Application of the Medicine & What to Expect

Kambo is administered through the skin. This is the only safe way to administer Kambo. The points are burned with a small piece of a special vine (tamishi) and a tiny area of just the surface skin is peeled back to reveal the epidermis. The medicine is scraped from the stick and mixed with the receiver’s saliva. This paste is then divided up into a number of dots, which are applied to the open points on the skin. From here it is absorbed into the body via the lymphatic system and within seconds is circulating around the body in the bloodstream.

Upon being placed on the burn sites, there will be a sensation often described as burning or tingling, which may subside after a few moments for the receiver. It may take up to a few minutes for the participant to feel the effects of Kambo, this will be anywhere from 2 to 6 points depending on the size/weight of the individual, and the practitioners’ intuition. 

If the practitioner feels unsure how the patient will react, or the practitioner has not had a lot of experience, one can test the reaction of the patient on a test point. If an individual reveals the common reaction after a test point, it is likely safe to continue with multiple points. 

Heat is the most common initial sensation. The body will begin to heat up and the skin, particularly the face and chest, will become flush. The heart rate will likely accelerate as the blood pressure increases. There may be ringing in the ears or an increased awareness of the heartbeat as if the beat is “in the ears.” This rapid heartbeat and increase in blood pressure will be followed by a drop in blood pressure. At this time, the skin can become paler and one can potentially feel faint, or even pass out. This is a very brief occurrence, of less than a minute, and has been referred to as pleasurable by many, as it’s a reprieve from the momentary discomfort of the experience. The blood pressure will return to normal after a very short time, sometimes less than five minutes, and nausea and purging will likely follow. The purging can begin as mostly water, as two liters are consumed just prior to receiving the points. After the water has been mostly purged, it is common to see yellow bile. After several minutes, the purge may become more of a thick, sweet bile with less water, and soon after the points can be removed. It is possible to see a range in bile color depending on the individual, though the most common is close to neon, or an orange shade of yellow. The average time for this entire process is twenty minutes, though some people require up to forty minutes to complete the

process with the points on. Once the points on the participant are removed carefully by the practitioner, it is likely that one will recalibrate rapidly and the effects will diminish, though it is still possible to experience purging by sweat, tears, vomit, or through the bowels. 

The process is short but intense. It takes a lot of courage for people to keep coming back to Kambo as a primary or adjunct treatment for their ills because it’s not easy, although it does get easier the longer you take it. Many people are deterred by misleading information on the internet that seems to only show the worst and most extreme cases. As a practitioner, we work hard to support and empower our clients through their Kambo experience. It’s our job to ensure first and foremost, that everyone is safe and comfortable, and then to be responsive, non-judgmental, in-service and practicing the path of true compassion. 

A ‘typical’ Kambo ceremony can last between 1 or 2 hours. The time participants spend in the peak of the cleansing and purgative process can be as short as 10 minutes, however, in some cases can last a couple of hours. Kambo is a very physical experience that involves a feeling of heat in the body usually followed by vomiting and sometimes evacuating from the intestines as the body purges toxins from the various organs. Once the Kambo is applied to the skin, it enters the body via the lymphatic system. A feeling of warmth immediately follows. The face, skin, and core of the body will feel the heat within. The heart will beat slightly faster. Blood pressure will fall slightly. Encourage the participant to relax into the experience. It is helpful to work with one’s breath: inhale and receive the medicine with love and trust, exhale and surrender. It is a common experience that one’s throat will gently swell. This is normal. It will not swell shut, so there is no need to panic. The face may also swell. Simply allow oneself to relax into the sensations and allow the ally of the Kambo Spirit to purify and fortify. After a few minutes or more, oneself may feel like they have to purge. The practitioner should have a bucket. Oneself may also need to go to the bathroom. The practitioner may assist do so. After oneself purges, if needed remove the Kambo dots from the body. In some cases, this concludes the major cleanse aspect. The mind is often made quite clear and focused and some say they receive specific messages. Kambo works mostly to purge the body of toxins, heaviness, and dullness of body and spirit. The benefits that many reports usually come in the days and weeks that follow. Many people report feeling very peaceful

immediately after the treatment and often the next day one feels amazing. 

The traditional recommendation is to receive a full 3 applications of Kambo within one moon cycle (28 days) in order to achieve the full potential and for longer beneficial effects. 

The sensation of the burn will differ from one individual to the next, depending on pain tolerance. Done properly, the burns only pass the first layer of skin to expose the epidermis. There will be no blood and a small blister will form, which will be rubbed off gently with a clean cloth or towel. Each gate, or burn, will be done in less than a second with the ember of the ‘Tamishi vine’. We recommend using ‘Sangre de Grado’ which is a natural latex sap that comes from a tree in the Amazon. It will work as a ‘liquid band-aide’, and seal the burns not allowing bacteria or dirt to enter, hence keeping the burns infection-free. 

Sometimes skin heals quickly and the burns will no longer be visible after a few months, but other times it takes much longer for healing to occur. For some skin types, moderate sun exposure and topical applications of oils and salves can accelerate healing. 

Each part of the body will feel different when burned. Most people describe the sensation as a slight pinch that passes within sixty seconds or less. Of course, each individual experience can vary.