frequently asked questions:

I have been certified as a practitioner by True Self Renewal and my teacher Bridget Cosma, certified as an advanced practitioner by the IAKP and Kambo International. I have also studied through the late Curandero Johnny Java in the Amazon who taught Peter Gorman and I also incorporate knowledge I learned with the Matses tribe in Peru. I have also advanced my studies in kambo medicine through Medicine Frog Kambo studying specialty applications to those with sensitive systems such as Lyme and Autoimmune disorders by kambo-leading expert Caitlin Thompson.

Kambo is safe when administered by a trained kambo practitioner and there are no health contraindications present. Kambo is not for everyone (ie. taking certain medications or with specific health conditions). Everyone who sits with the medicine must fill out a health and safety intake form to ensure there are no contraindications.

There are a certain percentage of people who get what's called 'frog face' and experience swelling in the lips, face and throat. Although this may be an unpleasant feeling, the medicine will not block the airway and the swelling will subside after the kambo is removed or there may still be visible signs of swelling or puffiness for up to 24 hours, although this is more rare. Swelling is a part of the kambo experience for some people.

You will be emailed everything you need to know when you register of how to physically and emotionally prepare for your ceremony. Some preparatory info includes: no food for 12 hours before ceremony, no liquids for 2 hours before ceremony, no: alcohol, recreational substances, saunas, hot yoga, sweat lodges, stream rooms, liver flushes, water fasting, enemas and colonics for 3 days prior to and 3 days after ceremony. You do not need to follow a strict diet / dieta leading up to kambo.

The gates, or burns will leave small visible circular scars on the skin that will fade over time, depending on the skin type and placement. My scars usually fade out completely after around 2 years or less. If you are concerned about the marks, we can decide to place them where it is more concealed.

The frogs are caught and released back into the wild. It is my understanding that kambo frogs do not produce their secretion if they are kept in captivity, so all the medicine must be truly wild harvested. Once the frog is 'caught' (although they are not really caught in the sense that they do not try to jump away and you can easily pick them up), they are tied to sticks for harvesting. The secretion on their back is scraped off with a stick and dried onto the kambo stick for later use. Then the frog is released back into the jungle.

The medicine I have is from the Matses tribe. I have been to the villages myself to see how the frogs are being harvested. There is a risk of over-harvesting these frogs as kambo becomes more popular and there are groups working to increase the kambo frog populations and also to create a synthetic version of kambo for this reason. It is my belief that when the frogs are caught, they are put through some discomfort when the medicine is collected, and this feels like a shamanic exchange as then the receiver of the medicine is put through discomfort. It is my personal belief that the kambo frogs energetically understand their value and purpose of the healing they are offering.

A kambo practitioner is not a shaman and administering kambo is not something that is passed down through lineage of blood relations. I honor the knowledge and wisdom that has been shared and passed on by the tribespeople of the Amazon, the spirit of kambo and all of my teachers. It is important to note that the way the medicine is served combines teachings from various tribes, western science, intuition and draws upon cross-cultural spirituality and shamanism.

Integration is so important and it is best if you schedule the entire day after your ceremony for yourself to reflect and perhaps spend some time in nature. Filling your body and mind immediately with stressful activities, having to work or be around a lot of people is not ideal.

I have been serving kambo medicine for 3 years

Timing is important and the medicine has to be calling in a way, or in order words it has to feel like a full yes. When you sit with kambo really depends on each individual. It is important to book space around the time of your ceremony and you do not have your kambo experience at a very busy time in your schedule. Best time of day is to begin ceremony at 10am as you will be fasting for many hours however a later ceremony can be booked as well.

This greatly depends on the individual. One single session with kambo is powerful. You may be called to sit with the medicine once and wait until you feel called again or you may wish to book a kambo session once or twice a year for "maintenance" - to keep your body in balance. Those who are wanting to work on specific chronic pain or health issues would need more than one kambo session to bring the body into balance.