What is Kambo?

Kambo, or Sapo, is the common name given to a secretion from the Phyllomedusa Bicolor frog of the Amazon Basin. This secretion contains a multitude of bio-active peptides which interact symbiotically with the human body. Kambo is an ancient cleansing and healing natural medicine.


Amazonian tribes have been using kambo for generations (no one knows how long, exactly) for multiple purposes, including preparation for hunting expeditions and to treat various illnesses. In our modern context, kambo is used for treating many ailments, including but not limited to: addiction, depression, anxiety, allergies, insomnia, auto-immune disorders, circulation problems, digestive issues, and much more.


Kambo is a powerful way to cleanse the body of physical, emotional, and energetic toxins, and offers a tremendous boost to the immune system. It is not a psychedelic medicine, so it does not produce visions or hallucinatory experiences, but is very grounding and physical by nature. The spirit of kambo communicates with you through your physical body, but that does not mean it can not also be a spiritual experience. In general, you get what you give to it.


The frog is summoned by imitating its call in the jungle at night. Then its medicine is harvested by gently scraping the back of the frog with a wooden stick while it is tied up between posts. The frog is not harmed in the process, and after harvesting is released back into the wild. Ethical harvesting is extremely important to me, so I only purchase medicine directly from my contacts in the Amazon, a father and son of the Matses people, who harvest the medicine themselves, near Iquitos, Peru.


Kambo CEREMONY

Kambo is served in what is often referred to as a KAMBO CEREMONY. This implies that the medicine is served in a sacred and intentional way, so that both practitioner and participant are able to treat the experience with their fullest attention and intention.


WHAT TO EXPECT


1) A participant must have an empty stomach. Kambo ceremonies are best conducted in the morning, as it is necessary to FAST for 8 hours before receiving kambo.


2) Setting and discussion of intentions. Meditation and/or prayer.


3) Warm water (and/or blended cassava) is consumed to sufficiently fill the stomach in a short period of time (15-20 minutes).


4) Small burns or ‘gates’ are administered on the skin with a small stick of vine by the practitioner, removing the outermost layer.



5) Small quantities of kambo medicine are applied on the gates.


6) The medicine works quickly, moving through the body’s lymphatic system. A sensation of heat is felt immediately on the gates.


7) Reactions vary, but common responses include feeling heat in the body, increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, and a feeling of pressure throughout the body, and sometimes a swelling of the face.


8) Purging follows. Most commonly in the form of vomiting but may also include visits to the toilet. Drinking water is encouraged to better facilitate purging.


9) The experience moves in waves between physical intensity and states of peace and tranquility. Emphasis on returning awareness to breath and intentions, and maintaining an upright, seated posture.


10) After 30 - 60 minutes, the participant and I will determine if the process feels complete. When it does, the medicine is removed from the skin, and the participant may lay down to rest.


11) After some rest, a light snack containing salt and electrolytes is provided. Sharing and reflections of the ceremony is welcomed.

Contraindications


Kambo is an incredibly safe and effective medicine that has been used for generations.

However, there are a few serious contraindications to be aware of and discuss with your practitioner.


You should NOT receive kambo if:


  • You are currently using medications for blood pressure
  • You are using medications that suppress your immune system
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding a child under 1 year old
  • Have had problems with your heart (heart attack, blood clot, aneurysm, heart surgery)
  • Have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury
  • Have had open surgery or organ transplant within the last 6 months
  • Have received chemotherapy in the last 6 months
  • Have severe epilepsy
  • Have severe mental health conditions (excluding depression, anxiety, PTSD)
  • Are unable to consent to receiving kambo yourself
  • Are under 18 years of age
  • If you are menstruating, it is best to inform your facilitator ahead of time (during menstruation, kambo can be more intense, but it is not a contraindication)
  • If you are asthmatic it is best to have your inhaler with you
  • If you are taking medications or drugs of any kind, please inform your practitioner during consultation.


I first experienced Kambo in 2018 as part of a plant medicine ceremony with the Yawanawa tribe from Brazil. I did not understand exactly why I felt called to the medicine, but I did. It was physically very challenging but left me feeling cleaner and clearer than ever, further igniting my curiosity. I later found a local practitioner and sat with kambo several more times that year as my lifestyle slowly transformed. Over the next several years I sat with many different practitioners before ultimately feeling the call to train to serve the medicine myself.


In July 2021, I completed a week-long training in Denmark, by a trusted friend and highly experienced Danish Kambo practitioner. Since then, I have served kambo everywhere I have lived, including Denmark, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Costa Rica, and now, North Carolina. There is nothing I love more than offering this beautiful, powerful medicine to people who are seeking to powerfully transform their lives to include greater health, clarity, love, and responsibility. I take the health and safety of my clients very seriously, and am honest and transparent with them every step of the way. Serving this medicine is not about me, but I feel incredibly honoured and privileged to be of service with this medicine in my community.


I include the phrase, ‘integration guide’ next to my name to refer to the symbiotic nature that Kambo medicine has with other plant medicines and the way in which I offer my guidance in the conscious use of these medicines. I consider Kambo to be a helpful tool in both the preparation for and integration of plant medicine experiences. However, Kambo is a powerful medicine in and of itself, and is perfectly suitable to those not working with plant medicine.


Although I consider Kambo to be a sacred and spiritual medicine, I try not to push my beliefs onto my clients. The beauty of kambo is that it works either way. Whether one is seeking to simply cleanse the body of physical toxins, release emotional trauma, or connect to a deeper sense of self or spirit, Kambo gives back what you give to it. Every relationship develops in its own way, at its own pace, between the human being and the spirit of the frog.

BRENDAN DEAN

Kambo Pracitioner

& Integration Guide

Pricing & Contact


KAMBO Ceremony Offerings

held in my home in Candler, NC


Single Session: $150

*House Call (in your home): $200


Couples / Friends / Small Groups: $125/ person

*If you organize the other participants, there is a discount for all


Lunar Commitment (3 sessions in one month): $400

*Full amount to be paid at first session


THE DURATION of a Kambo ceremony is about 3 hours from when you arrive to when you’re ready to leave, but may take longer with larger groups. If possible, I would advise you to give yourself as much free time as you can following the ceremony, in order to rest and integrate your experience.



CONTACT


To arrange a Kambo ceremony please contact me for a short consultation over the phone or email. We will cover any possible contraindications and I‘ll be happy to answer any other questions you might have.



Email: brendean23@gmail.com


Phone: 413.275.3124


IG: mister_brendy



Currently based in Candler, NC.


Serving the greater Asheville, NC area.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kambo safe? Is it legal?

Yes, Kambo is an incredibly safe, legal, and powerful medicine. However, Kambo can negatively interact with certain pharmaceutical drugs and is not safe for people with certain preexisting conditions. Be sure to read the CONTRAINDICATIONS page and be fully honest during your consultation.


How do I know if Kambo is for me?

If you ‘feel the call’ to work with Kambo, this is often the best indicator. Sometimes this is experienced by a curiosity and/or a synchronicity. Maybe you’re seeing frogs or dreaming about them. I believe the spirit of the frog reaches out to those who are in need of its medicine at exactly the right time. If you’re curious but not sure, please reach out to me. I am happy to talk and answer your questions without ever putting any pressure on you to participate.


How quickly does it work? How will I feel after the ceremony?

People react differently. Some feel powerful, light, and energized shortly after the ceremony. Others may feel a bit tired for the rest of the day. The vast majority of people report feeling renewed, detoxed, cleaner, and clearer by the following morning. Many people notice their physical senses feeling heightened in the following days and a craving for healthier foods.



Will Kambo CURE / HEAL me completely?

In health and wellness, there are no magical ‘cures’ for anything. Kambo is no exception. However, Kambo can be a very powerful tool to reboot your body’s natural immune functions and catalyze your healing process in new and profound ways. Kambo will cleanse the body and bring new awareness to empower you to continue your own healing processes.


How often should I sit with Kambo?

This depends on you and your specific intentions. The first experience is an introduction to the medicine and often reveals the places where healing is needed. Subsequent sessions can allow for deeper work and intentions to be addressed. A common protocol in the Kambo community is to commit to 3 sessions within one month, and I offer a discounted rate for that commitment.


I’m ready for Kambo. How do I prepare?

Eat healthy and nutritious meals the days before. Do not fast or skip meals, and be sure to consume adequate salt. For best practice, avoid alcohol and cannabis the night before. On the morning of your session, do not eat anything or drink coffee. A cup of water or herbal tea is fine, but no caffeine, sweeteners, milks, plant-milks, etc. Be mindful not to drink too much water before the ceremony to avoid possible overhydration.


Testimonials

Ana, Florida

I came to Kambo committed to creating a shift in my life and determined to break free of feeling stuck and in a rut. I answered a call to action on an instagram story that led me to Brendan. He honors the medicine, the lineage and me. He is a powerful conduit. I was nervous. I felt supported and seen. He was fully present, gentle and encouraging with the ebbs and flows of my process, before, during and after our ceremony; offering only necessary guidance, allowing space for me to go deeply inward for as long as I needed. He mindfully chose the music he played and even sang and played beautiful melodies of his own on his guitar. He is so patient and made me feel safe with the medicine and safe to express, scream, sob, laugh, purge without judgement. There was no rush upon completion. No ego. No pressure to do anything other than listen and follow my own inner guidance. I sat three times on my own accord. Each time I felt more comfortable in my skin. Inflammation miraculously left my body, I felt more creative in my self-expression (how I dress, drawing, singing etc..) and have been making healthier choices of what goes into my mouth, eyes, ears. This experience helped me shift vibrations into a version of myself I have been working to awaken for many years and served as a major detox of mind and body, physical, emotional, spiritual. He is the real deal, and I am grateful.

Nicoline, Denmark

My kambo experience with Brendan was the best kambo session I’ve ever had. All the way I felt safe and deeply supported! Brendan has a super strong intuition and knew just how to serve me while kambo was working. It is too bad the distance between us is so far now, otherwise I would always go for my kambo sessions with Brendan as a facilitator.


Shikoba, Denmark

To sit with any kind of plant medicine, it is vital for me to feel safe within the energy of the facilitator. It is also important to me, that the facilitator is in deep integrity with the work they are offering. It can sometimes be challenging to find this in the plant-medicine communities. However, Brendan provides both of these qualities strongly. I felt his powerful energy holding me throughout the session and I felt completely safe to surrender to the potent medicine of Kambo. I also deeply felt his love, integrity, humbleness and purity in working with this medicine, and it was one of the best Kambo sessions I've had thus far. I will definitely sit with him again - and I highly recommend his loving space to anyone feeling the calling to receive Kambo. Thank you Brendan, for the way you show up in this world. I am so grateful.


Sam, Florida

My body is thanking me for my decision to sit with Kambo. I can only try to explain how incredibly grateful I am to have Brendan serve me this ancient medicine. As someone who enjoys the holistic side of life this was truly magical. Brendan is an anchor in the medicine space maintaining the calm grounded energy we all seek so much. Placing trust in him and the frog has rewarded me with the deep cleanses I’ve needed. I feel I’ve gained two life long friends in Brendan and Kambo. Thank you so much for all the wonderful times you’ve sat near watching me explore how powerful I am, Brendan. To anyone looking to answer this call, I urge you to do so. You’re in safe hands. Viva Kambo!!!