KAMBO

Y.DEEPIKA GUIDE : B.JYOTHSNA MAM

IV YEAR B.PHARMACY

INTRODUCTION Kambo is the name given to the traditional Shamanic frog poison cleanse that is used to strengthen and heal mind, body and spirit.

The scientific name for this frog is Phyllomedusa bicolor or “Giant Monkey Frog”. This frog lives in the Northwestern part of the Amazon Rainforest, namely Colombia and on the border between Brazil and Peru and is used by indigenous tribes there to gain strength, immunity and hunting magic. This cute frog secretes a poisonous waxy poison from its skin, the potency of which repels all predators.The poison from the Giant Monkey Frog is applied to the skin after small burns are made with the tip of a glowing stick. Once applied, Kambo stimulates a strong physical purge while toxins and ‘bad luck’ or ‘panama’ are eliminated from body and spirit.

• Kambo is a secretion from the bright green globe monkey frog

“one of the strongest natural antibiotics and anesthetics

found in the world and one of the strongest, natural ways to empower

our immune system.” 

KAMBO

HISTORY• There is a kaxinawa legend that tells that the Indians of

the village were very ill and the Shaman Kampu, had done everything that was possible to cure them. All medicinal herbs known were used, but none helped his people’s agony. Kampu then entered the forest and, under the effect of ayahuasca, received the visit of the Great God. He brought in His hands a frog, from which He took a white secretion, and taught Kampu how to apply. Returning to the tribe and following the guidelines that he had received, the Shaman Kampu was able to cure his people. After Kampu’s death, it is believed that his spirit has started living in the frog and the indigenous began to use its secretion to stay active and healthy. From Kambô, The Spirit of the Shaman.

CHEMISTRY• Kambo is made up of many different substances, all of which have

their own effect on the human body. It contains a large number of peptides (proteins), such as the peptide families:•CAERULEIN

•SAUVAGINE, (which stimulates the adrenal cortex, causes a long lasting fall in blood pressure, and causes intense tachycardia. )•ADENOREGULIN ( acts on the adenosine receptors)•TRYPTOPHYLLINS, •DERMORPHIN, (a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist)•DELTORPHIN (a very potent delta-opioid receptor agonist. (Dermorphin and Deltorphin are 4000 times stronger than morphine and 40 times stronger than endogenic b-endorphines.)

•BOMBESIN.•PHYLLOCAERULEIN ( which stimulates the adrenal cortex and the pituitary gland, causes a fall in blood pressure, causes tachycardia, and has a potent action on the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, and stimulates gastric, biliary and pancreatic secretions. )

KAMBO COLLECTIONThe frog is not harmed during the harvesting of kambo. In order to harvest the poison from the frog, they must be collected very early in the morning often after a good rain. The shaman will often be the one that goes on the frog hunt. He calls out the phyllomedusa mimicking it’s natural song. When the frog calls back, thinking he is talking to a mate, the shaman knows where they are located. The frog is often found in a tree and sometimes, after a rain, they will be on the rainforest floor. The frog is gently collected and brought back to the village where the poison is harvested in a couple of ways. The indians use kambo in their rituals, which are led by a shaman, also called a medicine man.

The frog is stretched by all four legs, his big toe massaged and then he secretes his poison. The poison is then collected and put onto a stick. The poison dries on the stick and then it can be saved for later use. The frog is then released unharmed. I have also heard that the yawanawa tribe collects the frog venom by simply collecting the frog who naturally secretes his poisonous sweat from the excitement of being captured. The sticks must be kept dry and free of mold by keeping them over a fire. It is important that the kambo sticks come from reputable sources in good condition.

KAMBO STICKS SYNONYMS : •Sapo (toad), •Vacina do Sapo (toad vaccine), •Leite do Sapo (toad milk), DESCRIPTION :

A Kambo Stick is a small wooden stick Frog venom is collected on a small bamboo stick, then dried and wrapped in corn leaf. Each 1 Kambo stick comes with 1 separate burning stick for burning the points. (They are traditional burning sticks, which the Peruvian Matses tribe use for burning the points called “Tambshi”). This sticks come directly from the Matses indigenous tribe from Peru in the Amazon jungle.

There are approximately 50-90 points on each 1 kambo stick. The number of applications will vary depending upon the size of the points, and number of points applied per 1 session. Each Kambo stick is uniquely handmade by indigenous tribesmen, so therefore the number of points will vary slightly with each individual stick.

KAMBO ADMINISTRATIONKambo is also applied to superficial burns on the skin. A small stick is made red hot and just the top layer of the skin is burned. Kambo is then applied onto the burn and thus absorbed into the body.

DURATION TIME A typical Kambo ceremony lasts about 3 hours. The time spent in the peak of the cleansing and purgative process can be as short as 10 minutes and as long as a couple of hours.

MECHANISM OF ACTIONPhyllomedusin is a new peptide of the tachykinin family it strongly effects the salivary glands, tear ducts, intestines and bowels and contributes to violent purging. Tachykinins are active peptides which excite neurons, evoke behavioral responses. They are potent vasodilators and secretagogues and phyllomedusin contract (directly or indirectly) many smooth muscles. Phyllomedusin is secreted protein and expressed by the skin glands.

BENEFITS OF KAMBO Scientific studies show that Phyllomedusa bicolor poison is made up of many peptides that are beneficial to the human body. Some of these peptides traverse the blood-brain barrier and stimulate the endocrine glands of the brain, resulting in an immune effect and a deep cleanse of the body. Kambo has antibiotic properties and strengthens the immune system while physically destroying pathogenic microorganisms. Kambo is traditionally known to be anti inflammatory, to heal eyesight, and to cure pain.  Sapo peptides and their effects are reported cover a wide range of potential medical uses: treatment of brain diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson, depression, migraines, blood circulation problems, vascular insufficiency, organ diseases, cancer, fertility problems in women, AIDS, hepatitis and more.

CLEANSINGKambo has a detoxifying effect on the internal organs, including the liver (usually one vomits up bile) and the intestines (through evacuations) as well as the entire digestive system. The Katakana natives also use Kambo as the antidote for snake bite, as a medicine for many illness, and as an overall health tonic. There are many accounts of people using kambo and bouncing back from fatigue, expression, addiction, bad luck, sicknesses, and age related symptoms.

DOSAGEThe dosage differs greatly for each person. A shaman starts with three dots to ascertain the reaction and determine sensitivity. For some this is enough, while others may need a five fold increase. Shamans consider a person very clean if a lot of kambo is required.COMBINATIONS Kambo can easily be combined with other shamanic rituals. It’s often used prior to an ayahuasca ceremony, for example. In such a case there are usually two kambo sessions during the day, followed by an ayahuasca ceremony in the evening. The ceremony will be much more powerful. Similarly, kambo can be offered in combination with iboga or sweat lodge rituals. Some Western shamans or therapists combine kambo with acupuncture, by applying kambo on the acupressure points.

SIDE EFFECTS Applying kambo leads to increased body temperature. You may experience a tingling sensation going up your spine. Next your head becomes burning hot. The pressure inside your head may reach uncomfortable levels, although there are some who find it a particularly pleasant feeling. Blood pressure also increases, turning the face red. This feeling will last some time before you’re struck with sudden extreme nausea These include: sweating, shaking, nausea, cramps, vomiting and an increase in body temperature.

CONTRAINDICATIONSIt is not recommended to give kambo to anyone with heart problems or anyone who has had bypass surgery. The reason for this is that the heart rate will increase for about 5 minutes and the heart must be healthy to accommodate this. Kambo is not recommended for pregnant women or women who are breast feeding, nor the elderly, people with Addison’s disease, anyone on chemotherapy, or with high blood pressure treated with medication, those with very low blood pressure, or the severely ill.

CONCLUSION Kambo supports us in removing obstacles and long forgotten or suppressed emotions.  Kambo can bring these memories and emotions to the surface to be acknowledged, cleared and transformed. When we start removing the layers we can once again find our balance and be reminded of our true nature.The more we clear, the more we reconnect with our true joy, happiness, ease and flow in life. Everything in our lives becomes brighter Kambo has antibiotic and anesthetic properties and strengthens the immune system. Kambo is traditionally known to be anti-inflammatory, to heal eye sight and to cure pain it is used in the treatment of brain diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson, depression, migraines, blood circulation problems, vascular insufficiency, organ diseases, cancer, fertility problems in women, AIDS and hepatitis. At present this medicine is available in Colombia, Brazil and amazon rain forest. And it is used traditionally but not officially or in dosage forms so it may develop into a different dosage forms in future. As it is having less side effects and it is used in treatment of many diseases. So it occurring is better to prefer this drug.

REFERENCE

1. Kambo medicina / Traditional shamanic Kambo Cleanse Kambo medicina.com/. Kambo: the sprit of the shaman / ayahuasca.com./spirit/kombo-the-spirit-of-the-shaman

2. kambo ceremony-medicine for healing treatment (http://www.pulsetous.com//kambo information)

3. kambo encyclopedia-azarius (http/azarius.net/ Encyclopedia /84/Kambo.

4. Reil G, Barra D, Simmaco M, et al. (March 1989). "Deltorphin, a novel amphibian skin peptide with high selectivity and affinity for delta opioid receptors". European Journal of Pharmacology. 162 (1): 123–8.

5. Mor A, Delfour A, Sagan S, et al. (September 1989). "Isolation of dermenkephalin from amphibian skin, a high-affinity delta-selective opioid heptapeptide containing a D-amino acid residue". FEBS Letters. 255 (2): 269–74. Doi:10.1016/0014-5793(89)81104-4. PMID 2551734.

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