In short
No. At Purity Healing, Kambo is not a therapy and not a medical treatment. Kambo is a ceremony from the tradition of the Amazon. You always start with an intake and screening. Do you take medication, or do you feel low? Then talk to your GP or doctor first.
Imagine this. You have felt stuck for a while. In your head, in your body, or both. You have already tried all sorts of things. And then you come across Kambo. Online you read words like "Kambo therapy" and "Kambo treatment". You wonder: is this a therapy? And what can I expect?
I am Kevin Lorenzini, a ceremony leader from Nuenen in the Netherlands. In this blog I give you an honest answer. Even if that answer is different from what you may hope.
Is Kambo a therapy?
No. Not with me. Purity Healing is not a therapy practice and not a medical treatment. I do not make a diagnosis. I do not treat complaints. And I do not promise you any result.
Online you sometimes see other words. Some providers call Kambo a therapy or a detox. I choose not to. There is no scientific proof that Kambo is a treatment for people. So I will not call it that.
This is how I work: body-focused and down to earth. No claims. No promises. But careful guidance, clear boundaries and respect for tradition and safety. You are not being fixed. You are guided to listen to yourself again.
So what is Kambo?
Kambo is the secretion of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). This is a large, green tree frog from the Amazon. Peoples in the western Amazon have used Kambo in ceremonies for a long time. For the Noke Koî and the Matsés, it has long been part of hunting. The Huni Kuin also know Kambo.
A ceremony is something different from a treatment. There is an opening. You take a moment for your intention. What do you want to let go of? Where are you looking for clarity? Then I make a few small points on your skin. That is where the Kambo goes. A ceremony takes 3 to 5 hours on average, including arrival and the talk afterwards.
Want to know more about the frog and the tradition? Then read What is Kambo?
How does Kambo work? Honest about the effects
The secretion contains peptides. These are small pieces of protein. Scientists study them in the lab. What that means for people has not been proven. That is why I say nothing about an effect on your health.
What I can tell you: what you feel. Your body reacts fast, sometimes within a few minutes.
- A wave of warmth moves through your body.
- Your face turns red, and can swell for a short while.
- Your heart beats faster.
- You sweat.
- Often you feel sick and you vomit.
It is not pleasant, and it does not have to be. The most intense part is usually short. After that it eases. You breathe more deeply again and your body feels heavy.
What do people experience after a Kambo ceremony?
After a ceremony I hear many different things. A few come back often.
- Tired and empty. As if you have been on a long hike.
- Quiet in the head. Many people experience that it gets calmer inside.
- Clear. Some say that afterwards they see more sharply what they want.
- Emotions. Sometimes there are tears. Sometimes a laugh. Sometimes both.
- Mostly physical. Others mainly feel their body, and not much else. That is just as good.
These are experiences, not promises. Nobody knows in advance what it will be like for you. Not even me. Your process stays your own. How a ceremony feels, you can read in Kambo experiences: what does a ceremony feel like?
Why do you always start with an intake and screening?
Because Kambo asks a lot of your body. Doctors and researchers also describe serious problems after Kambo. I take that seriously. Without an intake and screening, you do not take part.
You fill in a secure form. I read it myself. I look at your health, your intention and whether this is the right moment. Does Kambo not fit your situation? Then I tell you honestly, and you get your deposit back in full.
Kambo is not suitable, among other things, if you have:
- a pregnancy, or you are breastfeeding
- serious heart or blood vessel problems
- high blood pressure that is not stable
- an active psychiatric condition, such as psychosis, schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder
- epilepsy
- an age under 18
How to prepare after that, you can read in Preparing for a Kambo ceremony.
I feel low or I take medication. What now?
Then your first step is not a ceremony. Your first step is your GP or doctor. Always talk to your doctor first if you take medication, or if you have felt low for a while. Do you take antidepressants or MAO inhibitors? Then you do not take part without talking to your doctor.
Kambo does not replace help from a doctor or psychologist. Do you need that help? Then look for it first. Never change anything about your medication yourself because of a ceremony.
After that, fill in everything honestly in your intake. Even if that feels scary. That way I can look carefully at whether Kambo fits you right now.
Who guides you?
I have been guiding Kambo ceremonies for 5 years, and I have been working with Kambo for 8 years. About eight years ago, in the Netherlands, I met Huni Kuin from a village in Acre, in the Brazilian Amazon. We are still in touch every day. From them I learn about Kambo and the other plant medicines from the forest.
As a child I learned to sense tension in a room very precisely. It helped me survive. Now it is my greatest gift. During a ceremony I quickly notice when someone needs a bit more space.
You can choose a private session in Nuenen or Eindhoven. Or Breath & Kambo in a small group, together with Erik van Tilburg (Purity Healing × Studio Purana). What it costs, you can read in What does a Kambo ceremony cost?
Frequently asked questions about Kambo and therapy
Is Kambo a treatment?
No. Kambo is a ceremony from the tradition of the Amazon. Purity Healing is not a therapy and not a medical treatment. You only take part after an intake and screening.
What are the effects of Kambo?
Kambo contains peptides, which scientists study in the lab. An effect in people has not been proven. What you do feel is a short and intense reaction of your body: warmth, a faster heartbeat, nausea and often vomiting.
Can Kambo replace my therapy or medication?
No. Kambo does not replace help from a doctor or psychologist. Never change anything about your medication yourself. Always talk to your GP or doctor first.
Can I take part if I feel low?
Talk to your GP or doctor first. After that, fill in everything honestly in your intake. Then I look together with you at whether this is the right moment. Does it not fit right now? Then I tell you honestly.
Can I get to know you first?
Yes. The introductory call takes 45 minutes and is free, by phone, video or in person. It does not replace the intake and screening.
Sources
- Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022): The Amazonian kambô frog Phyllomedusa bicolor: current knowledge on biology, phylogeography, toxinology, ethnopharmacology and medical aspects
- Sacco et al., Toxicology Reports (2022): Kambo: natural drug or potential toxic agent? A literature review of acute poisoning cases
Still in doubt? Start with a free introductory call of 45 minutes. You can ask all your questions, including the ones that feel scary. Prefer to send a message first? You can do that via contact.
