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WHAT IS KAMBO
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Kambo is a non-psychoactive ancient medicine from the Amazon jungle also known as ‘Vaccino de Floresta’ - vaccine of the forest. It is the secretion of the Phyllomedusa Bicolor frog and is used as a ceremonial cleanse for body, mind and spirit.
Kambo works as a purgative for deep cleansing and purification. In Shamanic medicine traditions, all physical, mental and emotional dis-ease is understood to have an energetic or spiritual root. Kambo supports us to reach towards that root and move towards deeper health, clarity and well-being.
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In indigenous cultures, hunters call on this medicine to strengthen body and mind before hunting- it supports sharpening the senses, deepening presence, and connecting with inner outer nature. Kambo is also traditionally used for releasing illness and panema, bad spirits, which in the West would be named as depression, anxiety, stress and other mental or emotional dis-eases. The frog is deeply respected, and the secretion is carefully collected without harm to the frog.
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Today Kambo is used for multiple healing purposes, both physical, mental and spiritual as it is one of the most antifungal, antimicrobial and antibacterial natural substances known. The bioactive components of Kambo carry great healing potential. Kambo contains a wide range of biopeptides, making it a potent immune system booster.
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SOME REASONS TO SIT WITH KAMBO
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— deep detox, cleanse and reset
— support the treatment of viral and bacterial infections
— immunity boost
— lower chronic pain and inflammation
— support disorders and dis-ease*
— promote gut healing
— release blocks and fears
— boost vitality, clarity and focus
— open energetic pathways
— invoke compassion, courage and trust
— center, balance, realign
— quiet the mental and emotional body
— support healing of trauma
— treatment for addiction
— relieve stress, overwhelm and burnout
— to understand and work with the root cause of dis-ease
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*disorders and dis-eases that kambo has been proven to support:
various brain diseases, depression, anxiety, infertility, candida overgrowth, chronic fatigue, blood circulation problems, lyme disease, migraine, organ diseases, STD's, skin issues, hepatitis, menstruation abnormalities, and more
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YOUR CEREMONY WITH US​
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After a gentle arriving-time, space to ask questions, meditate and ground, the practical process will begin with you drinking 1-2 liters of water. In the meantime, the top layer of your skin is gently blistered with a wooden stick and removed to expose the lymph tissues beneath (this causes no blood or pain). The Kambo medicine (a paste-like substance) will be placed on the openings in your skin to let the medicine enter through the lymphatic system. You will feel the effect quickly. The intelligence of kambo works to locate where it can support you best and the sensation differs from person to person.
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The first few minutes might feel intense, overwhelming and unpleasant. Kambo increases the heart rate and blood pressure, so pounding in the chest, throat, and head is normal. Gentle swelling in the throat and face can also occur. Feeling overwhelmed, sick and faint are also normal. It may also be that you feel euphoric experiencing intensity of energy moving through your body. Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet can also happen as your body releases excess energy.
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Kambo is a cleansing and purgative medicine, meaning that most people will vomit, and/or have a bowel movement. Nausea is generally unavoidable. Purging can also come as hiccuping, sounding, yawning, shaking or some form of emotional release. You will have a bucket and bathroom nearby, and Vashek will be there to support you with care and guidance throughout the process. He will support your journey intuitively with music, presence and care. It will also be possible to receive Rapé to support your process.
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The medicine is not hallucinogenic or psychoactive like other Amazonian medicines, but it does have the potential to touch both physical, mental and spiritual parts of us. Receiving clarity, experiencing emotional release, feeling a release of mental stagnation, having old memories come up, or in any other way experiencing a range of sensations, messengers and emotions, is common to the process.
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The process of purging varies but usually is no longer than 20-40 minutes. Afterwards, some will feel a need for rest, feeling exhausted and fragile while others may immediately feel uplifted and full of energy. We encourage rest and minimization of external stimuli after the ceremony, to give space for integration, harvest, listening and observation of change. The ceremony is really just the beginning of a potentially deeper process happening within. If your ceremony is in our space, you can stay with us to rest and go home when it feels right. Generally, within an hour you will start to harmonize and feel ready to eat and drink again. In the following days, you might be noticing potent physical, mental, emotional and energetic shifts.
A kambo session is a reset. Along with clarity, insight, calm and deeper presence, we might feel a heightened sensitivity in the days or weeks following. This is a potent state but it also is a time to give a little extra care and rest. We encourage you to honor kambo and yourself by practising good aftercare, which you can read more about below.
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PRE & POST KAMBO CARE
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You may be contraindicated to receiving kambo if you are—
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— pregnant or may become pregnant
— nursing a child under 6 months
— have had serious heart problems such as valve replacement, or any open chest surgery
— have had a stroke or blood clot
— have had a brain aneurysm
— are taking low blood pressure medication
— have Addison’s disease
— have gone through chemotherapy within the last 4 weeks
— have a severe mental illness (Depression and anxiety are okay!)
— are taking immunosuppressant drugs for an organ transplant
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Please Inform us accurately and honestly of your condition for your own safety.
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PREPARATION
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Medication and supplements
Be sure to inform us of any medications or herbal supplements you may be taking. Do not take any supplements or medications unless medically necessary on the day of the ceremony. Some herbs or medicines may need to be avoided for a couple of days before treatment, we recommend stopping all supplements 3 days before. Some medications/supplements are contraindicated and may have a risk for interactions with Kambo. You can resume your regular medication regime after the session. Avoid 5HTP, dieting pills, and melatonin supplements for 3 days before your session if possible.
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Hydration
Do not drink excessive amounts of water before your session, and do not abstain from salt in the days before. When you arrive, we will ask you to drink approximately 2 litres of water to allow for easy purging and cleansing. Drinking too much water more than 15 minutes before applying kambo can dilute electrolyte concentrations in the body and cause a severe condition called hyponatremia. Hydrate as usual the day before, and a little glass of water in the morning is ok, but avoid overdrinking.
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Diet
On the days before and after Kambo adapt to a clean diet to reduce any toxic burden on the body. Avoid alcohol, dairy, meat, sugar, and spicy food. Salt is fine. Eat wholesome, nourishing, organic and simple food before and after to support your body best during detox. Avoid processed and hard-to-digest foods. There is no traditional dieta with Kambo, and it is not crucial to follow a strict diet before or after the session, but it is helpful to support your detox and receive the full potential of your session.
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Kambo should be applied on an empty stomach, bladder, and bowels.
Avoid solid food and liquids for at least 8-10 hours beforehand. We recommend 12-16 hours.
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Diet is not only what we eat but also the information we ingest. Try to minimize external stimuli in the days before your ceremony. Avoid unnecessary interaction. Lessen your screen time. Tune in to yourself.
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WHAT TO BRING
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— 3 litres of drinking water
— a water bottle or large cup for drinking
·— clothes you feel comfortable in, preferably loose and layers (you might feel hot or cold)
— an extra set of clothes (accidents can happen and anyway it can be nice to change to clean clothes after)
— a hair band if you have long hair
— anything else you would like to have with you in the space (items of sentimental value, altar items etc)
— your exchange
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If the ceremony is at your place, you will need the above-mentioned and a ready bathroom, toilet paper, a sheet to cover where we sit and some cushions and blankets for your comfort.
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AFTERCARE
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Nourish your body with a simple vegetarian diet. healthy, organic, wholesome foods. allow yourself lots of rest. Slow down, and avoid planning anything important directly after your session (even in the following days) so you can take time to recover, rest, harvest and integrate. Avoid alcohol, processed and hard-to-digest foods, stress and overexertion. Your body will be detoxing and you can support it by avoiding additional toxicity or stress. Avoid too many external stimuli, unnecessary interaction and electronics. Stay present and simple with yourself, giving time for self-care, integration, observation and naps. Important insights, reflections and contemplations might come to you, space for meditation and listening is encouraged.
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RECOMMENDED; A SERIES OF SESSIONS
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The amount of sessions beneficial is individual, depending on health and intentions, but we do see deeper cleansing and healing happen with a series of sessions.
Some people like to do a 3-day in a row cleanse. This can be a good approach for mental cleansing. For others with physical health challenges, it may be better to do 3 weeks in a row, with a week in between to give detoxification time. Some people find that once every 8 weeks is a good balance, while others do it once and never again. There is no right and wrong, it essentially is up to you, but a series of sessions allows for a deeper connection with the medicine.
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If you are intending to support the healing of any dis-ease with kambo, such as relief from depression, physical illness or emotional trauma, we recommend committing to at least 3 treatments. This allows for a deeper connection with the medicine- people tend to get better at navigating the experience, surrendering to it and letting it in, and the work of the medicine seems to be reaching another layer for every session.
We hope all this information was supportive! If you still have any questions about kambo, or would like to work with us and this medicine, please connect at the bottom of this page.
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