Ethics

The Ethics of Kambo: Partnering with Indigenous Tribes & Protecting Nature

As Kambo grows in popularity across the world, people are encouraged to question the ethics surrounding its use, sourcing and sustainability. Although Kambo has been used for centuries by tribal communities, the West is only recently catching on to its healing potential. 

We are a part of an organization called Tribal Detox, a supportive community of Kambo and healing practitioners across the globe who have taken serious interest in Kambo’s healing potential. Some of us serve the medicine publicly, while others use it to heal themselves, and family members.

We partner directly with the Cocama tribes in Peru, ethically sourcing Kambo, to ensure they are fairly compensated for their time, knowledge and contributions. By creating direct partnerships with them, we support their economic well-being and cultural practices.

In terms of cultural preservation, indigenous tribes have always viewed Kambo as a blend of medicine and ritual. Kambo is not just  a physical remedy; it is a holy tool used in spiritual and healing ceremonies. Ethical Kambo practitioners honor these traditions by maintaining the respect of the ritual, recognizing its divine significance, and adhering to holding space with deep reverence. 

Hands of two people holding a green tree frog, with a close-up focus on the frog's body.

In full transparency, as Kambo’s reach continues to grow, there is concern for future potential of over-harvesting and harming the frog’s habitat, which new guidelines would address, and why it’s vital to ask practitioners about their Kambo sourcing, as well as their relationship with the tribes. It’s important that the frogs are treated with respect and released unharmed and back to their natural habitat, respecting nature and the balance of the ecosystem.

“The harvesting of Kambo, when done responsibly, is sustainable. Frogs are released unharmed after their secretions are collected. This method offers an eco-friendly approach to medicine, especially when contrasted with synthetic drugs that often require energy-intensive processes and produce waste.” - Jason Fellows, founder of Tribal Detox

The ethical use of Kambo goes hand in hand with protecting the frogs and their habitats. The well-being of the Giant tree frog and the balance of the ecosystem are central to maintaining sustainability of Kambo practices.

  • After the Kambo secretion is harvested, the frogs are safely returned to their natural habitat. Indigenous handlers, experienced in working with the frogs, ensure that no harm comes to them during the process. The practice of releasing them back into the wild ensures their ongoing health and survival.

  • The secretion naturally acts as a defense mechanism for the frog, protecting it from predators in the wild. Ethical harvesters ensure that a portion of the Kambo remains on the frog’s back, so the frog retains its natural protection when reintroduced into its environment.

  • The health of the Amazon rainforest is vital to the survival of the Kambo frog and countless other species. Ethical Kambo practitioners support sustainable harvesting methods that avoid over-extraction and disruption of the ecosystem, ensuring that both the frog populations and the environment remain balanced and thriving.