Kambo ceremonies
Kambo is a beautiful gift from mother Earth, an incredible healer hidden on the skin of an unassuming little tree frog from the Amazon, known as Phyllomedusa Bicolor or the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog. This gentle creature lives in the treetops, where it secretes a waxy substance on its back - kambo - thought to deter predators.
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Kambo - harvested without causing harm to the frog - is used by many tribes in the Amazon for three purposes: to cure illnesses such as malaria; to give increased stamina and strength for the hunt; and to lift what is known as "panema" - bad luck or bad energy, a dark cloud that can hang over us and affect our lives.
What are the origins of kambo?
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Many of the tribes tell a similar story about the origins of kambo. Many hundreds of years ago, so the story goes, a tribe was struck down by a terrible new illness. Finding that the usual remedies had no effect, the great shaman of the tribe, a man named Kampu, did an ayahuasca ceremony to ask the spirits for guidance. He was shown how to call a particular frog down from the tree tops, tie its little legs to sticks, and scrape a bit of the waxy substance off its back without causing any harm or distress before releasing it.
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Following the guidance of the spirits, he then applied the substance to other members of the tribe via small burns to the surface of the skin. Those brave enough to try it soon became very hot, then rather nauseous and uncomfortable, before vomiting repeatedly over the course of 20-40 minutes.
It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park - but afterwards, they began to notice that their illness was lifting - their energy increased, they gained stamina and strength, and soon the tribe was restored to health.
When Kampu died, the story goes, he joined the spirit of the frog and now works with it - as kambo - to heal others.
What is the kambo experience like?
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No one would describe kambo as a walk in the park - it is an undeniably intense physical experience. However, it is over quickly (no more than 20-40 minutes) and the benefits can be profound.
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Before taking kambo, it is important to drink two litres of water. However, you should not do this before you arrive at the ceremony - I will guide you when it is appropriate to drink.
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Kambo is applied via small superficial burns to the skin, known as 'gates'. Applying the gates is not very painful, just a slight sting that passes quickly. The surface skin is removed and a small blob of kambo is applied.
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Once kambo gets to work in the body, it causes the blood pressure to rise, leading to a feeling of heat, a strong heartbeat, and facial flushing. Then the blood pressure drops, and you can feel lightheaded. At this stage, you will also feel kambo getting to work around your body and particularly in the stomach, where you can start to experience some nausea.
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Eventually, you will start to vomit. After purging the water that you drink at the start of the treatment, you will bring up bile, which is typically yellow or green but can be a range of exciting colours. Purging continues - sometime with diarrhoea - until the end of the ceremony, some 20--40 minutes after it begins.
What should I expect after the ceremony?
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After the ceremony, you may feel very tired and weak, so it's good to rest for a little. I will bring you some tea and fruit to help restore your energy. It's important to eat a meal with some salt in as soon as you can after the ceremony to restore your electrolytes.
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In the days after kambo, you may find that emotions or physical blockages come to the surface in the process of being released. This is completely normal and should pass within a week or so. After that, you should start to feel the benefits of the treatment.
Is kambo safe?
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Contrary to popular opinion, kambo itself is not a poison, and has never been shown to have any toxic effects. There is no such thing as a kambo overdose - sometimes, tribe members will take hundreds of points in a single setting (a typical amount for a treatment is 3-9). Done safely, under the supervision of an IAKP practitioner, there are very few risks.
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It is, however, very important to follow all the guidance you are given, and to mention any medical conditions you might have or medication you are taking, as there are some contraindications.
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Why use an IAKP practitioner?
IAKP practitioners all undergo extensive training and must continue to operate at the highest standards to remain registered with the organisation.
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When you work with an IAKP practitioner, you have the assurance of knowing that they have the highest safety and professional training of any kambo practitioners. Unfortunately in recent years as kambo has become more popular, some people have started offering it without undergoing any kind of serious apprenticeship, sometimes with serious consequences for the safety and wellbeing of participants.
As the leading professional kambo network in the world, the IAKP offers its practitioners an incredible bank of accumulated knowledge and experience, as well as hundreds of experienced practitioners with which to discuss any complex situations that may arise.
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The IAKP is also distinguished by the close relationships it has with the different tribes who work with kambo. All our kambo and other materials are sourced ethically from the tribes, in a way that offers them a good, sustainable income, as well as protecting the frog and the ecosystem from harm and exploitation. The IAKP also organises many social projects to help the tribes.
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Get in touch
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If you feel called to work with kambo or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch at alex@foolishsoul.org.