🐸Kambo Medicine

Traditional practice

This is a living tradition carried through lineage and community. Its value is documented through generations of practitioners rather than clinical trials. Absence of Western studies is not absence of wisdom.

• Psychoactive plant or substance use. Some traditions include plants or brews that can alter consciousness, such as ayahuasca, peyote, iboga, kambo, psilocybin, cannabis, or datura. These can interact with medications (especially SSRIs and MAOIs), heart conditions, and other prescriptions, and may bring up strong physical or emotional responses. This is a space for extra care, preparation, and trained guidance.
• Fasting or restrictive diet. Fasts, cleanses, and prescribed diets can be meaningful, but they can also cause dizziness, low blood sugar, or electrolyte imbalance. They are best approached with care if you are pregnant, have diabetes, an eating-disorder history, or take medications that require food.
• Financial and spiritual exploitation risk. Sacred traditions can attract people who charge steep fees or claim exclusive spiritual authority. Trustworthy teachers welcome questions, encourage outside support, and never pressure you to pay for more than you can afford.
• Cultural appropriation and closed practices. Elements of this tradition may be reserved for initiated practitioners or community members. Approach as a respectful learner, not a consumer, and never present the practice as your own.

• Heart, blood pressure, and stroke history. Intense heat, cold, breath, or exertion can strain the cardiovascular system. If you have a heart condition, uncontrolled blood pressure, arrhythmia, a pacemaker, prior stroke, or take cardiac medication, check in with your physician before participating.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility treatment. Several herbs, essential oils, deep-tissue techniques, extreme temperatures, and intense breath or plant-medicine practices are not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or IVF cycles. Disclose your status and ask for a practitioner with prenatal training.
• Active PTSD or unprocessed severe trauma. Immersive, ceremonial, and altered-state work can surface traumatic memories without warning. If you are living with active PTSD, build a relationship with a trauma-informed licensed clinician first, and choose practitioners trained to hold trauma responses gently.
• Bleeding disorders and blood thinners. Practices that pierce or bruise the skin can cause prolonged bleeding or large bruises if you have hemophilia, low platelets, or take anticoagulants such as warfarin, apixaban, or high-dose aspirin. Let your practitioner know before you begin.
• Skin infections and immune suppression. Any practice that breaks the skin requires clean, single-use tools. If you are immunocompromised, in cancer treatment, or have active skin infection, it is wise to delay these practices or choose non-invasive alternatives.
• Prescription medication interactions. Bring a full medication list to your practitioner and pharmacist. Some common combinations need extra care, such as SSRIs and MAOIs with ayahuasca or St. John's wort, blood thinners with garlic or ginkgo, and immunosuppressants with many herbs. Your care team can help you navigate this.