About this Retreat
River is a western and indigenous trained Kambo practitioner with specialization in using Kambo to address auto-immune conditions, Lyme disease and chronic illness. She has been a student of Kambo for over 6 years. She maintains a relationship with the Matses tribe of Peru and sources the medicine that she uses directly from them.
Details of this retreat
Kambo is a traditional Amazonian frog medicine that comes from the secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor frog, also known as the “giant monkey tree frog.” The secretion contains many bioactive peptides which have amazing benefits for the human body and have been reported to address a wide range of conditions.
Kambo has a beautiful way of bringing one into a state of balance and homeostasis by strengthening and healing the mind, body and spirit. It supports the body’s natural detoxification pathways and modulates the body systems. It is a deeply cleansing therapy that acts as a natural antibiotic and immune strengthener. It can detoxify the internal organs, improve mental functioning and has the potential to dissolve emotional and energetic blockages. It is an intelligent medicine that is able to address multiple things simultaneously depending on the individual's needs. Ultimately, Kambo supports the body in remembering how to heal itself.
One of the traditional uses of Kambo is to clear what is called “panema.” Panema translates to bad luck, and is described as the feeling of a dark cloud of negative energy that settles over a person. This can manifest as anxiety, depression, lethargy, feeling stuck or like things aren’t flowing in life. When one receives Kambo, it is believed to clear this feeling and allow the person to feel lighter and clearer, like a veil has been lifted. People often feel positive energetic shifts after receiving Kambo.
Kambo is not psychoactive and is legal in most countries in the world.
Kambo may be beneficial for:
-Cleansing and detoxification
-Strengthening the immune system
-Gut imbalances or infections
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Chronic pain
-Inflammation
-Migraines
-Fatigue
-Allergies
-Thyroid imbalance
-Lyme disease
-Some auto-immune conditions
-Hormone imbalance
-Fertility issues
-High blood pressure
-Parasites
-Excess yeast (candida)
-Arthritis
-Parkinson's disease
-Alzheimer's
-Drug and alcohol addiction
-Viral and bacterial infections
-Physical energy and stamina
-Mental clarity and focus
-Moderating cravings and appetite
-Improving quality of sleep
-Releasing trauma stored in the body
Energetically, it may:
-Clear and quiet the mind
-Enhance connection to intuition and creativity
-Dissolve emotional blockages
-Provide a feeling of clarity and lightness
-Improve mood and vitality
-Heighten senses
-Clear stagnant energy
Other optional medicines that are included in a session:
Rapeh and Sananga
Rapeh is a traditional Amazonian medicine that has been used by the tribes of the Amazon for hundreds (maybe thousands) of years. It is made from a combination of plants including mapacho (sacred tobacco) and is blown into the nose using an applicator called a tepi or kuripe. Rapeh can be used to clear blockages, to provide a feeling of groundedness, to clear energy and to aid in meditation.
Sananga eye drops are an extract made from the root of the Tabernaemontana undulata plant in the Amazon jungle. When applied to the eyes, there is an initial period of burning that quickly subsides. Sananga is said to increase visual acuity, improve cataracts, glaucoma, night vision and color/depth perception. It is also said to cleanse energy, clear panema and improve one's figurative vision. If you would like to receive sananga, please do not wear contact lenses to your session.
Contraindications:
Kambo is a powerful medicine and should be treated with respect. When applied by a properly trained facilitator, it is very safe. However, there are some conditions that are not compatible with taking Kambo.
(Some may be taken on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out if you have questions.)
Do any of the following apply?
-Under the age of 18
-Currently pregnant or breastfeeding an infant under the age of 6 months
-Have had aneurysms or blood clots, or taking medications for blood clots
-Stroke or brain hemorrhage
-Serious heart conditions including: heart disease, enlarged heart, implanted defibrillators, pericardial effusion, excess fluid in the heart sack, previous heart attack or has had bypass or heart valve replacement surgery.
-Severe head injury
-Addison’s disease
-Ehlers Danlos syndrome
-Epilepsy
-Liver or kidney disease
-History of esophageal rupture
-Taking medication for low blood pressure
-Have serious mental health conditions excluding depression, anxiety and PTSD
-Have taken Bufo/5me0-dmt within the last 30 days
-Have taken Iboga within the last 90 days or Ibogaine within the last 10 days
-Taking immunosuppressants for an organ transplant
-Currently recovering from a major surgical procedure (please wait at least 6 weeks)
-Unwilling or unable to stop consuming alcohol and/or drugs for 3 days before treatment
-Lacking the mental capacity to make the decision to take Kambo
Cautions/please disclose if you:
-Have any blood diseases
-Have any heart conditions
-Are taking serotonin and/or sleeping supplements
-Have received an enema or colonic within 3 days before Kambo
-Have been fasting/water-fasting within 7 days before Kambo
-Are or recently stopped taking diet/slimming pills
-Are regularly taking anti-diuretic medications
-If you have any allergies, specifically to stings (bees, wasps etc.)
-If you have asthma (please bring an inhaler with you)
-If you have consumed psychoactive medicines (i.e. Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Mushrooms, LSD) within 24 hours of wanting to receive Kambo
It is very important to disclose any health conditions and/or any medications you are taking to ensure compatibility with the process. Most medications are safe with Kambo but you will want to take them after your session, not before. And there are some that would need to be discontinued for a few days prior to receiving Kambo. Please discuss this with me beforehand. Your safety is my highest priority so full disclosure of any physical and/or mental health conditions is required.
Women may receive Kambo during menstruation, but as Kambo is a vasodilator, it may increase blood flow for up to 24 hours. Please take that into consideration. It may be preferable to sit with Kambo after the first 1-2 days of the menstrual cycle.
HOW TO PREPARE
The day before, day of and day after your treatment, please abstain from alcohol, fried and heavily processed foods. Eat a clean diet as much as possible.
Fast from all foods for 8 hours prior to receiving Kambo. This is very important.
The morning of Kambo, you can have a small amount of water or herbal tea (16 oz max). You will drink a large quantity of water immediately before the medicine goes on and I will monitor your water intake to ensure safety.
It is helpful to have an intention – emotional, spiritual or physical – for working with Kambo. Remembering your intention during the session can be very grounding and help you to stay focused and navigate through the process.
Please wear comfortable clothing and bring 2 liters of water, layers (your temperature will likely fluctuate), a change of clothes and a hair tie if you have long hair.
WHAT TO EXPECT
If it is your first time receiving Kambo, you will receive a test point and basic treatment with points on either the upper arm or inner ankle.
If it is not your first time, we can discuss other targeted approaches/point placement.
We will discuss how many points to apply, and where. You will then drink 1.5 liters of water.
Kambo is applied to small, superficial burns which allows it to safely enter the body through the lymphatic system. Once the secretion circulates through the body, there is usually a strong physical reaction that includes a feeling of warmth, an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, pressure in the head, nausea and oftentimes purging. The effects are usually felt within seconds to minutes after application and the process typically lasts up to 40 minutes, after which the sensations subside and one is generally left feeling calm, tired or energized. A private session typically lasts between 2-2.5 hours from start to finish. Groups can last around 3.5-4 hours.
Tea, coconut water and/or fruit will be provided afterwards.
Most people rest for roughly 15-30 minutes immediately after their session and tend to feel grounded and mostly “back” from the experience after this rest period.
The benefits from a Kambo session are not usually felt immediately but are typically experienced in the following days, weeks and even months. It is a powerful healing and restorative process for the body with the potential for long-lasting benefits.
AFTERCARE AND INTEGRATION
I recommend giving yourself time and space to rest after your Kambo treatment. Taking the day off, if possible, is highly recommended.
Taking a nap, eating a grounding meal and taking a shower are great ways to unwind after a session.
It is not uncommon to feel tired or even what is known as a herxheimer reaction after Kambo, especially after the first time. This happens as toxins are released from the body. I find the best way to mitigate this is to rest, stay hydrated, eat a clean diet (avoiding drugs and alcohol for at least a few days) and take certain supplements. After this initial feeling passes, many report feeling energized, clear, focused and a positive shift in energy. I will check in with you after your session and will be available for any questions that may arise.
The process of healing doesn’t start and end during the session. Pay attention to your dreams and any messages that may come through before and afterwards. Pay attention to any signals your body may be sending you. Tune into your appetite and cravings. Allow yourself time, space and support to deal with anything that may come up. Chronic and deeply-rooted ailments may take some time and multiple approaches to work through.
For the points: you won’t need to do anything special to care for them. Dragon’s blood is applied at the end of your session and it will form a protective scab over the points and allow them to heal. If they start to itch during the healing process, you can apply calendula salve or something similar to address the itchiness. It’s also best to avoid tight clothing over the points that could irritate them. The scabs will naturally fall off after a week or two.
I will provide a list of questions to contemplate in the day and week following your session to assist with your personal integration.
**This experience requires a screening process to ensure safety and compatibility. Please reach out to do this screening before booking.**