Kambo
A primal reset for body, mind, and spirit.
What is Kambo?
Kambo, sometimes called Sapo or the Medicine of the Frog, is the secretion of the Amazonian giant monkey tree frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). For centuries, Indigenous tribes such as the Matsés have carried this medicine as a sacred ally—used to cleanse, strengthen, and awaken resilience in body, mind, and spirit. Traditionally, it was applied before hunting to sharpen the senses, increase stamina, and clear away heaviness or misfortune.
Today, Kambo is carried forward as a ceremony of purification and renewal. Its purgative effects are well known, but beyond the physical release, many experience it as a profound reset—shedding stagnant energies, emotional weight, and patterns that no longer serve. To sit with Kambo is to meet the spirit of the frog, a fierce yet loving medicine that opens the way for clarity, vitality, and connection to one’s true self.
Origins and Lineage
Kambo comes from the Amazon rainforest, where it has been used for generations by Indigenous tribes, most notably the Matsés people of Brazil and Peru. For them, Kambo is more than a physical remedy — it is a sacred ally, used to cleanse the body, sharpen the senses, and strengthen the spirit before hunts and ceremonies.
According to legend, the origins of Kambo are tied to a great healer named Kampu. When his people were suffering from illness and no plant medicine could bring relief, Kampu entered the forest in prayer. In a visionary state, he was shown the frog Phyllomedusa bicolor and taught how to apply its secretion to small burns on the skin. Following this guidance, he returned to his tribe, and healing came. After Kampu’s passing, the story says his spirit remained with the frog, so that the medicine could continue to support those who seek it.
The medicine is still harvested with care, with the frogs returned unharmed to their habitat. Songs, stories, and prayers are woven into its use, carrying forward an ancestral relationship between the people and the frog. This lineage reminds us that Kambo is not just a substance but a living tradition — one that connects us to the wisdom of the forest, the resilience of the body, and the spirit of renewal.
How The Process Works
A Kambo session begins with intention and grounding. Together we create a safe and steady container for the work, and I’ll guide you through the process step by step.
To receive the medicine, small points called “gates” are gently opened on the surface of the skin with a tiny ember. The Kambo secretion is applied to these gates, allowing its peptides to enter the lymphatic system and begin working quickly through the body.
As the medicine moves, you may feel your heart rate increase, your body warm, or waves of energy flow through you. The purge may follow—through vomiting, sweating, tears, shaking, or other natural releases. This active stage usually lasts 20–40 minutes, after which the body settles into rest, recovery, and integration.
Though the physical purge is an important part of the process, many people describe Kambo as much more than detoxification. It is also an energetic cleanse—helping to clear emotional weight, stagnant patterns, and heaviness of spirit. What remains is often a profound sense of lightness, clarity, and renewal.
Every session is held with care, attention, and safety. From preparation to aftercare, the experience is guided so you can surrender fully to the medicine, trusting that you are supported.
Benefits of Kambo
Deep Cleansing – Clears toxins from the body through purging and sweating, offering a full-system reset.
Immune Support – Traditionally used to strengthen the body’s defenses; many report fewer illnesses and improved resilience after regular Kambo work.
Autoimmune & Inflammatory Relief – Some find improvement in symptoms related to autoimmune conditions, allergies, chronic pain, or systemic inflammation.
Gut & Digestive Health – Can help clear stagnation, reset digestion, and bring relief to issues like bloating, sluggish metabolism, or food sensitivities.
Mental Clarity & Focus – Often described as lifting brain fog, sharpening awareness, and restoring a sense of direction and purpose.
Emotional Purification – Supports the release of grief, anger, fear, or heaviness carried in the body, making space for deeper emotional balance.
Energetic Reset – Clears stagnant or heavy energy, leaving people feeling lighter, clearer, and more vital.
Strength & Vitality – Historically used before hunts to boost stamina, sharpen the senses, and increase endurance; today many find it renews physical energy.
Spiritual Renewal – Experienced as a medicine that opens the heart, connects with spirit, and supports a sense of wholeness and alignment.
Integration Ally – Complements other modalities (breathwork, IFS, psychedelic journeys) by grounding and resetting the nervous system.
Common Discomforts
Nausea & Vomiting – A central part of the purge, often releasing both physical toxins and emotional weight.
Dizziness & Lightheadedness – A temporary effect as the medicine circulates through the body.
Heat & Sweating – Many experience waves of intense heat, flushing, and perspiration.
Weakness & Shaking – The body may tremble or feel heavy and exhausted during the active stage.
Tears & Emotional Release – Crying and cathartic expression are normal parts of the process.
Fainting – In some cases, a brief loss of consciousness can occur as the nervous system resets.
Other Purging Pathways – Less commonly, purging may also happen through diarrhea, mucus, or energetic release such as yawning or sighing.
Contraindications and Safety
Kambo is a powerful and physically demanding medicine. While safe when held by a trained practitioner, it is not without risks and is not appropriate for everyone. To honor both you and the medicine, it’s important to understand the safety considerations before saying yes.
Not Recommended For:
Serious heart conditions, recent heart surgery, stroke, aneurysms, or blood clotting disorders.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding infants under 6 months.
Individuals under 18 years of age.
Those currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
People with a history of organ transplant or on immune-suppressant medication.
Severe or unstable mental health conditions (psychosis, schizophrenia, untreated bipolar disorder).
Additional Risks & Considerations:
Kambo involves strong purging (vomiting, sweating, sometimes diarrhea). While this is central to the process, it can be dangerous if your system is fragile.
In rare cases, esophageal rupture has been reported due to forceful vomiting. While extremely uncommon, it is a serious risk and one reason why thorough screening and safe guidance are essential.
Some people may faint or lose consciousness briefly as the nervous system resets.
Because Kambo can affect fluid balance, anyone with kidney disease, low electrolytes, or dehydration risk should proceed with caution.
All medications, supplements, and health conditions must be disclosed prior to your session so risks can be fully assessed.
Integration in My Practice
Kambo is a medicine I hold with deep respect and care. In my practice, it is never just a physical cleanse but part of a larger healing journey — one that touches body, mind, and spirit. For some, Kambo stands alone as a full ceremony of purification and renewal. For others, it is woven into a broader process of preparation or integration surrounding a psychedelic journey.
Before sitting with Kambo, I often guide clients through practices such as breathwork, EFT Tapping, or Internal Family Systems. These approaches help prime the nervous system and psyche — softening defenses, surfacing patterns, and opening pathways — so that the medicine can be received more deeply. Once the body and mind have been prepared, Kambo is offered as the primary ceremony, working through its own unique intelligence to cleanse, purge, and reset.
Afterward, integration sessions may draw again on IFS, breathwork, or other somatic tools to help anchor what Kambo has cleared. In this way, the frog’s medicine is not isolated, but woven into an ongoing arc of transformation that supports lasting change. Each client’s process is unique, and my role is to listen closely, attune to what is needed, and guide with safety, reverence, and care.
Book a Consultation
Ready to take the next step? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation today.
This call is a chance for us to connect, discuss your goals, and see if my offerings—whether Kambo, breathwork, Internal Family Systems therapy, or psychedelic preparation and integration—are the right fit for you.
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