Can frog poison boost your health? From the fact that there is the word poison in the sentence, it already makes it hard to believe that kambo-frog medicine can be beneficial to your health. Well, many people have used this medicine in an attempt to cleanse their body; however, its beneficial healing effects is yet to be scientifically proven.
In this article, we’ll get to know what Kambo-frog medicine is, as well as its effects, risks, and even the side effects.
What is Kambo?
Kambo or frog medicine is a venomous secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor. It is a bright green tree frog or giant monkey frog native to the Amazon basin. This giant monkey resides in parts of Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil.
After the secretion of this venomous substance from the frog, a shaman healer will perform a traditional healing ritual, which involves creating tiny burn marks on the person’s leg, foot, or shoulder and then applying the kambo secretion to the wound.
So, what can kambo treat?
Some proponents believe that kambo secretion can treat:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Migraines
- Infections
- Cancer
Does kambo work?
Yes, there are plenty of first-hand accounts from people who tried out kambo secretion and it worked. However, none of the said potential benefits are scientifically proven.
That being the case, researchers and scientists have made efforts in studying kambo as a substance. Scientists have discovered that Kambo contains several compounds that have various effects on the human body, for instance dilating the blood vessels, stimulating brain cells, and relaxing the muscles. This is as a result of the following biological active components found in the secretion – dermorphin, phyllomedusin, deltorphin, sauvagine, phyllokinin, phyllcaerulein, and adenoregulin.
However, there is still no research on the beneficial healing effects of kambo.
Risk and side effects
While there is still need of carrying out more research, some of the people who have tried out this kambo-frog medicine have reported the following side effects.
- Itchy and irritated skin
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle weakness
- Seizures
- Confusion
Can kambo-frog medicine cause death?
It is the most asked question by people looking forward to try out the kambo secretion. Well, kambo is a toxic substance and it can be lethal. A case study was carried out in 2017 and it described how a 42-year old man succumbed to death after taking part in a cleanse using kambo secretion.
Final Thoughts
The quest of getting alternative medicine has increased greatly over the years. Kambo-frog medicine has been one of those alternatives. However, it is still new to the Western societies.
There is currently not enough research into Kambo’s effects on the human body, despite isolation of several compounds within kambo.
Traditional medicine practitioners usually perform cleanses safely; however, it is important to note that kambo is a poisonous substance and it comes with several side effects that may potentially cause death.
If you are considering to take part of this cleansing therapy using kambo secretion, then first you need to talk to your doctor. Doctors have never recommended burning your skin, and if a burn occurs, then they’ll recommend other traditional or modern treatment approaches instead. Remember, your body can cleanse itself; therefore, no need of herbs or venomous secretion from a frog. 😊