What is the Kambo Ceremony? Spiritual Meaning, Use, and Benefits of SAPO

Kambo, also known as Sapo, is gaining recognition and popularity in many regions of the world. This substance is obtained from the secretion of the Amazonian tree frog. Traditional use among the shamans of indigenous tribes is associated with secret rituals, which arouse considerable controversy in the West. In this article, we check what Kambo is and what its spiritual significance is among the mestizos of the Amazon. How do shamans use this substance, and what benefits, in their opinion, does the secretion of the green frog have?

Kambo – What is it?

Under the catchy name Kambo hides a sizeable tree frog Phyllomedusa bicolor. This amphibian inhabits the upper rainforests of the Amazon and can be found in Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, or Peru. Adult males reach a body length of 91 to 103 mm, while females range from 111 to 199 mm. The upper part of their body is lime-green, while the bottom is cream-white.

The Kambo frog is a nocturnal animal that inhabits the forest and moves among the trees. Males call females on the branches of moist trees, where they also fight with other individuals during the mating season. Not only do they repel each other with loud sounds, but they also use their hind legs to knock rivals off.

During the breeding season, Phyllomedusa bicolor frogs are more often preyed upon by predators. Like their “cousins,” including tree frogs, they produce peptides on their skin that serve as chemical defense.

The reproduction process of Kambo looks extremely interesting. Pairs mate in amplexus, a male’s embrace, who travels on the back of the female. This position is necessary among tailless amphibians for laying and fertilizing eggs. Kambo frogs build their nests among leaves, about 70 cm above water bodies. After hatching from the eggs, the tadpoles fall into the water, where they gradually transform into adult specimens, losing their tails and forming limbs.

About 61% of new populations survive, ensuring that Kambo is not an endangered species.

Today, Kambo is known not only for its attractive appearance. The skin secretion of this frog is known as Vacina do sapo (Portuguese for frog vaccine), containing opioid peptides: deltorphin, deltorphin I, deltorphin II, and dermorphin. The secretion is popularly called Kambo or Sapo, and its use in cleansing rituals among Amazonian shamans is popular. Currently, however, there is a lack of medical evidence on the effectiveness of the “frog vaccine.”

Traditional Use of Kambo among the Indigenous Inhabitants of the Amazon

Among the local Amazonian tribes from Brazil, Colombia, or Peru, the use of Kambo has a long history. It is said that local shamans have been using the frog’s secretion for thousands of years. According to tradition, they use this substance in three different ways:

• Before hunting, to rid themselves of fear and fill their body with more energy and focus. Hunters from the Amazon believed that Kambo cleanses and strengthens their minds and bodies.
• As medicine, which was supposed to support the fight against malaria, snake bites, fever, as well as various infections.
• To cleanse Panema, or bad and negative energy. After such a ritual, all life obstacles were to be removed, and life to proceed in a good direction. There are reports that confirm the use of Kambo for purposes of supporting fertility, sexual attraction, or happiness.

The Western world first encountered Kambo in the year 1925, when a French priest stayed among the Kaxinawa tribe. It was not until the 1990s that the substance was “exported” beyond the territories inhabited by indigenous tribes. Francisco Gomez from Cruzeiro do Sol began spreading the frog’s secretion in larger Brazilian cities. The huge interest in Kambo worldwide is already the result of knowledge popularization in the 21st century.

Kambo in Amazonian Rituals and Folklore

Legend has it that a shaman named Kampu once stumbled upon the medicine in the form of Kambo during an ayahuasca ritual. The situation supposedly took place when many of his village compatriots became seriously ill. Searching for an effective remedy, the shaman tried various substances, but nothing helped. Drinking the hallucinogenic brew was supposed to help open his mind to finding effective medicine.

According to legend, Kampu set out on a search when he met a local deity. This deity showed him the Kambo frog, and then passed on the knowledge about harvesting and using its secretion. Upon returning to the settlement, Kampu began treating his fellow villagers with the new substance. Everyone miraculously recovered.

To this day, many natives believe that the soul of Kampu inhabits the bodies of frogs. Tailless amphibians are captured and then subjected to a ritual, the purpose of which is to harvest the frog’s defensive peptides.

Attention! The ritual of harvesting Kambo secretion is seen by some as drastic.

The frog is hung by its four limbs in such a way that its body forms the shape of an X. Sticks are used for this purpose, to which the animal’s paws are tied. Then, the frog is brought close to the fire, causing the animal stress and, as a result, an increase in the secretion of defensive substances on the skin. The substance is then collected from the skin surface of Kambo using a stick. The secretion solidifies and crystallizes just after being collected. However, it should be emphasized that shamans treat the frog with the utmost respect, releasing it into the wild after obtaining the substance.

How do Shamans Use Kambo?

The cleansing ritual of Kambo is also known under the name Kampo pae among the Katukina (Huni Kuin) tribe. To use the harvested and crystallized frog secretion, the shaman must properly prepare the beneficiary of the medicine. For this purpose, special round burns are made on the skin using a heated stick. Traditional locations for the burns are the arms (for men) and calves (for women).

In the traditional Kambo ritual the shaman mixes dried lumps of frog secretion with water. Then, the resulting paste from mixing the ingredients is applied to the skin wounds. This process allows for the rapid transport of chemical components of the mixture, as well as their penetration into the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

During the circulation of the mixture through the body a series of unpleasant side effects occur. However, their purpose is to cleanse the body on both a physical and spiritual level. The most commonly observed results are:

• Hot flashes,
• Redness of the face and swelling,
• Palpitations,
• Lowered blood pressure,
• Increased heart rate,
• Dizziness,
• Nausea,
• Abdominal pain,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhea.

Observations indicate that many people experience a relaxation of unpleasant physical effects after about 30 minutes. When the problems subside, so do many health concerns. Often there is an opinion about experiencing cleansing and a feeling of lightness. Therefore, Amazonian shamans so willingly use Kambo medicine in their rituals.

Ceremony and Spiritual Meaning of Medicine

People who decide to participate in a Kambo ceremony in the Amazon describe the preparation of a special Circle. It refers to a cleansed and quieted space where the ritual of using the medicine takes place. To better cleanse the atmosphere, Palo Santo or white sage is often used.

The Kambo ceremony usually takes place in pairs between the beneficiary and the shaman, though sometimes group rituals are also organized. The meeting begins with joint prayers, which are intended to open the space, focus minds, and welcome the participant. There will also be time for each participant to talk about their intentions and expectations regarding the ritual.

Then comes the time for special small burns, about 3-5 mm in diameter. Their purpose is to later introduce Kambo medicine directly into the lymphatic system. Only the outermost layer of the epidermis is removed, so there is no bleeding. Traditionally, this ritual is safe, although contemporary shamans suggest drinking about 1.5 liters of water beforehand. This is supposed to help in removing toxins from the body.

Small doses of crystallized Kambo, about 5 mm in diameter, are administered at the burn sites. Shamans then observe the body’s reaction to the medicine, before proceeding to administer the next dose.

Interestingly, during some ceremonies, other types of sacred Indian medicine are also used. The Kambo ritual may be supported by inhaling Rapé or dropping Sananga. The purpose of using several types of shamanic medicine is to increase the effect of cleansing the body and soul.

Traditional Benefits of the Ceremony and Kambo Ritual

According to the traditional use of Kambo, the ceremony is related to its alleged ability to remove bad energy Panema. Besides, the ritual is also supposed to cleanse the soul and body. People practicing the sacred medicine of the Amazonian Indians believe that Panema causes sadness, irritability, and lack of many life skills in people. Traditional cleansing of hunters took place in the early morning so they could sharpen their senses during hunting.

However, it should be clearly emphasized that Kambo is not a cure or medicine approved by conventional science. Therefore, shamanic ceremonies should not be considered a substitute for medical advice, medical treatments, or other recommendations. The use of Phyllomedusa bicolor secretion does not guarantee the alleviation of any diseases or ailments. With this in mind, one can rely on the experiences of people who share with others the alleged benefits of Kambo:

• Cures ailments of a psychological and psychic nature, including depression, anxiety states, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease.
• Helps get rid of chronic pain, including migraines or arthritis and rheumatism.
• Alleviates high blood pressure and supports the circulatory system.
• Impacts the fight against cancer cells and other serious diseases: diabetes, HIV, recurring infections.
• Supports problems related to infertility.
• Soothes asthma and allergies.
• Acts as a detox in treatments after alcohol or drug abuse.
  

Undesirable Side Effects – Who Should Not Use Kambo?

There are several risk groups in which Kambo ceremonies may end with serious health problems. Reports from various parts of the world report that there have been several tragic cases during uncontrolled uses of the substance. Conventionally, a couple of groups are defined that should avoid shamanic rituals of this type:

• People with blood system diseases, including hypotension and hypertension.
• People who have suffered from psychosis, bipolar disorder, or chronic anxiety states.
• Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women in their menstrual cycle.
• Children.

It is worth adding that Kambo is legal in many countries around the world, although Brazil does not allow the commercial use, trade, advertising, and distribution of this substance. Even if the law in a given country has nothing against Kambo rituals, everyone should approach this with caution. It is necessary to properly prepare for such situations, especially since uncontrolled administration of the medicine may end with an undesirable effect.