This makes the experience slightly easier to go through and can help you process the emotions. Many of the benefits will only occur if you follow the tips below. Unfortunately, some benefits may not last for longer than a few months after taking the substance.Most (if not all) of the side effects are preventable and they will not happen if you follow the Safety checklist. A recent lawsuit filed against Soul Quest Church—known to host plant medicine ceremonies in Orange County, Florida—has brought questions of harm reduction to the fore. After Kambo is removed from the top layer of skin, the entry points are closed with a Peruvian anti-bacterial/fungal tree sap (Dragon’s Blood). This helps the entry points heal faster and acts as a “liquid bandage”, while offering a secure antibacterial barrier. DO NOT pick at the points or try to remove/clean off the Dragon’s Blood.

Since kambo affects heart rate and blood pressure, people with conditions related to the heart should avoid taking it. Heart or blood pressure medications should not be combined with it. Kambo deaths involving people who are left unattended (such as the case in Brazil in 2008) are likely due to poor facilitation, and could possibly have been avoided. Similarly, when people are allowed to drink too much water after a ceremony, this indicates a facilitator who has failed to educate and care for their participants. It can cause vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and a boost of adrenaline.

What Should I Expect During Kambo Ceremony?

I would describe this as enlightenment for me as far as Kambo was concerned. I realised Kambo should be a gentle and blissful experience, not a harsh and abrasive ordeal.

Why choose Kambo over other substances?

An alternative way to approach the risk of hyponatremia is to provide electrolytes to balance sodium levels. Some traditional facilitators will give participants a salted root vegetable drink called Caiçuma, greatly reducing the risk of hyponatremia. My friend wanted to take kambo because she heard it could reduce her frequent migraines. She had the number of a practitioner, had researched the medicine, and was ready to try it. Just one thing was giving her pause; she was a recovering bulimic. She hadn’t binged and purged in years, but like addiction, eating disorders stay with you for your entire life.

Maximize the benefits

As I rolled up my sleeve to receive my first Kambo burns, the mantra “trust the medicine” was playing over and over in my mind like a broken record. Read more about Kambo sticks here. On the flipside, while a Western facilitator may lack the wisdom and experience of an indigenous facilitator, they could have the benefit of knowing more about contraindicated medications and health conditions. There choice between Western or indigenous facilitators is not straightforward and depends on what exactly you’re looking for.