I was a little sceptical when I was first told of kambo – a medicine derived from Amazonian frogs – and its success in treating pain. However, curiosity got the best of me, as it usually does and after doing more research online, I decided to give it a go. I guess after 30 odd years of severe lower back pain you’re prepared to try anything that might help, even the whacky stuff.
Kambo is a secretion from the giant monkey frog that lives in the north-west part of the Amazon. Traditionally it is used by tribes as a medicine against malaria and to gain strength and stamina. The frog is not harmed in the process of collecting the secretions and they’re collected on wooden sticks.
Scientific research started on this frog in 1980 and it is currently the subject of much research in medical use, although there have been studies of tribes using kambo since the 1930’s. It’s been found to contain several peptides that cause dramatic reactions in humans. The potent opiod peptides Dermorphin and Deltorphin are 4000 times stronger than morphine. Hence the powerful analgesic effects of the medicine.
Kambo also has anti-inflammatory effects, can heal infections and regulate blood pressure. There are potential uses for the treatment of Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease, depression, migraine, blood circulation problems, vascular insufficiency, organ diseases, cancer, and fertility problems in women, AIDS, hepatitis and more.
Kambo day arrived and I had a very light breakfast and drank loads of water as advised. I also took some time before Bruno, the medicine man, arrived to quieten myself and set an intention for the medicine to help my lower back pain, depression and also to cleanse and re-charge my immune system.
The medicine is administered by burning very small holes in the first two or three layers of skin either on the arm or the leg. I opted to have eight small circles burnt on my upper arm. Bruno mixed the dried serum with water and rubbed a small amount into each burn. Within seconds I felt it stinging and then a quickening of my carotid pulse. My face swelled a little and I felt a bit of a “rush” but these were not alarming feelings. My arms and face went very red, this was the “hot” fever I’d been told about and why I’d drunk so much water beforehand. Those feelings then subsided and I felt quite weak. I’d been told to expect quite a lot of purging but I had very little vomiting; maybe because I’d had such little food in the past 20 hours?
Bruno seemed surprised that the medicine seemed to take a while to work for me and we even considered doing some more but decided against it when low stomach cramps kicked in as the medicine moved through my body. These were like really bad period pains but I found that relaxing and breathing into it helped the pain subside. Upon visiting the bathroom for another purge I noticed that my face had gone deathly white. Even my lips were drained of blood and my face was still a little swollen. Not exactly a good look – even for an ex-goth!
After about ¾ hour all of the feelings passed. I took it easy for the rest of the day and I had a good night’s sleep. The following day I felt great, very upbeat and energetic and received a few compliments on how well I looked. My back pain has been substantially reduced.
The effects of kambo lasted seven days and during that time I took the same amount of medication – a range of dihydrocodeine, tramadol, anti-inflammatories and amitriptyline muscle relaxants that I’d usually take over two days, and that was during an incredibly stressful week with little chance to rest. Interestingly I suffered very few withdrawal effects during that week, just a couple of sweaty disturbed nights. To me, this is a mini miracle. It’s been over 15 years since my body was that free of narcotics and it loved it. My metabolism returned to normal and I slept much lighter and I’m sure I could hear my poor liver singing for joy.
I don’t think this is something to be undertaken lightly and obviously it’s not going to be for everyone. But I’d done my research, and had found someone knowledgeable whom I trusted. Bruno was great, very patient, attentive and informative. He made sure I was OK at every stage and even made me tea before he left. There has to be a month’s gap in between doses but I can’t wait to try it again, it was definitely worth feeling uncomfortable for 45 minutes.
copyright © sarah shivani williams 2011. all rights reserved.
What type of body frame and weight are you. Where you in reasonably average health and fitness at the time of consumption? What age are you and does your body accept narcotics or alcohol readily? Thank you
hi kerrie,
thanks for your message. i’m 5ft 6inches, slim build and in good health and fitness at the time i did kambo. i’m in my early 40′s and although i rarely drink, my body is used to taking long term pain medication. i’m looking forward to trying it again next month to see how the effects will be this time. hope that answers your questions,
regards, Shivani x
Shivani
If your lower back pain is bad enough to take the quantity and range of analgesics, anti-inflammatory and relaxant drugs you describe, and you are still taking the drugs, might I suggest that the drugs have caused the pain longevity problem.
I have had lower back issues since adolescence – lots of back pain and mainly left leg sciatica which I treated with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
By successfully moderating the pain my back has deteriorated to the point where the L5/S1 vertebrae are fused.
On injuring my L4/L5 disc, on medical prescriptions, I attempted to moderate the pain to the point where three months from my first medical consultation I was taking twice the recommended max dose of codeine phosphate, tramadole, valium and anti-inflammatorys.
I was almost a zombie, but still in a lot of pain.
Faced with the only medical option of “more of the same” I took the option of going cold turkey and discontinued all medication.
Once the pain masking was discontinued I realised that what I thought was “pain level seven” was on a true scale about “pain level four” as my pain level increased to an amount which had me reduced to a quivering, whimpering mess.
Over the next two months my weight dropped from 70kg to 56kg, but the pain level began reducing as my body would not allow me to do anything to damage it further ….. and it began to heal itself.
At the outset my physiotherapist stated that he could not treat my condition but that I should work my body to the extent that pain would allow and to “listen to my body”.
I did just that. Start with a hobbling walk on flat ground in the morning and instantly stop any activity which caused a pain increase.
A year later I was back to 68kg and increased ability – from 5% to approx 25%, still in constant pain but much reduced (pain level three).
Over the next five years the healing process continued with minor setbacks along the way as I explored the extending upper limit of activity – to find your limit, you have to sometimes go a little too far.
Ten years later I have virtually no residual pain, but if I work my back a little too hard the pain level increases and I stop the activity IMMEDIATELY.
By not interfering with the body’s defense mechanism (pain) I have successfully allowed my body to heal itself.
All medication does is allow you to continue to damage yourself.
This has been born out in trials done on long term high analgesic intake patients in Australia recently when their medication was discontinued and replaced with gently exercise. There was a universal improvement in their mobility, mentality and quality of life.
I will never take medication to alleviate back pain again in my life. To do so is to turn off the body’s only defense mechanism ….. very similar to turning off a fire alarm because it keeps reacting to smoke in the air.
Most people believe that they should live their lives without pain and it is the medical industry’s duty to remove their pain. Doctors perpetuate this most unrealistic, damaging expectation. To remove pain is totally the WRONG thing to do.
Working within the limitations of pain is the RIGHT thing to do.
Pain is your friend as it tells you what you can and can not do.
Interfere with this mechanism at your peril.
Ten years down the track I still have a murmur of pain in my back, unless I overdo it. But when I do, I STOP doing the antagonistic activity and my body heals itself.
As you have tried just about everything else to better your condition, you should try the ‘no medication’ treatment. Your body will heal itself if you stop damaging it by masking pain.
alex jones
that’s great you’ve had such great results with leaving off the pain meds Alex & thanks for taking the time to reply to the post. since last year i have been trying different therapies and have successfully reduced my pain meds and pain levels quite alot and yes there is a relation to how much activity you do as to how much pain you have. i’m hoping that by continuing to work with these new therapies i will still be able to enjoy reduced pain levels but also still enjoy my life. all power to you.