“Kambô” frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor): use in folk medicine and potential health risks

Is voluntary envenomation from the kambô ritual therapeutic or toxic?

“…One of these activities is kambô, or sapo, an Bemerging ritualî n the West where toxins produced by a giant South American leaf frog are applied to areas of recently burnt skin. Kambô uses resin from Phyllomedusa bicolor, one of the largest tree frogs in the Amazon, which is collected over several days by gently scraping secretions from the legs and back with a stick [10,11]. The kambô ritual is traditionally performed by shamans in order to Bpurify the body^and increase physical and sexual stamina/strength, and also to ward off panama (bad luck).…”

“…These peptides are present in high concentrations in the frog secretions and are absorbed rapidly through the damaged skin resulting in neuroexcitation, vascular smooth muscle relaxation and opiate-like actions [15]. The effects last for approximately 15 min [10]. Unfortunately other effects have included neuropsychiatric manifestations such as confusion, memory loss, lethargy, seizures, psychosis, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and organ damage to the kidneys, pancreas and liver, the latter with hepatitis [14,16,17].…”

“…Unfortunately other effects have included neuropsychiatric manifestations such as confusion, memory loss, lethargy, seizures, psychosis, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and organ damage to the kidneys, pancreas and liver, the latter with hepatitis [14,16,17]. Such side effects tend to occur in areas serviced by non-traditional practitioners [10].…”

“…Kambô has also been associated with sudden death in both South America and in Western countries [10]. For example, in an Italian case a 42-year-old man died within 30 min of applying a kambô stick; it was hypothesized that hypotension and tachycardia due to the vasoreactive effects of the frog toxin could have exacerbated underlying cardiovascular vulnerabilities from coronary artery atherosclerosis and left ventricular hypertrophy [18].…”

“…A problem arising in attempting to assess the safety or danger of this practice is that the numbers of practitioners are unknown and that internet sales are not monitored [20]. Lack of formal training of practitioners may also be an issue that requires addressing as it has been suggested that inexperienced practitioners may incorrectly use the skin secretion of other species of amphibians such as the cane toad Rhinella marina [10]. Finally it has also been suggested that the increasing use of kambô rituals may also have a negative impact upon the population numbers of Phyllomedusa bicolor in their native habitats in the forests of Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, the Guianas, Colombia and Venezuela [5,10].…”