It was clear she knew what she was doing and encouraged me and comforted me throughout the entire experience. She intuitively knew what I could handle and guided me through it.

Read more about Kambo practitioner training here. The ritual is centuries old and was traditionally used to increase the stamina of South American warriors, protect against bad luck, and strengthen the body’s natural defenses. The ritual itself begins with the drinking of about a liter of water or cassava soup.

DO YOU WANT TO RELEASE YOURSELF FROM EMOTIONAL PAIN, TRAUMA, BLOCKS, DISEASE, ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL PAIN?

That’s because Kambo practitioners generally tell people to drink a lot of water before a cleanse. “It’s rare, but not impossible, to go overboard,” Dr. Kuhn said. The number of burns and where they put them depends on what’s going on with the person. “If it’s their first time, I make one test point to gauge how sensitive they are,” Wendy explains. The shoulder or back of the arm is one of the most common areas. “My organization, the International Association of Kambo Practitioners, teaches auricular (ear) kambo,” Wendy explains.

Health risks of Kambo cleanse

For this reason, it could cause vomiting, sweating, and a rapid heart rate. There have also been reported cases of death following a cleanse. Even applying it topically can cause death, as the skin absorbs the toxins. After a few more minutes, you’ll often feel some nausea, or your stomach may start to hurt. At that point, some people throw up, some use the toilet, some do neither or both.

The Kambo ceremony requires the use of the frog, and there is no animal-free alternative. A number of shamans insist on doing their own frog collecting and milking, and will only use the first secretions taken from the frog, ensuring it has more than enough left to protect itself once returned to the trees. You may feel that you have sharper senses, stronger physical strength, and heightened alertness in the days following the ceremony. A bamboo stick rubbed over the legs of the frog collects the sticky secretions, which dry into a resin.