The Science of Kambo

Kambo is a highly complex cocktail of bioactive peptides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids. A longer chain of amino acids is called a protein. Examples of naturally occurring peptides in the human body include oxytocin, endorphin and insulin. Amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of all human life. This means that Kambo is made from the same basic ingredients that humans are, with an assortment of peptides, neuropeptides and biopeptides that have very specific functions in the human body including neurotransmission, pain relief, anti-inflammation, detoxification, immune system boosting, hormone balance, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and much more. Many of the peptides found in Kambo are considered "bioactive" which simply means they have a specific biological function within the living organism.

The Kambo frog secretion contains at least 16 bioactive peptides, and there are currently more than 70 patents filed on their analogues. This peptide-rich secretion enters through your lymphatic system, which allows a very rapid distribution to other bodily systems. These compounds increase circulation and sensory perception, influence the release of endorphins, boost the immune system, and have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Up to 90% of human diseases can be attributed to inflammation and activation of the stress system. Kambo peptides have been shown to have beneficial effects on autoimmune conditions, parasites, lyme disease, fibromyalgia and chronic pain, there is even anecdotal evidence of and regular use among the Amazonian tribal women for its assistance in overcoming infertility.

Kambo’s many peptides include within them a number of exorphins, which are similar to endorphins but are produced by amphibians and don’t exist naturally in the human body. Kambo’s effects on the opioid system are more powerful than that of morphine. A number of these effects come from the actions of specific exorphins on your mu-opioid receptors, which can produce pain-relief and a sense of well-being, in part by causing the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. This effect can last long after you take Kambo, because it works to recalibrate and reset your brain’s opioid and serotonergic systems. It’s possible that Kambo’s effects on the brain are so strong because certain peptides increase the permeability of your blood-brain barrier. Another exorphin, deltorphin, binds to your delta opioid receptors, which can also induce pain relief. It may actually prime these receptors to become more sensitive, leading to increased responsiveness of the body's natural opioid system and improvement of certain chronic pain conditions well after you receive Kambo.

Kambo’s purgative effects likely come from the actions of tachykinin peptides and opioid activation of dopamine pathways affecting the area postrema, your brain’s vomiting center. It’s possible that once you purge, there’s nothing left, and the fat-soluble toxins are bound to bile in your upper and lower GI tract and get excreted. Kambo may even help fight infections, as its dermaseptin peptides can help to reduce bacteria by increasing the activity of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Two other peptides from Kambo could also cause your blood vessels to dilate and as a result, your blood pressure will spike and you will feel flushed. When your blood pressure drops back down your gut will release serotonin. Typically, people will feel some discomfort for the 20-30 minutes that the Kambo is taking effect, but then will most likely feel reinvigorated after. As a result of these vasodilating actions, many people with migraines may find that their migraines worsen while sitting with Kambo, but the likelihood of future migraines are significantly reduced following their session.

Recent scientific studies have been focusing on specific peptides as opposed to the totality of the secretion. Kambo contains peptides that have been shown to kill in vitro cancer cells, peptides that are 30 to 40 times more potent than morphine without any negative side effects, peptides that reduce blood pressure, modify satiety, sedation and thermoregulation, peptides that demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeast, fungi, protozoa and enveloped viruses and because Kambo is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, neuropeptides that are active in the central and peripheral nervous system. 

With deep understanding of the traditional methods along with modern knowledge about the secretion, including ongoing studies and reports, the ways that we are able to work with Kambo is always growing. We not only use Kambo to help with illness, we can use knowledge of the Meridians, the Chakras, Nadis, and Marma Points among the body to increase healing and personal growth. These techniques allow individuals to enhance their Kambo experience in a way that is appropriate for their body, allowing them to enjoy the maximum benefits Kambo has to offer.