Connected to the spirit of the frog: An Internet-based survey on Kambô, the secretion of the Amazonian Giant Maki Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor): Motivations for use, settings and subjective experiences

Background/aim: Kambô is a name for the secretion of the Giant Maki Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), which has been used by indigenous cultures from the Amazonas basin and has recently become popular in alternative healing circles in Western countries, with a certain overlap with psychedelic self-exploration. Methods: We carried out an online-based survey in English (54.92%) and German investigating motivations for using Kambô, settings in which rituals take place, and subjective experiences during and after the application. Results: Participants (n = 386, mean age: 38.08 years, (standard deviation = 9.95)) were well-educated individuals with an increased lifetime prevalence of the use of ayahuasca (67.88%). A plethora of motivations for using Kambô was reported, including general healing, detoxification and spiritual growth. Acute effects included severe physical reactions and mild psychoactive effects, most surprisingly, the feeling of being connected to the frog’s spirit (41.97%), whereas predominantly positive persisting psychological effects were reported. Few participants reported long-lasting physical (2.85%) or mental (1.81%) health problems which they attributed to Kambô. Of the participants, 87.31% reported an increase in personal well-being or life satisfaction, and 64.26% considered Kambô to have been at least of ‘very much’ spiritual significance for their lives. Conclusions: The majority of users claimed beneficial effects including more health-orientated behaviors, whereas only very few participants complained about new health problems which they ascribed to Kambô. In retrospect, Kambô was given a high personal and spiritual significance by many participants. Additional research is needed to determine in how far reported effects are modulated by setting and subjective expectations.


What is your age?
… years 2. What is your gender?
Female Male Other 3. In which country do you live?
Free text 4. Please indicate your current occupational status Employee Freelancer Unemployed Student (University) Student (Secondary School) Apprentice Retiree 5. Please indicate your total years of education (incl. secondary school, university, etc.) … years 6. How old were you when you first received a Kambô treatment? … years 7. Please indicate how many times you have received Kambô approximately 1x 2-4x 5-9x 10-19x 20-35x more than 35x

Please indicate in which setting you have received Kambô and how often (multiple answers possible)
At home At a friend's place / private space With a natural health professional / healer At a healing place / temple In nature In the Amazon rainforest At a spiritual festival / healing festival Within ceremony with ayahuasca or other psychedelic ritual plants (e.g. peyote, San Pedro, mushrooms, etc.) Others: 9. How long ago was your last Kambô treatment?
Never used since then Less frequent since then More frequent since then Unchanged since the Kambô treatment(s) I don't have any experience with these substances 13. Do you feel that Kambô induces an altered state of consciousness? 24. How long ago was this session (the one that you remember best or in retrospect was especially meaningful to you)? Less than 1 week ago 1 week or more ago 1 month or more ago 1 year or more ago 5 years or more ago 25. How many "dots" of frog secretion were applied in this Kambô session (the one you remember best or in retrospect was especially meaningful to you)? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

don't remember IN THE FOLLOWING -UNTIL QUESTION 66 -PLEASE FOCUS ON THE OVERALL EFFECTS THAT KAMBÔ HAS HAD ON YOUR LIFE 39. Which positive longer-term effects has Kambô had for you from your personal viewpoint? (multiple answers possible)
Improvement of physical health Improvement of mental clarity Improvement of emotional health Improvement of general well-being Improvement of physical issues / physical functions (e.g. digestion, pain, flexibility, decrease of skin disease, etc.) Improvement of performance Improvement of spiritual awareness / Increase of spiritual growth I didn´t notice any positive longer-term effects 1 = Not at all 101 = Very much The experience has changed your philosophy of life positively Your appreciation for life has increased You have a greater sense of inner authority in your life Your life has more meaning You have more enthusiasm for life in general You are a more authentic person You have more goodnatured humor / playfulness / lightness You have more patience / ability to tolerate frustration You have more optimism Your self-confidence / self-assurance has increased Feelings of depression have decreased Feelings of anxiety have decreased You have more inner peace (i.e. centeredness, serenity, calmness) You have a more positive relationship with others Your negative expression of anger (e.g. ridicule, outward expression of irritability toward others) has decreased. Your behavior has changed in ways you would consider positive since the experience. 1 = none, not at all 2 = so slight, cannot decide 3 = slight 4 = moderate 5 = strong 6 = extreme 40. Which others positive longer-term effects has Kambô had for you from your personal viewpoint?
Free text 41. In the days after the Kambô treatment, did any previously non-existing health issues emerge?
Yes No I don't know 42. Please indicate these new physical problems.
Free text 43. For how long did you perceive these physical problems?
Less than 7 days 7-30 days More than 1 month 44. Were these physical problems so strong and long-lasting that you saw a doctor?
Yes No 45. In the days after the Kambô treatment, did any previously existing health issues become more severe, or did they re-emerge? Yes No I don't know 46. Please indicate these well-known physical problems.
Free text 47. For how long did you perceive these well-known physical problems?
Less than 7 days 7-30 days More than 1 month 48. Where these physical problems so strong and long-lasting that you saw a doctor?
Yes No 49. In the days after the Kambô treatment, did you experience the emergence of any new mental or emotional problems? Yes No I don't know 50. Please indicate these new mental or emotional problems.
Free text 51. For how long did you perceive these new mental or emotional problems?
Less than 7 days 7-30 days More than 1 month 52. Were these mental or emotional problems so strong and long-lasting that you saw a doctor?
Yes No 53. In the days after the Kambô treatment, was there a recurrence of any well-known mental or emotional issues? Yes No I don't know 54. Please indicate these new mental or emotional problems.
Free text 55. For how long did you perceive these mental or emotional problems?
Less than 7 days 7-30 days More than 1 month 56. Where these mental or emotional problems so strong and long-lasting that you saw a doctor?
Yes No 57. Do you feel that Kambô has ever led to a long-lasting deterioration of your physical health? Yes