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Kambo therapy and iboga
Kambo therapy and iboga
Introduction
Kambô is the secretion of the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog that has traditionally been used by various indigenous tribes in the Upper Amazon region. It is considered by the tribes a warrior medicine and a powerful cleanser of the body, mind & subtle energetic bodies, detoxing deeply on a cellular level and rejuvenating the entire organism.
Kambô is highly regarded as a way to cleanse the auric or energetic body of dark or negative energies (known as ‘panema’), and in this way raising one’s frequency and facilitating an alignment of one’s Self to the highest frequency and potential.
Many tribes use the frog medicine in succession with other medicines in order to prepare and cleanse body and mind for the healing ceremony and deepen its integration and healing effects.
History
Kambo is said to have been used since millennia by indigenous tribes of the upper Amazon region. The story of how Kambô was first used has been handed down through the generations and speaks of a shaman called Kampum whose tribe was very ill and none of the other healing methods and herbs had helped. In desperation he sought the advice of a famous psychedelic master teacher plant of the Amazon to communicate to him any solutions. He received the instruction by the plant to venture out into the jungle at night and seek out a giant green frog that lives high up in the canopies. The shaman was given a song to sing that would communicate to the frog to climb down the tree, as well as further instructions on how to prepare and use the medicine of the frog. As he did, his tribe healed and became strong and resilient to disease.
In 1979, the Italian scientist Vittorio Erspamer of the University of Rome, twice nominated for the Nobel Prize and who discovered the neurotransmitter Serotonin, was the first to analyse Kambô in the laboratory, concluding that Kambô contains a “fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications, unequalled by any other amphibian”. He discovered that the frog’s secretion consists of an exciting and unique mix of peptides (small chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and of life), and brought great attention to the area of peptides which have since become very important to the medical science community. The peptides discovered in Kambô trigger a variety of beneficial chemical reactions in the human body. Kambô has the ability, unlike many other natural and pharmaceutical substances, to cross the blood-brain barrier (a membrane that only allows for selective passage and transport of those molecules that are crucial to neural function), enabling it to reach deep into the body and bring support to otherwise difficult to treat areas.
Upon encountering Kambô in the organism, our cells open their receptors, unlike many substances that are filtered and eliminated by the body’s highly intelligent defense system, allowing the medicine to enter and cleanse the organism on a deep quantum level. So far, researchers have discovered only nine peptides, some of which are bio-active, meaning that they perform specific functions in the body. These peptides perform hormone-like tasks while others provide support to vital cellular processes.
Some of the main peptides found in Kambô are:
Phyllomedusin, a neuropeptide (produced in the brain to facilitate the communication between neurons) and powerful vasodilator (which widens blood vessels to allow for more blood to be moved, which exercises and strengthens the heart).
Dermaseptin, with potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeast, fungi, protozoa and enveloped viruses. Dermaseptin B2 is an antimicrobial peptide that interacts with the fuel receptors of cells and searches cells such as cancer cells to switch off their fuel supply.
Typtophyllins, found to be highly potent against the yeast Candida Albicans.
Phyllokinin, provides a long-lasting reduction in blood pressure.
Ongoing research on peptides, Kambô’s main components, continues to evolve and we continue to find new medical applications in the world of medicine and pharmacology.
Kambô in Recovery
Kambô is an excellent way to deeply detox the body while strengthening the entire organism and immune system, which makes it so beneficial for the recovery process and in the pre- and aftercare of ibogaine treatment.
It prepares the body to receive the ibogaine, allowing for a smoother and safer journey, and in many cases eases withdrawal symptoms.
Kambô has also been used with great results in the treatment of depression, which has found to be connected to addiction.
Benefits
In summary, Kambô has been found to be one of the strongest natural anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral substances in the world, and one of the strongest, natural ways to strengthen the immune system. It has been used with great results in the treatment of addiction, depression, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, cancer, migraines, trauma, grief, HIV, malaria, candida, Parkinson’s, infertility, the regulation of blood pressure and many more.
What to expect
What is a Kambô Treatment Like?
We always carry out all our treatments in a beautiful ceremonial setting with the utmost respect for this medicine and for our clients.
At the beginning of your treatment, you will be given 2 litres of fresh water to drink on an empty stomach. Then, only the very top layer of the skin is burned creating a slight blistering; this is not at all like a proper burn and does not bleed. This allows the practitioner to remove the first layer of the skin on these small dots, which act as ‘gates’ to allow the medicine to enter and immediately reach your lymphatic system. The effects of Kambô are fast and intense, but short, and the treatment is empowering. Some feel a warm or hot flush in the upper body and face, an increased heartbeat (caused by Phyllocaerulein, a peptide that strengthens and exercises the heart) and there might be some swelling in your face.
You will feel nauseous and soon purge, after which you will feel lighter and regain your strength. When your therapy is completed, we will dress the small dots with a tree sap from the Amazon that acts as a natural plaster. This will protect you from any infection, and aids the healing process of your skin. These dots will form scabs, which will naturally fall off after a few days, depending on the area. Please do not scratch them!
Why the Purging?
After Kambô is applied onto the gates, or small points, on your skin, the medicine goes straight into the lymphatic system. Flowing through the body, it scans your entire organism, going to work where needed. Upon encountering Kambô, our cells open, accepting the medicine as beneficial, and allowing it to enter. Imagine a good Spring cleanse of your home, where you go into all the corners and nooks, sweeping up all the dust and old spider webs into the dust pan.
Likewise, Kambô cleanses our cells, collecting all the gunk into the ‘dustpan’ – the stomach. The water you drink just before your treatment acts as a vehicle to carry all the toxins out of the body. This is like ‘taking off the lid’, allowing your system to cleanse, to let go, to become lighter, healthier and more vibrant. As soon as the purging has started, most people feel immediately relieved, stronger and better. We very much encourage you to not be afraid of the purging, it is very much about ‘getting well’ rather than ‘being sick’, and feels much like a great release that is such an important part of the cleansing process, healing and transformation. The aspect of purging also encompasses letting go in other ways, such as by going to the toilet, sweating or simply shedding some tears. This is all fine, and totally normal, a sign that your system is clearing and letting go of anything that’s weighing you down, simply dropping excess baggage so you become lighter, healthier and more vibrant.
How will I Feel after the Treatment?
Although you will likely feel energised and stronger soon after your treatment, remember as well that Kambô starts a process of cleansing within you that is ongoing well after the treatment. The more you can be conscious and open during this process, especially since it may often be very subtle, the more rewarding you will find the medicine. Kambô is considered to be a great revealer because those parts of ourselves that we need to become conscious about, may be the very blockage in our lives that keep us from living to our highest potential, the cause for illness, and are being illuminated or brought into our awareness so that we may transform them, integrate them, learn from them, and move on with new strength and clarity. We encourage you not to expect a certain outcome but instead enjoy the journey of your transformation!
How is this Medicine Harvested?
All tribes highly respect the venom of this beautiful frog that lives in the canopies of the forests. Those who know its song go out at night and sing to the frog, asking it humbly to step down from the trees so that some of its secretion may be collected and used for healing. It is advised to always treat this frog with the upmost respect, as the tribes understand that mistreating it would result in bad luck.
Additionally, as member of the International Association for Kambo Practitioners (IAKP), who work closely with the tribal members of the Matsés tribe, our practitioner receives not only the highest quality medicine, is assured the ethical harvest of this medicine. We also know that the very people and gatherers of this medicine are paid fair prices and receive continued support through the fund that was initiated by the IAKP.
Furthermore, there exists no natural predators to this species of frog, it is found in abundance throughout the upper Amazon. The biggest danger however, are humans, and the destruction and pollution of the animal’s habitat through deforestation of the Amazon, oil & gas exploration, the building of dams, etc.
Conclusion
As a powerful detoxer of both body and mind, and as one of the strongest natural ways to strengthen the immune system; with great results in the treatment of addiction, depression, anxiety, pain, chronic fatigue, trauma, grief (to name a few), Kambô cleanses and heals on many levels. As it deeply detoxes the body while strengthening the entire organism and immune system, it is beneficial for the recovery process and in the pre- and aftercare of an ibogaine treatment, preparing the body to receive the ibogaine and allowing for a smoother and safer journey.
As a member of the only Kambô co-operative in the world our practitioner at Tabula Rasa Retreat uses the best quality medicine that is available. If you are able to have several sessions during your stay with us, we are able to tailor your treatments to your specific case and life path. This means that you will not only benefit from the great overall cleansing that this medicine brings, but also experience deep shifts in your life that allow you to move on with more clarity, a new found sense of being and willpower.
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The International Association of Kambo Practitioners (IAKP) for more info, research, and to find a practitioner near you: www.iakp.org