Kambo
RisksThe dried skin secretion of the giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), applied to small burns on the skin in a purification ritual practiced by Indigenous groups in the Amazon basin. Not a classic psychedelic — its effects come from potent bioactive peptides, not serotonergic activity.
Example: We've covered the real risks in depth — kambo causes severe, often violent vomiting and purging by design, and has been linked to rare but serious cardiac and kidney complications, particularly when facilitators don't screen for pre-existing conditions.
What is kambo?
The dried skin secretion of the giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), applied to small burns on the skin in a purification ritual practiced by Indigenous groups in the Amazon basin.
Is kambo a psychedelic?
No — its effects come from potent bioactive peptides, not serotonergic activity like classic psychedelics.
Is kambo safe?
It causes severe, often violent vomiting and purging by design, and has been linked to rare but serious cardiac and kidney complications, particularly when facilitators don't screen for pre-existing conditions. See our coverage of the real risks.