Kambo Preparation + Expectations
How to Prepare
Kambo is a very safe remedy for the majority of people to receive. It is normal to be nervous prior to your ceremony. I believe this is due to combination of kambo’s innate discomfort, the change it can induce, and because it is a different approach to wellness than we are accustomed to.
Physical Preparation
It is required to fast 8-10 hours prior to sitting with kambo. Most ceremonies are scheduled in the morning as a result, so most people just refrain from eating after dinner. If you have a late afternoon or evening ceremony, you can have a light breakfast of some fruit or a smoothie. No food after 10 AM.
The morning of ceremony, please avoid drinking any liquids (a small glass of water upon waking is fine). This is due to safety precautions surrounding the amount of water that is consumed during ceremony. Please dress in layers with clothing that allows access to different parts of the body, and do not wear contacts as I typically use sananga (Amazonian eyedrops) alongside kambo.
MEDICATIONS & SUPPLEMENTS
Be sure to report any medications or herbal supplements you take. Some herbs or medicines may need to be avoided for a couple of days prior to treatment. Some medications/supplements are contraindicated and may have a risk for interactions with the Kambo. Do not take any supplements or medications unless medically necessary the day of the ceremony. You can resume your regular medication/supplement regime after the session.
DIET
I recommend to adopt a clean, whole food diet to reduce any toxic burden on the body 3 days prior to ceremony. Avoid alcohol, dairy, sugar, spicy food, and any recreational drugs. Eat whole, nourishing, preferably organic food before and after to best support your body in its detox process. There is no traditional “Dieta” with Kambo. Please hydrate in the days prior to ceremony, and only fast within the recommended 8-10 hours prior.
Your kambo ceremony may be the catalyst of deep change. Some people decide to sit with kambo for physical reasons, while others decide to sit with kambo for mental or spiritual reasons. Regardless of your reasoning, it can be helpful to set an intention prior to ceremony, and to ground down in your sense of self.
Journaling, spending time in nature, stretching, avoiding social media, and creating a loose image of what you would like to receive from your ceremony can all be things that help with nerves and to get the most out of your experience. As beings who live life in accordance with our own versions of reality, changes in our inner world often reflect in our outer world. It is normal to have anxiety, fear, and outdated patterns rear their heads prior to ceremony. I find it most helpful to acknowledge these upsets and to look at what may be their underlying cause.
To get the most out of your experience, I recommend setting up a coaching session to go deep and get specific with your intention. I also recommend this if pre-existing nerves are of issue to you. Coaching packages are available.
Mental Preparation
During Ceremony
Kambo is known for its purgative effects. Nausea is unavoidable during your kambo experience, and purging usually is, too. You may also experience swelling of the lips, numbness or tingling, and difficult moving fingers or feet. Pressure though-out the body, pounding in the head and chest, and change in heart-rate can also be expected. Emotional releases are also common. All of these sensations are relatively short-lived.
If it is your first time with kambo, I will administer a test point first to gauge reaction and to align you to its effects. The frog secretion can be felt almost immediately as tingling in the neck and head or as a “jungle drum-beat” in the chest. The rest of the kambo is applied shortly after.
Kambo typically sits on the body for about 20 minutes, and is is usually most uncomfortable for 5-10 minutes surrounding the first purge. Kambo ebbs and flows with its discomfort. Steady breath and conscious awareness towards its sensations can be great allies in riding the wave.
Kambo is applied subdermally into the lymph. To achieve this, we burn off the first layer of the skin in a process called “opening the gates”. This is very gentle and no blood is involved. To do this, I use an incense stick, as I find it burns more evenly and less painfully than a vine, which some practitioners use.
The amount of gates you receive is equivalent to the amount of points of kambo you will receive. We will decide how many points you will be receiving during your ceremony, as well as where the points will be placed (traditionally on the arm or leg, on chakra points, or on meridian points).
After ceremony, we apply a sap called “Dragon’s Blood” to the gates. This provides a natural adhesive bandage over the wound and will keep it clean until the skin underneath it has healed.
Application
Kambo can be a great
ally and catalyst for self-discovery & growth.
Post Ceremony
The effects of kambo largely begin to subside after about 20 minutes, or when the points are removed. After the points are removed, people typically rest for ~20 minutes while their energy levels are restored. During this time, some people fall into a restful sleep, other times they receive insights about their lives or experience, and sometimes they have a final purge. After you rest, it will be time to leave and it is safe to drive. It can be helpful to bring a piece of fruit or some coconut water to ground and restore electrolytes prior to leaving. Kambo likes food, so make sure to eat a healthy, clean, grounding meal following ceremony.
People react to kambo in many different ways. Immediately following ceremony, sometimes people like to take the day to rest as energy levels restore. Other times, people have increased physical stamina and strength. It is also common to be more emotional than usual throughout the day. I recommend my clients take the day to themselves following ceremony to be with whatever reaction they experience.
In the days to follow, you may have any of these reactions: increased mental clarity, feelings of groundedness, increased vitality, uplifted mood, awareness around the authentic self, release of emotional baggage, boosted immune system, decreased stress and fatigue, general feelings of lightness, decreased symptoms from physical ailments, sense of peace and acceptance, greater awareness around diet and habits… the list goes on and on!
Some people may experience the Herxheimer effect after sitting with kambo, or a “flare-up” of symptoms before they experience the positive effects of kambo. This typically subsides after a few days. If a person experiences strong “herxing”, I recommend sitting with kambo again soon to bring the detox deeper.
It is genuinely recommended people sit with kambo more than once.
Kambo’s effects are cumulative
While many people receive benefits from one kambo ceremony, it is generally recommended that people sit with kambo three times within a short period of time, such as a moon cycle (28-day window) to catapult the healing journey.
This brings the physical effects of the detox into a very deep layer, and provides unrivaled support in breaking down outdated patterns and healing on the emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels. This is called an "inoculation", and can be done 3 days in a row or 3 times spaced out to allow for integration and scheduling. With each ceremony, kambo’s detoxing effects work into deeper layers of the physical and emotional bodies.
Discounts are applied for inoculations.
Pricing
I take a nonrefundable deposit at the time of booking ($50 for Community Kambo group events, $80 for private ceremonies, and full payment of $125 for Kambo Clinic) to affirm commitment to kambo (& yourself!). This can be transferred once with a 72-hour notice. Any cancellations within 24 hours require a full payment of ceremony prior to rescheduling.
My prices slightly fluctuate with my availability. It is not unusual for my weekends to be booked 1-2 months in advance. Contact me to inquire about current pricing, and subscribe to my newsletter/follow me on social media to see updates on group ceremonies, events, and retreats.
Kambo is near and dear to my heart. I look forward to having the opportunity to serve you, and hope you get as much out of your experience with this sacred remedy as I have.
In Loving Gratitude,
Jetta
Kambo Ceremony (Sliding Scale)
1:1 sessions $300-$500
Groups of 2 $275-$325 per person
Groups of 3 $250-$300 per person
Community Kambo events $200
Kambo Clinic (informal container) $125
Kambo Inoculation (3 sits in 28 days)
Recommended. Third sit is discounted $25.
Kambo 3x3 (3 times in 3 hours)
Only recommended for people who have a strong relationship with kambo at my discretion. Slide $875-$1175 for 1:1
$800-$950 for groups of 2
$700-$875 groups of 3.
Pre-Ceremony Coaching Call
Set your intention, set up a trajectory for lifestyle changes, and prepare for ceremony. $175 per session.
Add Bodywork Session
Movement-focused session rooted in South & East Asian massage modalities. Great for clearing any remaining energy from ceremony. $160 for 1 hour, $220 for 1.5 hour
Post Ceremony Coaching Call
Get the most out of your ceremony. Receive lasting support from your kambo experience and help with integration. $175 per session.