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 Is this ‘poisonous orgasm’ the next big thing?

You won’t get high or commune with the cosmos, but you will be sick — a lot. So why are people queuing up to take the toxic secretions of an Amazonian tree frog?

 Kambô – leave it with frogs

The Kambô ritual was originally performed by shamans in South American as a purification ritual for the indigenous tribes. Over time, some aspects of the ritual have been appropriated and used in countries throughout the world. With this spread, the reported reasons for use have increased and include claims of therapeutic benefits and healing properties.1-4 These claims have been made without supporting clinical evidence. No beneficial effects of the frog secretion have been scientifically tested or demonstrated in the literature.

 People Are Putting Frog Venom Under Their Skin as a Type of Cleanse

The first time Tricia Eastman, founder of Psychedelic Journeys (a community that facilitates psychedelics ceremonies) tried kambo, an Amazonian medicine made from the phyllomedusa bicolor frog’s skin toxic secretions, she joked that she was doing it in lieu of a flu shot. She heard it strengthened the immune system and wanted to explore the possibility of arming herself for the season ahead.

 Western arrogance’: how the wellness movement co-opted an Amazon frog toxin with deadly effects

Kambo, a secretion used in tribal cleansing ceremonies, has been implicated in deaths worldwide and experts are sounding the alarm

Articles of Interest

Can You Poison Your Way to Good Health?

West Coast wellness elites think kambo, an Amazonian frog poison drug, is helping them purge “toxins” from their lives.

How Amazonian Tree Frog Poison Became the Latest Treatment for Addiction

From its origins among Amazonian tribes who use kambo to go hunting and ward off illness, the frog poison has hitched a ride on the coattails of the hallucinogenic plant-drink ayahuasca to become increasingly popular as a spiritual medicine. On Instagram, there are 5,600 #kambo tagged posts—usually proud pictures of the burn marks with comments like, “Check out my sweet warrior girl burns!” or “Kind of love these little scars.”

Illegal, occasionally deadly, and not much fun. What is the frog toxin Kambô and why do people use it?

Kambô is an oozy substance harvested from the defensive skin secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog. In the traditional medicine of some indigenous peoples of the Amazon, Kambô is applied to superficial burns on the skin of participants to produce an intense purging effect. In the past decade, Kambô use has also been on the rise in neo-shamanic or complementary medicine in Western countries. Many users say they experience positive after-effects, but bad outcomes ranging from prolonged vomiting to seizures and even death have also been reported.

Kambo Administration and Its Association With Sudden Death: Clinical and Forensic Perspectives From a Systematic Review

Kambo (Kambô) is a secretion of an amphibian traditionally used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon region. This secretion is derived from the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) and is utilized in tribal cleansing rituals known as Kambo ceremonies. Kambo is purported to offer several benefits, both physical and psychological. Proponents of this practice claim that it can enhance physical endurance, sharpen mental clarity, and boost overall health. However, the side effects, such as tachycardia, blood pressure fluctuations, and gastrointestinal distress, highlight the need for caution.

Kambo and its Multitude of Biological Effects: Adverse Events or Pharmacological Effects?

Kambo (or Sapo) is increasingly used in ritual contexts for 'healing' and 'cleansing' purposes, as a 'detox' intervention. Research into the pharmaceutical benefit of the peptides from Kambo, started already in the early 60s, but did not result in the introduction of new therapeutic principles in the clinic, most probably due to the absence of patent protection.

Kambo: A ritualistic healing substance from an Amazonian frog and a source of new treatments

In the secretion of the frog at least 3 bioactive peptides have been isolated, with clear painkilling properties. Two of these peptides activate he morphine-related opioid receptor, MOR, and one has high affinity for the delta-opioid receptor, DOR. In animal models, all these 3 molecules have analgesic properties; dermorphin and cerulein have also been tested in humans, both in healthy volunteers, as well as in patients, for instance suffering from cancer pain.

Kambo: Can frog poison boost health?

Kambo uses the poison of the giant monkey frog, to purify the body and treat various health conditions. However, there is no scientific evidence to verify the benefits.

Kambo: Natural drug or potential toxic agent? A literature review of acute poisoning cases

Kambo is the name of a natural substance derived from the glandular secretions of the amphibian Phyllomedusa bicolor, a species native to regions in South America. The communities living in these areas administer the substance generally transdermally during rituals for religious-purifying purposes, producing small skin burns. The scientific literature has reported some cases of intoxication following the use of Kambo but this aspect is still poorly understood.

Kambo: the controversial drug derived from stressed-out frogs

A natural painkiller scraped from the back of an Amazonian tree frog is becoming popular. Fans claim it’s good for anything – except maybe the frog …

Kambo: The ‘Wellness’ Trend That Makes You Vomit

Kambo has been a trend that’s been circulating on social media for several years now, but in the last year or two, it’s gained significantly more traction. People are traveling to areas in the Amazon, Peru, Bolivia, and elsewhere in South America for experiences. Wellness influencers are claiming it’s a detox or a cleanse, primarily as a result of vomiting all these purported toxins.

Resources

Planet Kambo

Planet Kambo is dedicated to promoting well-being through traditional and alternative healing practices. We provide transformative 4-day plant medicine retreats that offer a deep, immersive, and life-changing experience.

The Kambo Clinic

Through Kambo, Integrative Therapy, CBT and Conscious Coaching, we help you release trauma, reconnect with yourself, and live with clarity, strength, peace and flow..