Warrior
the initiation. Three Kambo sessions in three hours, to break through a big blockage or find answers in an overwhelming situation or decision. You can also spread the three over one moon cycle.
02 · Practice
Kambo.
For twenty to forty minutes, it isn't pretty. Your heart pounds and your body decides something has to come out. Then your body goes quiet and your head goes clear. Kambo is an ancient Amazonian cleanse; intense, honest and not for everyone. For the right person, it can make room for what has been stuck for a very long time.
Privatejust you, or together with up to 3 people
4 to 6 hourswith no rush
Amsterdamin my own space
Standard €290Single ceremony
What is Kambo?
First things first: no, you don’t have to lick a frog.
Kambo is the secretion of the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor, “Leaf Guardian”), high in the canopy of the Amazon rainforest, in trees 30 to 40 meters tall. In the tradition it is known for its purifying effect on every level: physical, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual.
Indigenous tribes call it vacina da floresta: the vaccine of the forest. They see it as one of the strongest natural ways to build your resilience, and to cleanse the liver and intestines.
The origins
Tribes in the Amazon, particularly in Brazil, have used Kambo for thousands of years, each with their own rituals. The core is the same everywhere: cleansing, strengthening, energizing. Hunters took it to run faster and longer, needing less food and sleep. Tribes also used it for malaria, fever and infections, to stay vital in a demanding environment.
Kambo is a spiritual medicine too. It clears Panema: stagnant energy that shows up as bad luck, low mood or a foggy mind. Once Panema is gone, life starts to flow again: obstacles dissolve, and there is room for abundance and harmony.
Frog teaches us to honor our tears, for they cleanse the soul.
What’s in it?
Kambo is not a poison, whatever you may have heard. The secretion contains a unique mix of bioactive peptides and neuropeptides: short chains of amino acids that work as messengers in your body, a bit like hormones. Once those chains get long enough, they form proteins: the building blocks of your body.
Researchers study these peptides for their influence on the immune, digestive and nervous systems. Because your cells already know peptides, your body takes the medicine up quickly; within a few minutes, you feel it.
What Kambo gave me, and what others describe
In May 2022 I spent two weeks in Poland training with the IAKP, with six ceremonies, including an initiation of three sessions within three hours. Not my most elegant days.
What happened next took me by surprise. Months of shoulder pain: gone. My head felt like someone had run a vacuum cleaner through it. Later, Kambo helped me through bouts of depression and brought my inner fire back. That is my experience; yours may be different.
What people often describe after a ceremony:
- More endurance and physical strength
- Feeling healthier and more vital in their body
- Moving more freely, with less pain and stiffness
- Feeling lighter, happier and calmer
- More energy during the day, deeper sleep at night
- A clear, quiet mind; more focus and alertness
- More resilience to stress, fatigue and anxiety
- Blockages that finally start to move
- More confidence; fewer insecurities and fears
- Letting go of old pain and patterns
- More trust, more groundedness
- Reconnecting with their essence, their truth and their purpose
Why people seek out Kambo
Karen Darke, master practitioner and head of the IAKP, has worked with thousands of people. People with the conditions below have said they benefited from Kambo. That is their experience, not a promise that Kambo cures anything.
- Anxiety; mild depression; depressive moods; lack of drive
- PTSD and trauma integration
- Chronic fatigue and burnout; chronic pain; migraines
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- HIV; herpes; recurrent infections; Lyme disease
- Diabetes; high blood pressure; allergies; gastritis
- Rebuilding the immune system after chemotherapy
- Fertility issues
- Skin and eye conditions
- Parkinson’s disease; addictions
- And more; what this means for your situation, we discuss honestly in the intake
How a ceremony unfolds
A ceremony is private: just you, or together with up to 3 people. Allow 4 to 6 hours, with no rush. You choose a traditional Kambo Ceremony or a Kambo Retreat Day with breathwork and sound healing added.
Opening
We start by talking. Why do you feel called to the frog? What is ready to go, what would you like to invite in, and on which level: physical, emotional, mental, energetic or spiritual? Together we decide how many points (or “gates”) you receive and where. For a first ceremony I start with a test point, so I can see how your body responds. Traditionally the points go on the right ankle for women and the left upper arm/shoulder for men; 3 to 9 points, in a basic or layered treatment.
Then you land. A calming meditation and a short breathwork session bring you out of your head and into your body. Nervous? That’s fine.
The active phase
With a glowing incense stick I make a few small surface burns (≈3mm); no blood is involved. In the 10 to 15 minutes before the Kambo goes on, you drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water; it helps your body flush. Kambo goes straight into your lymphatic system, so it works fast. The purge usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes: vomiting, sweating, shaking, sometimes tears; your body does what it needs to do.
I’m with you the entire time, watching your hydration, monitoring you and holding the space with music, instruments, white sage, Agua de Florida and Hapé (Rapé): a traditional Amazonian snuff made from sacred tobacco and plant ashes, which helps you ground and relax. And I keep reminding you to breathe.
It isn’t elegant, and it doesn’t need to be. Jessy: “I like that you started singing and playing your instrument while I was sitting on the toilet. Haha. … I could totally surrender to it.”
Integration
At the end I apply Dragon’s Blood to your gates: a natural tree resin that speeds up healing, reduces scarring and forms a protective bandage. Small scars may remain; Kambo is a warrior medicine, and many people wear them as a reminder of their own strength.
Then you rest, with healing sounds and frequencies to help your energy settle. A quiet clarity often settles in. If you like, you receive Sananga: traditional Amazonian eye drops that refresh your eyes and help you ground after the intensity. We close with a short sharing circle, nourishing food and tea. You go home with integration prompts, and a few days later we have a follow up call.
Types of treatment
Basic
traditionally on the lower leg for women and the left upper arm or chest for men; a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 points.
Layered
the points go on at intervals instead of all at once. This eases the intensity and helps if you are more fragile.
Chakra
points on the chakras, the seven major energy centres along your spine, linked to glands, emotions and organs. Meant to activate and unblock those energy channels.
Meridian
like acupuncture and acupressure, we work with points on the meridians of Chinese medicine, the energy channels that connect your organs.
Auricular
your ear is often called the microcosm of your body; each part of it relates to an organ, a function or a part of you.
Why with me
What makes my ceremonies different? Time and care.
What makes my ceremonies different? Time and care. I don’t rush, and integration gets as much room as the Kambo itself. And yes, many people come back just for my homemade soup.
I hold ceremonies in my own space in Amsterdam when I’m in the Netherlands. Prefer the comfort of your own home? Let’s see together whether I can come to you. You can also bring up to two friends; ask me about group options and pricing. Looking for something that goes deeper than one ceremony? There are also my one on one Deepdives.
In their words
I found the kambo a particularly powerful experience! I noticed that blockages were gradually released. Since then I experience more peace, both mentally and physically.I found the kambo super intense, but Anne kept me on track and helped me where necessary.The days after the Kambo I experienced an inner peace and clarity.Choose your format
Single ceremony
Standard€290
- Support price€222
- Generous€366
The classic ceremony. The place to start if Kambo is new to you.
Kambo Retreat Day
Standard€455
- Support price€355
- Generous€555
One day with one Kambo ceremony, plus breathwork, sound healing and a cacao closing. Held in private locations in or near Amsterdam.
Warrior Treatment
Standard€880
- Support price€655
- Generous€1,111
Three Kambo ceremonies within one moon cycle (28 days), for a deeper physical and energetic reset. Often chosen in a heavy transition. Includes integration calls between sessions and a final integration after the third ceremony.
How my pricing works
Each format has three prices, and you choose the one that fits you. No proof needed, no questions asked.
- Support price: if money is tight.
- Standard: what the work really costs.
- Generous: if you have room to give; it helps someone else get a place.
Whichever price you choose, you receive exactly the same care.
Contraindications: when Kambo is not for you
Kambo is not safe for everyone. Do not book if any of these apply to you:
- Serious heart problems
- You have had a stroke
- You take medication for low blood pressure
- You have had a brain hemorrhage
- Aneurysms or blood clots
- You lack the mental capacity to make your own decision to take Kambo
- Serious mental health problems (excluding depression, PTSD and anxiety)
- You are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and for 4 to 6 weeks afterwards
- You take immune suppressants for an organ transplant
- You are recovering from a major surgical procedure
- You are pregnant or suspect you may be
- You are breastfeeding a baby under 6 months old
- Addison’s disease
- Current and severe epilepsy
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- Under 18s, and animals
- You have worked with Bufo Alvarius (toad medicine) in the 6 to 8 weeks before Kambo
Extra caution is needed in the cases below. If any of them apply to you, always let me know:
- Slimming, serotonin and/or sleeping supplements
- Immune suppressants for an autoimmune disorder
- An active drug or alcohol addiction; a period of abstinence is needed first, and it differs per substance
- Fasting or water fasting in the 7 days before or after Kambo
- Enemas, colonics, liver flushes or any water based detox in the 3 days before or after Kambo
- Severe injury or trauma to the oesophagus, neck or throat
- You take medication, or recently stopped
- You take diet or slimming pills, or recently stopped
- You regularly take antidiuretic medication or sports drinks
- Bulimia or anorexia, now or in the past
- Epilepsy
- Abnormally high or low blood pressure
- Liver or kidney problems
- Any other chronic or serious health issue
- Asthma
- Diabetes
Unsure about anything? Tell me. Before you book we do a full medical intake; if anything is uncertain, we don’t go ahead. That is not up for discussion. It isn’t a judgement of you; it’s care.
Frequently asked
Book a callIs Kambo psychedelic?
No. Kambo is not psychoactive; you stay clearly conscious the whole time. The intensity is physical and energetic: the purge is short (20 to 40 minutes) but very real. If you’re looking for a trip, this isn’t your medicine.
How does it feel?
Honestly? No ceremony is the same. Sometimes it’s quick and smooth, sometimes you struggle for a bit. Kambo goes straight into your lymphatic system, so in the first 5 to 10 minutes after application you may feel any of this, and it is all normal: your heart rate rises and your head may pound. You get hot, with flushes in your face and upper body. You breathe heavily. Your face and throat can swell. You may feel dizzy, foggy or spaced out; occasionally people shake or faint. Anxiety can come up, or nausea, stomach discomfort, numbness or a skin reaction.
Then comes the purge: vomiting, sweating, shaking, sometimes out the other end. Or emotional: crying, or the urge to make sounds (please do). Some people feel complete oneness and bliss instead. If it gets hard, call on the spirit of Kambo for strength; you’ll notice it helps. Everything is welcome, and everything is held with compassion.
After that it goes quiet, with a clarity that surprises many people. Kambo isn’t called ‘the big revealer’ for nothing: it brings up what was hidden. Most go home lighter and a little tired.
How many points / "gates"?
For a first ceremony I usually start with a test point to see how you respond, then 3 points in total. With more experience it can be 5 to 9, in a basic or layered treatment. Always tailored to you.
Where are points placed?
Traditionally on the right ankle for women and the left upper arm/shoulder for men. I briefly touch the skin with a heated stick; this creates small (≈3mm) surface burns where the Kambo goes. They fade within a few weeks, sometimes leaving a light scar. Many people come to love them: a reminder of their own strength.
How long does the ceremony last?
4 to 6 hours in total. Intake and preparation take about an hour, the active phase 20 to 40 minutes, then 2 to 3 hours of integration, drinking, eating and rest. Plan to stay off your phone and not drive yourself straight afterwards.
How should I prepare?
Inner preparation: a good time to reflect on your intention. Why do you feel called to the frog? What are you ready to let go of, and what would you like to invite in? Know that the frog is the great revealer: whatever is buried deep tends to come up.
Around the ceremony: no fasting in the 7 days before or after Kambo. No colonics, enemas, water based detox, liver flushes or sweat lodge in the 3 days before or after. No recreational drugs for at least 7 days before and after (longer for some substances), and no alcohol in the 24 hours before and after. The cleaner you eat, the easier it usually goes: lots of greens and fruit beats fast food. Some tribes avoid sugar and tobacco and keep sexual abstinence for 3 weeks before and after the ceremony; that is an option, not a rule. Big coffee drinker? Stop 5 days before; it prevents headaches during and after the ceremony.
12 hours before: no more food.
The morning itself: no coffee or caffeinated tea, and don’t drink much. One cup of hot tea (no honey) and small sips of water is enough. From 2 hours before you stop drinking altogether. Just before the Kambo you drink up to 2 liters of water; that is why you drink little beforehand, because too much fluid can upset your electrolyte balance (dangerously low sodium, hyponatremia).
What to wear and bring: loose, comfortable clothes in layers, because your temperature can swing, and a spare outfit in case you sweat a lot. Take off tight jewelry; parts of your body can swell. Bring something to tie up long hair. Your own shawl or blanket is welcome, though I have them too. If you have asthma, bring your inhaler; if you have diabetes, your insulin, test strips and extra food. And if you like, something of value to you for the altar.
On your period? Kambo can make your flow heavier for 24 to 36 hours and sometimes cause temporary cramps. Tell me, and I’ll prepare a hot water bottle for you. Unsure about anything? Ask me before the ceremony.
How often can I do Kambo?
There are at least 7 days between two ceremonies. The Warrior treatment is three ceremonies within one moon cycle (28 days). After that I advise most people to wait at least 3 months before a next ceremony.
Will I be safe?
I work to IAKP standards: a full medical intake, monitoring on site throughout the ceremony, a set hydration protocol and emergency procedures. If anything in your medical history suggests it isn’t safe, I say no. That has happened, and I don’t apologize for it.
What about Kambo and plant medicine retreats elsewhere?
I offer Kambo only in my own private setting. I don’t add Kambo to other people’s ayahuasca or psilocybin retreats; that is too much at once, and I have lineage commitments about how this medicine is held.
What exactly is in Kambo?
The secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor contains over 24 identified peptides, along with steroids, alkaloids and proteins. Pharmaceutical companies study them with great interest. And while Kambo is often called a ‘poison’, studies point to very low toxicity for mammals.
Peptides are your body’s messengers; insulin, oxytocin and endorphins are peptides too. A few found in Kambo: dermorphins and deltorphins bind to your opioid receptors and are strongly pain relieving, without showing dependency. Dermaseptins break down bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa in studies. Phyllomedusin plays a part in releasing serotonin and dopamine and makes your intestines contract; it contributes to the purge. Phyllokinin widens your blood vessels and lowers your blood pressure quickly, which can cause temporary fainting in some people. Phyllocaerulein stimulates your digestion and gallbladder and also lowers blood pressure. Sauvagine acts on your stress hormones and can raise your heart rate.
That is what research shows, not a promise: how Kambo works for you is personal.
How are the frogs treated?
The frogs live in the Upper Amazon, and they stay there; they have no natural predators. The tribes sing their mating songs, and the frogs climb down from trees 30 to 40 meters tall. I get my Kambo from a trusted source: the International Association of Kambo Practitioners (IAKP). They make sure the frogs are treated with love and care, and that the money goes to the tribes.
Can you come to my home?
Yes. A few things matter then. You have the house to yourself, so no one can distract you. There are no animals or pets in the ceremony space. There is a toilet close by, on the same floor. The fire alarms can be turned off, because I use smoke and smudging. There is enough space to sit and lie down, with your own (yoga) mat or a small mattress; I sit next to you.
Have some nourishing food you love at home, so I can make you something afterwards: soup, salad or fruit with oats. And if you like, something of value to you for the altar.
Can I plan anything after the ceremony?
Better not. Even if you feel great and full of energy, rest is best. Make little to no plans for the rest of your day.
Is Kambo legal?
Yes, Kambo is legal in most parts of the world.
How to book
It starts with a free 20 minute discovery call. We talk through your medical history, your reasons and whether this fits you right now. If it doesn’t, I’ll tell you honestly. Your booking is only confirmed after that; I send the booking link and intake form personally.
Frog medicine asks for respect: from me, from you and from the lineage we stand in. Kambo is not a quick fix; for the right person, it can be a powerful beginning.