Imagine this: deep in the rainforest, a bright green frog sits on a branch. It moves slowly. It is not afraid. When it feels threatened, a white layer appears on its skin. For the peoples of western Amazonia, this layer has long been special. They call it kampô. We know it as Kambo.
Maybe you have heard someone talk about it. Or you saw a video pop up. And now you are wondering: what is Kambo, really? And is it right for me? In this blog, we explain it clearly. Where it comes from, how a ceremony works, and who should not participate. Honestly and without promises.
In short
- Kambo is a secretion from the skin of the giant leaf frog from the Amazon.
- Indigenous peoples have traditionally used it in ceremonies.
- You receive it via small dots on your skin. It is short, intense, and physical.
- Kambo is not a therapy or a medical treatment.
- At Purity Healing, you can only participate after an intake and a screening.
What is Kambo? The frog and its secretion
The giant leaf frog
Kambo comes from the giant leaf frog, known in Latin as Phyllomedusa bicolor. It is a large, green tree frog. It lives in the rainforest of countries including Brazil and Peru. Its skin produces a white, sticky substance. That substance is Kambo. Other names are kampô and sapo.
Giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). Photo: Bernard Dupont, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From frog to stick
According to descriptions of the tradition, the frog is held for a moment. The secretion is carefully scraped from its skin. Then the frog is released again. The Kambo dries on small wooden sticks. This keeps it good for a long time.
The secretion contains peptides. These are small pieces of protein. Scientists study them in the lab. But there is no scientific evidence that Kambo is a treatment for humans. Therefore, we make no promises. We tell you what the tradition says, and what people experience themselves.
Where does Kambo come from?
Kambo belongs to the peoples of western Amazonia. They all speak a language from the Pano family. The Noke Koî and the Matsés are the best known for it. The Yawanawá and the Huni Kuin also know Kambo.
Kambo in tradition
Among the Noke Koî, according to tradition, kampô removes tikish: laziness. And panema: bad luck in hunting. Men receive it on their arms and chests, women on their legs. Among the Matsés, Kambo has traditionally been part of hunting.
Around the year 2000, Kambo became known in Brazilian cities. This also brought concerns. The Noke Koî saw that others were selling their knowledge. The Brazilian government therefore started the Projeto Kampô to protect their knowledge. In 2004, Brazil banned the sale of and advertising for Kambo.
You can read more about these peoples in our blog Four Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon.
How does a Kambo ceremony work?
A Kambo ceremony is not a spa day. It is intense and physical. And everyone experiences it differently.
Before the ceremony
Everything starts with an intake and a screening. These are mandatory. Kevin reads your intake himself. He looks at your health, your intention, and whether this is the right time. If it is not suitable now? Then he will say that honestly.
Then you prepare yourself. A few days beforehand, you stop eating meat, dairy, sugar, and caffeine, and stop using drugs. You stop drinking alcohol one week beforehand. You come sober, at least 4 hours and preferably 8 to 12 hours beforehand. You can read everything about the diet in Preparing for a Kambo ceremony.
During the ceremony
The ceremony begins with an opening and attention to your intention. Then Kevin places a few small dots on your skin. They feel warm, short and intense. The Kambo is applied to the dots.
Your body reacts quickly. Your heart may beat faster. You may sweat, feel nauseous, and vomit. Your face may swell for a moment. In tradition, this is called "being kissed by the frog". How that feels, you can read in Kambo experiences: how does a ceremony feel?
A ceremony lasts an average of 3 to 5 hours. Plan for half a day, including arrival and debriefing. Plan nothing else afterwards.
After the ceremony
Rest. Eat light, such as soup, fruit, and vegetables. Do not drink alcohol and limit busyness and screens. Write down what comes up. And do you have a question? In the days afterwards, you can simply send Kevin a message.
Once or more?
That depends on your intention. In the Huni Kuin tradition, there is a cycle of three ceremonies within three months. What suits you will be discussed in the intake.
Is Kambo safe? Who may not participate
Kambo demands a lot from your body. Doctors and researchers also describe serious problems after Kambo. Therefore, we take the screening seriously. Do not participate if any of these apply to you:
- you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- you have serious heart or vascular problems
- you have high blood pressure that is not stable
- you have an active psychiatric condition, such as psychosis, schizophrenia, or a severe bipolar disorder
- you have epilepsy
- you use antidepressants or MAO inhibitors without consulting your doctor
- you are under 18 years old
Do you use medication? Or have you been feeling depressed for a while? Then always consult your general practitioner first. And fill everything in honestly in your intake.
Kambo at Purity Healing
Who guides you?
Your ceremony is guided by Kevin Lorenzini. He has eight years of experience with Kambo, and has been guiding Kambo ceremonies for five years. During that time, he has guided many people during their Kambo ceremony.
Kevin met Huni Kuin about eight years ago from a village in Acre. Since then, they have been in daily contact. He learns one-on-one from them, also about Kambo. Going to the village is at the top of his list.
This is how Kevin works: body-oriented and down-to-earth. No claims. No promises. But careful guidance, clear boundaries, and respect for tradition and safety. You are not being repaired. You are being guided to listen to yourself again.
Private or in a small group
- A private session, one-on-one with Kevin, in Nuenen or Eindhoven. At home or another location is also possible, in consultation.
- Breath & Kambo, breathwork and Kambo in a small group. That ceremony is given by Kevin together with Erik van Tilburg (Purity Healing × Studio Purana).
Want to know what it costs? Then read What does a Kambo ceremony cost? Still unsure? Then first plan a free 45-minute introductory meeting. This way you can ask all your questions.
👉 View the Kambo ceremonies and plan your introductory meeting
Frequently asked questions about Kambo
Is Kambo the same as ayahuasca?
No. Ayahuasca is a drink made from plants. Kambo comes from a frog and you receive it via small dots on your skin. A Kambo ceremony is also much shorter.
Does a Kambo ceremony hurt?
The dots on your skin feel warm, short and intense. Then your body reacts above all: warmth, a faster heartbeat, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. It is intense, but usually short.
Is the frog killed for Kambo?
No. According to descriptions of the tradition, the secretion is carefully scraped from the skin. Then the frog is released again.
Can I participate if I use medication?
Always consult your general practitioner first. List all your medications in your intake. With antidepressants and MAO inhibitors, you do not participate without consulting your doctor.
Sources
- Instituto Socioambiental (ISA), Povos Indígenas no Brasil: Katukina Pano (Noke Koî)
- ISA, Povos Indígenas no Brasil: Matsés
- Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022): The Amazonian kambô frog Phyllomedusa bicolor: current knowledge on biology, phylogeography, toxinology, ethnopharmacology and medical aspects
- Sacco e.a., Toxicology Reports (2022): Kambo: natural drug or potential toxic agent? A literature review of acute poisoning cases
- Wikipedia: Kambo
