
It is not suited to people who :
Have heart conditions
Have had a brain haemorrhage
Have had a stroke
Have an aneurism or blood clots
Have Addison’s Disease
Have very serious mental health issues
Have very low blood pressure
Have had a brain haemorrhage
Have had blood clots
Are currently receiving Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Are taking Immune suppressants
Have Pancreatitis
Have had an organ transplant
Have low levels of cortisol in the blood
Have severe Epilepsy
Have recently had surgery
Are pregnant
Are breast-feeding a child under 6 months old
For a more information about Kambo especially the more mystical aspect of Kambo, please see this excellent paper:
Kambô, The Spirit of the Shaman by Marcelo Bolshaw Gomes (Professor of Sociology of Communication UFRN (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil)
Here is an excerpt:
‘ This resin contains peptide substances (dermorfine and deltorfine ) that are analgesic and that strengthen the immune system provoking the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. The substances in the frog secretion also have antibiotic properties, and strengthen the immune system through the body’s production of antibodies against the poison, also showing great power in the treatment of Parkinson, AIDS, cancer, depression and other diseases. The Deltorfine and Dermorfine today are synthetically produced by pharmaceutical laboratories. There is also, due to its purgative effect, an obvious process of detoxification of the liver (usually one vomits up bitter bile) of intestine (through evacuations) and of the entire digestive system. The katukina also use it as the antidote in case of snake bite, medicine for many illness, and as a tonic.But to the native, the main cause for taking Kambô is to fight ‘panema’. ‘panema’ means sadness, lack of luck, irritation: ‘bad aura’ – as someone once well translated. The person is with “panema” when nothing goes right and nothing is good. The basic purpose of Kambô is ‘taking off the panema’…’
