Kambo · Science
A curated collection of international, peer-reviewed literature on Kambo and the secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor. We link to the original sources, both the supportive and the critical work.
Phyllomedusa bicolor. Photo: courtesy of Nicole Horn.
Our principle: We show the full body of research, including case reports on risks and severe incidents. Working safely starts with knowing and taking the dangers seriously. That's exactly why they're here.
Major reviews summarizing the current state of research.
Nogueira et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology
The most comprehensive overview available: the frog's biology, peptides, traditional use, and medical aspects in a single article.
Thompson & Williams · Drug Science, Policy and Law
Categorizes the physical effects of each individual peptide in humans and shows where solid data is still missing.
Standardized surveys on experience, motivation, and well-being.
Majić, Sauter, Bermpohl, Schmidt · Journal of Psychopharmacology
Large-scale user survey on motives, setting, and subjective experience. 87.3% reported increased well-being. The same study also reports: pre-existing mental health problems worsened in 6.7%, 4.4% reported newly occurring ones, and 1.8% a lasting mental deterioration, including two psychoses and one case of suicidality.
Schmidt et al. · Scientific Reports (Nature)
Uses standardized questionnaires to examine the acute and lingering psychological effects of a Kambo session.
Jan M. Keppel Hesselink
Describes the ritual, its spread in the West, and the risks perceived by users.
The peptides in the secretion and their researched mechanisms of action. Some of this peptide research comes from closely related Phyllomedusa species, marked here as related species.
Simplified overview. Effects are drawn mainly from lab and animal studies; not all have been confirmed in humans during Kambo use.
Negri et al. · PNAS
A classic study directly on the Kambo frog: dermorphin acts with high selectivity on the µ-opioid receptor, a potent pain suppressant in animal models.
van Zoggel et al. · PLOS One
Dermaseptin B2 from P. bicolor inhibits the growth of prostate tumor cells and the formation of new blood vessels in animal models.
Couty et al. · PLOS One
Examines how Dermaseptin B2 attacks tumor cells, namely via the cell surface rather than the classic apoptosis pathway.
Peer-reviewed · PubMed
Shows how the frog peptide can be directed specifically at tumor cells, an approach for new cancer therapies.
Conlon et al. · Amino Acids (Springer)
Overview of the therapeutic potential of peptides from frog skin, including dermaseptins.
Jan M. Keppel Hesselink
Overview of the bioactive peptides (including dermorphin, deltorphin, caerulein) and their therapeutic potential.
Jan M. Keppel Hesselink
Discusses which physical reactions are desired effects and which are genuine side effects.
Anastasi et al. · P. sauvagei
Foundational work on the caerulein-like peptide: effects on the gastrointestinal tract, bile, and blood pressure.
Peer-reviewed · P. hypochondrialis
Characterizes a sauvagine-related peptide and its effect on smooth muscle.
Case reports and poisoning analyses. A selection; the full list of case reports known to us is in the study protocol, section 5 and the reference list. Every line is an argument for careful screening and support.
Roy et al.
Describes a psychosis in a woman who had increased from once a month to up to nine applications a month. No relevant psychiatric history beforehand.
Lesson for practice: Frequency of use is a risk in itself. Be particularly careful with pre-existing mental illness and with short intervals.
Sacco et al.
Collects and analyzes documented cases of acute poisoning.
Lesson for practice: Never increase dose or number of points without knowing the person's reaction and history.
Sacco et al.
Examines deaths occurring in temporal connection with Kambo.
Lesson for practice: Screening for cardiac and pre-existing conditions is not optional.
Case Report
Severe hyponatremia caused by the combination of vomiting and excessive water intake.
Lesson for practice: Strictly limit fluid intake. Overhydration is the most common cause of serious incidents.
Toxicology Communications
Documents typical physical reactions and their relationship to dose.
Toxicon
A single case of an autoimmune reaction following repeated use; full recovery after treatment.
Case Reports in Critical Care
Esophageal rupture caused by forceful vomiting, a risk of the pronounced retching involved.
Case Report
A rare neurological reaction following a Kambo application.
Case Report
Prolonged toxicity following a Kambo ritual.
Alongside the international literature, we link here to the independent scientific work of the researchers accompanying this project, once released for publication. We do not host any texts ourselves, we always lead to the original source.
The complete, versioned protocol of our prospective long-term field observation: design, endpoints, safety, data protection, ethics and limitations, open to read.
Dagmar Civišová · Religio: Revue pro religionistiku
Field research among the Matsés in the Peruvian Amazon (2018, 2023, 2024). Shows how Kambo, called Acaté there, is embedded in the everyday life and spirituality of the people from whom the Western practice originates.
If you have written a thesis, a doctoral dissertation or a study on Kambo, we will include it here, with correct citation and a link to the original source. Your work becomes visible and part of a growing picture.
This collection serves scientific information purposes and is continually expanded. It does not replace medical advice. All papers can be viewed in their original form with the respective publishers and databases; we link exclusively to original sources and use no affiliate or advertising links.
Kambo Research