In today’s world, many of us are seeking natural ways to support our health, whether it’s boosting our immune systems, managing stress, or finding more balance in our daily lives. I’d like to introduce something that may be new to some, but has been used for centuries in traditional Amazonian medicine—Kambô.

Kambô is a secretion from one of the largest Hylid frogs known as the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog. Its scientific name is Phyllomedusa Bicolor. The secretion is not a sweat nor a poison in the sense that it alone is not capable of causing death, or illness. In the Amazon, it is regarded as a medicine however this should not be confused with the western definition of a medicine. Kambô is not a medicine and those that administer it are practitioners and not doctors.

An Italian scientist, Vittorio Erspamer of the University of Rome was the first person to analyse Kambô in a laboratory. In 1986, he wrote that it contains a ‘fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications, unequalled by any other amphibian’. 

The chemicals he referred to are peptides. The peptides studied by Erspamer have become essential to characterize the functional role of opioid receptors. He was twice nominated for a Nobel Prize and was also the person who first discovered Serotonin. Sixteen peptides have since been isolated from the secretion and several have been synthesised. Currently there are over 70 Kambô patents lodged, mainly in the USA.

The popularity and use of Kambô as a natural support to healing is spreading worldwide. As the scientific research into the secretion of the Phyllomedusa Bicolor grows, skilled practitioners are also developing new ways to work with this powerful substance from the Amazonian Rain Forest, which allows it to be accessible to almost everyone in a safe and manageable way. 

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.

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.

Kambô is a natural, cleansing process that helps reset and rejuvenate the body. Many who have worked with Kambô report improvements in their immune health, better emotional balance, and increased energy levels. It can also help reduce the physical and emotional toxins that build up from the stresses of daily life.

For those seeking to explore holistic approaches to wellness, Kambô offers an opportunity to support the body’s natural healing processes and find greater clarity, focus, and vitality. If you’re curious or want to learn more about how natural medicine can enhance your well-being, I’m happy to share more.

Not only do we now have a number of different traditional ways to work with Kambô but we can also work with the Meridians, the Chakras, Nadis and Marma Points and even the ears – Auricular Kambô. Added to this, there are also new techniques to allow people to take Kambô in a way that is gentler on their system but still allows them to enjoy the maximum benefits.

When Kambô is applied, it rapidly enters the lymphatic system and bloodstream, prompting a powerful purgative and detoxifying response. Within minutes, you may feel a warming sensation as your heart rate increases and blood vessels dilate. This initial phase can bring about sweating, flushing, and a general feeling of heat as the medicine activates.

Kambô’s unique peptides work on a deep cellular level. Some of these peptides stimulate the adrenal glands, which may cause the heart to beat faster, enhancing blood circulation and energizing the body. Others act on receptors in the brain, impacting mood, memory, and pain perception. This is why Kambô is often described as “cleansing” not just the body, but also the emotional and energetic fields.

The purgative aspect of Kambô can include vomiting, sweating, and sometimes bowel movements. This is seen as a release of toxins and negative energies stored in the body. After the purge, people often feel a sense of renewal, clarity, and vitality, as if a weight has been lifted both physically and emotionally.

Kambô is traditionally used to strengthen the immune system, increase endurance, and provide mental clarity. While it is intense, the journey with Kambô can leave one feeling purified, uplifted, and more in touch with their inner resilience.