About Kambo

What is Kambo?

Kambo is a traditional medicine used by many of the tribes of the Amazon rainforest. It is a secretion of a large tree frog known as the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog. Its scientific name is Phyllomedusa Bicolor - Phyllo means "leaf" and medusa means "guardian". Kambo, also known as Sapo or Dow-kiet is traditionally used in three ways. Firstly as a way to cleanse, strengthen and energise the minds and bodies of the hunters. After taking Kambo, they are able to run faster for longer, eat less and sleep less. Secondly, it is used as a medicine for Malaria, fever, infections and snake bites. Thirdly, it is used to clear away dark or negative energy known as "panema". When "panema" is cleared everything becomes easier, obstacles can be overcome and life flows more naturally.

Kambo is one of the strongest natural antibiotics and anaesthetics found in the world and one of the strongest natural ways to empower our immune system.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species lists the Kambo Frog in the ‘Least Concern’ category in view of their wide distribution and large population. The only known threats to this species of frog at the moment are spawn predation and the potential destruction of their habitat.

Frogs Are Not Harmed in Kambo Collection

The frog is not harmed during the harvesting of Kambo. It is considered bad luck to do so. In order to harvest medicine from the frog, they must be collected very early in the morning. The shaman calls the frog by mimicking it’s natural song. When the frog calls back, thinking it is talking to a mate, the shaman knows where they are located. The frog is often found in a tree and sometimes on the rainforest floor. The frog is collected and brought back to the village where the secretion is harvested. The frog is then released unharmed.

The history of Kambo

Each tribe has its own legend or story about how they came to use Kambo. The most prevalent legend comes from Brazil.

This Kaxinawá legend tells that the Indians of the tribe were very ill and their medicine man, Pajé Kampu, had done everything that was possible to cure them. All medicinal herbs known were used, but none helped. Under the effect of sacred plant medicine, 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 heal any who seek it and protect the health of those who defend the forest. 

The science behind Kambo

Scientist Vittorio Erspamer of the University of Rome who was nominated for the Nobel prize wrote that the Kambo secretion contains a “fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications, unequaled by any other amphibian”. Erspamer went on to say that ‘Among the several dozen peptides found in Kambo, up to 7% are bio-active.’ They bind with receptor sites situated in the brain, triggering chemical reactions in the human body. So far, researchers have found nine bio-active peptides that have a potent effect on:

• Gastrointestinal muscles

• Gastric and pancreatic secretions

• Blood circulation

• The stimulation of the adrenal cortex and pituitary gland.

The Kambo peptides discovered by Erspamer trigger a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Kambo has the ability, unlike many other natural and pharmaceutical substances, to cross the blood-brain barrier. This enables it to reach deep into the body and bring support to otherwise difficult to treat areas. Human cells open up to the beneficial properties of Kambo unlike many substances that are filtered and eliminated by the body’s highly intelligent defense system. Many peptides have since

been isolated from the Kambo secretion and have been synthesized. As a testament to their medicinal properties, there are over now over 70 Kambo related patents lodged.