“Kambo” also known as “Sapo”

“Kambo is the popular name for traditional medicine extracted from a species of Amazonian frog.

A traditional remedy in the Amazon, kambo is the common name in South America used to refer the skin secretions from the Phyllomedusa bicolor, a tree frog that inhabits certain parts of the Amazon rainforest. The secretions are characteristic of the Phillomedusa family and have been traditionally used as a medicine by indigenous tribes, such as the Katukina, Yawanawa, Cashinahua and Matses. Traditionally, the purpose of this practice – which is commonly named after the frog, kambo or sapo (the word for toad in Spanish) – is to induce a deep cleansing of the body and the soul, to cure panama (which could be translated as “bad luck in hunting”), to give strength, and to cure other diseases.

Interest in the healing potential of traditional Amazonian plants and animals, such as kambo, ayahuasca, or the secretions of the Bufo alvarius toad, among others, is increasing in modern urban civilizations, possibly due to a growing dissatisfaction with western medicine that runs parallel to an equally growing interest in alternative medicines and Amazonian shamanism. In this context, it is important to raise awareness about the history and nature of these substances, as well as about the potential risks that might accompany inappropriate use. These aspects are important to consider when hoping to understand their healing potential and when seeking to “do no harm” to both the originating cultures and individuals who engage in these practices.”

Yesterday I did a three spot, which is burning three spots on your skin and then scraping away the burned area to reveal blood vessels below the skin so that the Sapo/Kambo can be applied and enter the blood stream rapidly. I have done this in the past in 1998 and again in 2011. Always in the jungle. This time in my hotel room with AC. Now that I am older, the AC, shower and toilet was a plus to my experience this time. And I make sure I have someone there with me. In case I need help in any way. Some people do one spot, some up to ten. I can handle three because of my size and having done it in the past. I would caution anyone doing anymore than recommended by someone in the “know”. “Within a few minutes, an acute physiological response manifests, generally characterized by an increase in heart rate, sweating, dizziness, and sometimes nausea and vomiting and pooping. The acute effect is attributed to the presence of peptides (amino acid chains like proteins, but shorter in length) that last for several minutes before fading. After the effects are gone, the traditional medicine kambo is said to leave the individual with a feeling of increased strength, sensorial awareness, and mental clarity. The peptides present in kambo do not produce any psychoactive effects.”

I won’t go into any details but my cleansing has always exited from the bottom and not the top! And after the ordeal is over, usually in 15 to 30 minutes. I feel like I have gotten rid of a bunch of crap that has built up in my body. My eyesight improves. The pain in my hips and legs is reduced. There is a spring put back into my step again. It’s hard to describe. But the temporary discomfort I go through during the cleansing, is worth it to me. My opinion only. And in the days to come I will continue to feel the benefits of this medicine as I have done in the past.