What is kambo? The frog medicine, explained
Kambo is the secretion of an Amazonian tree frog, applied to small points on the skin. How a session works, how it feels, and who should not take it.
Kambo is part of our ayahuasca retreats at Finca El Péndulo, and it is often the medicine guests know least about. Here is a plain explanation.
What kambo is
Kambo is the secretion of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), a tree frog from the Amazon. Several Indigenous peoples of the region have used it for generations, traditionally to cleanse the body and to strengthen hunters.
The secretion is collected from the frog’s skin and dried on a small stick.
How a session works
- You drink plenty of water beforehand.
- A practitioner makes a few tiny superficial burns, called gates, usually on the arm or leg.
- A small amount of the moistened secretion is placed on each gate.
- Within minutes the effect begins.
The whole session is short, usually well under an hour.
How it feels
Kambo is intense and physical, but brief. Common effects are heat and flushing, a fast heartbeat, a swollen feeling in the face, and nausea that usually ends in purging. Then it passes, and many people describe feeling clear, light and calm afterward.
It is not a psychedelic. There are no visions. Its work is on the body.
Why it is part of the ayahuasca retreat
In our ayahuasca retreat there are two kambo sessions, on the mornings before the two ayahuasca ceremonies. We use it as a cleanse that helps prepare the body for the work of the night.
Who should not take kambo
Kambo puts real stress on the body for a short time. It is not for everyone. At the Finca it is not offered to anyone who:
- takes medication for low blood pressure
- has Addison’s disease
- has taken Bufo in the past eight weeks
Heart conditions, a past stroke, epilepsy, pregnancy, recent surgery and some other conditions are also reasons not to take it. We review this with you, along with the rest of your health, before the retreat. See our medical information.
Is kambo optional?
Every medicine besides the main one is optional. You can always decide not to take part.
Frequently asked questions
Does kambo hurt? The gates sting briefly. The intense part is the body’s reaction, which usually lasts a few minutes.
Does it leave marks? The small gates can leave tiny marks that often fade with time.
Is kambo the same as Bufo? No. Bufo is 5-MeO-DMT from the Sonoran Desert toad and is a strong psychedelic. Kambo comes from a tree frog and is not psychedelic.
Curious about the rest of the week? Read what to expect at your first ayahuasca ceremony.
