Why a page about kambo?
You may have come across the word, as kambo ceremony or kambo cleanse. Some people describe it as a deep physical clearing, in line with the tradition. Others call it one of the hardest things they have ever done.
Stars Frequencies does not offer kambo and does not refer people to it. We do get questions about it, though. So here is a calm explanation of what it is, what is known about the risks and what to keep in mind. Without judging anyone who chooses it, and without any instructions for doing it yourself.
What exactly is kambo?
Kambo comes from the giant monkey frog, a tree frog from the Amazon. Through its skin the frog releases a secretion containing many different protein-like substances called peptides. Several Indigenous peoples in the western Amazon have long used this secretion in their own ritual, for example around hunting.
Kambo does not change your perception the way truffles do. The experience is mainly physical. People who have done it describe nausea, vomiting, a hot and flushed face, facial swelling, a racing heart and trembling. According to those accounts the most intense part usually does not last long, followed by a period of rest and exhaustion.
How does a kambo ceremony work in the tradition?
In a kambo ceremony the facilitator burns a few small points into the top layer of the skin. The secretion is placed on those points. Within minutes the body reacts, often strongly. In many ceremonies people drink a lot of water beforehand, as part of the idea of a physical clearing.
Afterwards participants describe a sense of emptiness, calm or relief. That is an experience, not a proven effect. There is little research into what kambo does in the long run, and the accounts vary widely.
Is kambo safe?
Kambo carries a serious risk profile. The medical literature describes cases of dangerously low sodium in the blood, often linked to the large amounts of water drunk beforehand, as well as liver problems and heart problems. Deaths have also been reported. A 2022 literature review concludes that acute kambo poisoning can occur and can be severe.
The peptides act on blood pressure, heart rate and fluid balance, among other things. That makes kambo especially risky for people with heart or blood vessel conditions, low blood pressure or a psychological vulnerability, during pregnancy and when taking medication. In the Netherlands there is no recognised training or oversight for people who offer kambo.
A ceremony is not a substitute for medical or psychological help. Read more about safety
Is kambo legal in the Netherlands?
Kambo is not listed in the Dutch Opium Act. That does not mean it is safe or supervised. No legal framework sets standards for the guidance or the screening beforehand.
Truffles are legal in the Netherlands: unlike mushrooms, they fall outside the Opium Act. Legal still does not mean suitable for everyone. That is why a truffle ceremony at Stars Frequencies always starts with a free 30 minute intro call, including questions about health and medication.
How is it different from a truffle ceremony?
Many people who read about kambo are really looking for something else: rest, space and a moment to reflect on what is going on in their life. A truffle ceremony is about what you feel and think, not about a heavy reaction of the body. There are no burn points, no required vomiting and no large amount of water.
Stars Frequencies guides truffle ceremonies in Amsterdam, in a small group of up to 8 people (€295 per person) or privately (€495). Meditation and sound healing are a fixed part of every ceremony, and Rosa is in the room for the whole ceremony. About half of the participants are doing it for the first time. No experience needed.
“Her professionalism is not in big words, but in how safe you feel with her.”
Curious what such a day looks like? Read about the truffle ceremony in Amsterdam, or see what other participants say in their experiences.