About Kambo

Kambo is a traditional ceremonial practice from the Amazon, used by indigenous tribes for centuries as part of their spiritual and energetic rituals. Rooted in ancient wisdom and now shared through modern, trauma-informed practice, Kambo offers a unique path for those seeking to go deeper, where other approaches have not yet reached.

Kambo is the secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor frog, found in the Amazon rainforest. This sacred ritual has been used traditionally by tribes such as the Matsés and Katukina to cleanse the body, boost stamina and sharpen the senses. In the modern world, it is respected for its powerful detoxifying and emotionally clearing qualities.

Kambo contains a rich cocktail of bioactive peptides that work with the lymphatic system to support the body and bring the nervous system back into balance. This process is deeply physical and can also open space for emotional release and clarity.

Kambo is not psychedelic. It does not create visions or altered states. It works with the body to release what no longer serves, physically, emotionally, and energetically.

How Does It Work?

Kambo is applied to the skin through small, superficial burns. Once absorbed, the peptides enter the lymphatic system and begin their work quickly. A typical ceremony includes a short but intense purging process, followed by a sense of clarity, emotional lightness, and physical renewal.

Those who come to Kambo report a wide range of personal experiences, including:

  • Increased sense of emotional clarity and wellbeing

  • Increased energy and focus

  • A sense of relief from long-held physical tension and fatigue

  • Emotional release and deep clarity

Why Do People Come to Kambo?

Many people are drawn to Kambo when other approaches have not worked. Some seek a fresh start. Others want to go deeper after years of personal development.

Common reasons include:

  • Trauma and nervous system support

  • Detoxification from medications or substances

  • Energetic clearing after periods of grief, loss, or stagnation

  • Physical inflammation, fatigue, skin conditions, and gut issues

Is It Safe?

Kambo is a traditional practice that requires a trained and experienced practitioner. At The Kambo Clinic, all sessions are led personally by Claire Anstey, an IAKP-certified practitioner with experience in trauma-informed care and emergency protocols.

We take time to prepare each client before their session and provide aftercare guidance for safe and lasting integration.

Kambo is not suitable for everyone. Certain health conditions and medications may be contraindicated. A full consultation is required before your first session.

You can view a full list of precautions and contraindications at: thekamboclinic.com/precautions-and-contraindications

The Kambo Frog

Kambo is a secretion from one of the largest Hylid frogs, known as the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). The secretion is not sweat or poison, it does not cause illness or death when used properly. In the Amazon, it is viewed as a sacred substance, although this differs from the Western medical definition. Kambo is not classified as a medicine in the UK. The Kambo Clinic does not present Kambo as a treatment, cure, or therapy for any medical condition. Kambo is a traditional ceremonial practice of the Amazon.

These frogs are nocturnal and arboreal, found in abundance across the Upper Amazon regions of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela. They are listed as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN due to their large population and wide distribution.

Males grow to 9–10 cm and females to 11–12 cm. Their dorsum is vibrant green with a creamy white belly, and dark spots on the chest, flanks, and legs. It is believed that the secretion is produced through compounds in their diet, which is why frogs removed from their natural habitat may not produce it.

The Origins of Kambo

Each tribe has its own legend of how Kambo was discovered. The most well-known comes from the Kaxinawá people in Brazil:

When the tribe faced serious illness, their Pajé (medicine man) tried every known plant remedy, but nothing worked. During a sacred ceremony, he entered the forest and was visited by a female forest spirit who gave him a frog and showed him how to use its secretion. He followed her guidance, and the tribe was restored. From then on, he became known as Pajé Kampu.

After his death, his spirit was believed to live on in the frog. The secretion became known as Kambo, and in other tribes is called Sapo, Dow-Kiet, Kampu, or Vacina da Floresta.

Kambo use spread among indigenous peoples such as the Amahuaca, Katukina, Kulina, Yawanawá, Matsés, Marubo, and Mayoruna, and continues to this day.

Western documentation of Kambo began in 1925 by French priest Father Constantin Tastevin. In the 1980s, anthropologist Katherine Milton and journalist Peter Gorman wrote about its use among Amazonian tribes. In the 1990s, rubber tappers brought Kambo out of the forest, sharing it across Brazil.

In 2004, Brazil's health agency (ANVISA) prohibited advertising Kambo's therapeutic benefits, following a request from the Katukina people to protect their intellectual property. Kambo is legal globally, except where restricted by local drug policies.

Kambo Science

Italian scientist Vittorio Erspamer was the first to analyse Kambo in 1986. He described it as a remarkable chemical cocktail with potential applications unequalled by any other amphibian. He discovered multiple peptides with therapeutic potential, many now patented.

Positive findings in research include:

  • Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties

  • Opioid receptor activation for natural pain relief

  • Peptides that may support immune, digestive, and neurological function

Ongoing research has suggested promising links between Kambo and improvements in cognitive function, emotional resilience, and physical recovery. Over 70 patents are registered worldwide.

Practitioners now work with Kambo in traditional ways and through systems such as meridian points, chakras, nadis, marma points, and auricular therapy, making it more accessible and adaptable for modern clients.

The IAKP

The Kambo Clinic is founded and led by Claire Anstey, a trained IAKP practitioner. All sessions are led personally by Claire, upholding a high standard of care and ethics.

The International Association of Kambo Practitioners (IAKP) is a not-for-profit organisation supporting the safe, responsible, and professional use of Kambo through training, research, education, and community outreach.

They are committed to sustainability and honouring the indigenous communities who have protected and shared Kambo. The IAKP helps fund healthcare, education, and ecological projects in the Amazon, including the Matsés tribe of Peru. Founded in 2014, the IAKP is now a registered foundation in the Netherlands.

Would You Like to Experience Kambo With Us?

Is Kambo right for you? → thekamboclinic.com/precautions-and-contraindications

Preparing for your session → thekamboclinic.com/preparation-for-your-kambo-session

The Kambo Ceremony → thekamboclinic.com/the-kambo-ceremony

Close-up of a green tree frog perched on a brown branch against a black background.
Two green mats with black blankets and large teal pillows, set up for sleeping or resting, with containers and water bottles nearby in a room with gray carpet and a white radiator.
A man in a purple collared shirt smiling and holding a bright green artificial chameleon on his finger, with a dark background.
A man in a black t-shirt sitting cross-legged on the floor holding a large plastic bucket with a yellowish-green liquid inside.
A woman practicing meditation in a living room, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, in front of a laptop, surrounded by framed pictures and plants.
A woman with shoulder-length reddish hair taking a selfie indoors, holding a large transparent plastic container with baked goods against her face.
Close-up of a plastic measuring cup containing a green liquid, with a butterfly design on the side, held in a living room.
Three black mats with plastic buckets, cups, and tissues, set up on a carpet in front of a green sofa with colorful pillows in a living room.
Three transparent plastic containers with yellowish liquid, open and placed on a dark surface.
Round glass dining table set with plates, utensils, and a fruit and cheese platter, surrounded by orange and brown chairs.
A woman with reddish-brown hair in a bun wearing a red leopard print top is leaning over to look into a transparent plastic container with green edges, placed on a green mat on the floor.
A large brick house with multiple windows, a black car parked in a gravel driveway, and greenery including bushes and a tree.
A plastic container with green shamrock sticker and a small amount of yellowish liquid inside, placed on a green surface; next to it is a bronze-colored frog figurine with detailed features, lying on its stomach with legs extended.
Three bundles of brown dried herbs or sticks tied with white string, placed on a green fabric with a yellow and green floral pattern.
A woman sitting on the floor in a living room, looking at a laptop computer.
Kambo purge buckets following a natural fertility treatment session at The Kambo Clinic for Fertility
Post session vegan meal and nourishment provided after every Kambo fertility boost session. Assorted fresh fruits including strawberries, green grapes, peaches, blueberries, on a wooden table with bread, a container of sauce, and a spoon.
Kambo dots applied to skin during targeted fertility treatment with acupuncture point placements.
The Kambo Clinic for Fertility is located in Beckenham, Kent.
Claire Anstey, founder of The Kambo Clinic for Fertility, Beckenham Kent
Phyllomedusa bicolor frog held by our Shaman in Peru who collects Kambo for The Kambo Clinic for Fertility's natural fertility treatment, The Fertility Boost Programme.
Kambo sticks wrapped and ready for use. Kambo sticks are prepared by coating small pieces of wood or bamboo with the raw, fresh secretions (mucus) of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor)
Kambo medicine prepared on sticks ready for targeted fertility acupuncture point placement.
Traditional Kambo preparation tools used at The Kambo Clinic for Fertility.
Client embracing purge bucket during Kambo natural fertility treatment session.