Brain Health: Kambo
Dr. Kirk: Hi Nick, I’ve been hearing a buzz lately about Kambo, and so I’m genuinely excited to learn more. What exactly is it?
Nick: Basically, it’s a secretion from the largest Hylid tree frog, called the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog. The frog secretes this fluid on its back. In the jungle, the fluid protects the frog from getting eaten by predators like snakes. When a snake tries to eat the frog, they taste this poison on its back, and it spits the frog out. Natives have learned that if you introduce the frog secretion beyond the first few layers of skin, it acts as a powerful medicine.
Dr. Kirk: What do you mean, introduce beyond your skin?
Nick: Natives have used a piece of burning vine to burn what they call a “portal” into the skin. The frog poison is then placed into this portal.
Dr. Kirk: It sounds like they are introducing frog venom just below the epidermis. Then what happens?
Nick: The effects occur very quickly. Almost immediately I felt blood rushing to my head. My lips grew very large. I could feel my heartbeat pounding very hard. My throat almost closed up, it was like a giant lump that I could feel when I would try and swallow. It feels almost like an intense allergic reaction. It really sucks. I felt an intense nausea. Soon after, I began vomiting. It was an extreme vomiting, like I couldn’t stop. Then I had to evacuate my bowels. There’s nothing fun about it.
Dr. Kirk: Am I missing something here? Why in the world would you do this?
Nick: Those effects last anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. In the really extreme cases, you pass out and your body starts shivering. After the ceremony, I still felt like crap for the first day. I felt like a truck had run over my head, I had heartburn from the vomiting. I just felt drained, and had to go to bed. The next day I felt better, and my heart felt more open, but I didn’t think Kambo was for me. But day 2 following Kambo, I felt a change. I felt like I was more grounded. I felt just an overall sense of tranquility. And day 3 is when everything really hit. I was like whoa. I felt like the spirit of the frog had entered into me. I felt like I was a warrior walking around the streets, and nothing could harm me. I didn’t want to fight anybody, but I wasn’t fearful of anybody either. I just felt more powerful, but with more of an open heart at the same time. It was an unbelievable sense of tranquility, with reduced anxiety, and increased calm. Traditionally, it is used by natives in the Amazon before a hunt, to take away fear. It is warrior medicine, meant to make you strong while hunting. After my first experience, I understood why. I felt that sense of strength.
Dr. Kirk: Interesting perspective. How long did these effects last?
Nick: I started working with it 6 months ago. Since then, I’ve done it twice. I was first introduced to Kambo as a means to help me stay sober. I’ve been dealing with addiction for a long time now, on again off again. Before I tried Kambo, I had been trying meditation to overcome my anxiety. However, no matter how long I tried, I just couldn’t seem to stop my thinking. My brain is working overdrive like all the time. It’s always on full throttle. Before Kambo, I would go to meditation and my brain would just be going going going. It was really frustrating. But after my first Kambo session, my anxiety got really low. My inner voice quieted down too.
Dr. Kirk: So it helped you stay sober?
Nick: The first time I tried Kambo I was able to stay sober for 4 months. Most people report effects lasting for 1 month. Before Kambo, I was more stressed out by trying to meditate. Kambo helped me to clear my mind. I was able to practice non-attachment. It opened up a window for me. I don’t think that Kambo did it on its own, I was doing other things to help my sobriety. Like the meditation. But it definitely gave me the boost I needed at that point.
Dr. Kirk: Basically, before Kambo you had a mindfulness practice and were attempting to stay sober. But before trying Kambo, you felt like the benefits of your meditation were limited. After Kambo, you were able to tap into your meditation practice more fully, and gain a greater momentum. Is that accurate?
Nick: Yes, that about sums it up.
Dr. Kirk: Very cool. So is this something that you will have to continue forever?
Nick: I don’t want to continue it forever. I want to use this as a tool, among the other things I’m doing, to overcome my anxiety that is leading to my addiction. I know I have to do the work. Before I tried Kambo, I just couldn’t seem to get that boost to get started. Kambo opened this window for me, to allow other things to start working more smoothly. I know I have a ways to go, but this is what is working for me right now. I also want to start working with a naturopathic doctor to start healing my brain. I feel like now might be a good time to do that.
Dr. Kirk: I agree! I can help you with that! Is there anything else that you would like to tell our listeners?
Nick: Kambo isn’t for everybody. People with a heart condition aren’t supposed to get it because of how it makes your heart beat really fast. It worked for me, but I could see how it wouldn’t be for everybody. If you’re interested, you should try it, but only do it with someone who is experienced. And take the preparations seriously beforehand. They recommend fasting, staying hydrated, no sex. They say all that for a reason, so take it seriously. I would also recommend having at least some basis for mindfulness before doing Kambo. My ability to focus on breathwork during the intense purge helped me to basically check out, and not fight the venom. I think that surrendering was what allowed the frog to work so powerfully for me.
