An Ancient Tradition of Cleansing and Renewal

Rooted in Tradition. Guided with Experience.

For generations, Kambo has been used by Indigenous peoples of the Amazon as part of traditional cleansing practices intended to promote physical vitality, resilience, and readiness before hunting and other demanding activities. Today, many individuals seek Kambo as part of a broader wellness journey, approaching the experience with intentions related to physical renewal, emotional resilience, and personal growth.

Experience, Safety, and Clinical Perspective

Kambo is more than a traditional Amazonian practice, it is an experience that deserves thoughtful preparation, skilled guidance, and careful integration. At Plantas Sagradas, each session is approached with respect for the medicine, attention to safety, and an individualized understanding of every participant.

Alan Romano is a certified Kambo Practitioner with nearly three years of experience serving approximately sixty individuals. In addition to his Kambo training, Alan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in trauma-informed psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and integrative mental health care.

This unique combination of traditional practitioner training and clinical experience allows participants to receive not only safe administration of Kambo, but also thoughtful preparation, emotional support, and meaningful integration before and after the experience.

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What Is Kambo?

Kambo is a traditional practice involving the application of carefully prepared secretions from the Giant Monkey Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) to small superficial points placed on the skin. The bioactive peptides contained within the secretion produce an intense but relatively brief physiological response that has been used traditionally for generations within various Indigenous Amazonian cultures.

Although often referred to as "frog medicine," Kambo is not psychedelic and does not produce altered states of consciousness in the way that Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, or Ibogaine may. Instead, the experience is primarily physical, often accompanied by a heightened sense of awareness, emotional presence, and deep bodily engagement.

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Why People Choose Kambo

Individuals seek Kambo for many different reasons. While experiences vary from person to person, many participants report that Kambo supports:

✦ A sense of physical cleansing

✦ Mental clarity and focus

✦ Emotional resilience

✦ Greater connection to the body

✦ Preparation before working with other sacred medicines

✦ Personal growth and self-exploration

Because scientific research on Kambo is still developing, many of these reported effects are based on traditional knowledge and individual experiences rather than established clinical evidence.

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Our Approach

Every Kambo session begins long before the medicine is applied.

Our approach emphasizes thoughtful preparation, informed consent, careful screening, and post-session integration.

Each participant receives:

✦ Comprehensive medical screening

✦ Review of current medications and health history

✦ Individualized preparation guidance

✦ Certified practitioner support throughout the session

✦ Structured post-session integration

✦ Recommendations for hydration and recovery

We believe that Kambo should be approached with the same respect, intentionality, and attention to safety that guide all of our work at Plantas Sagradas.

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Is Kambo Right for Everyone?

No.

Kambo is not appropriate for everyone and should only be received after careful medical screening. Certain medical conditions and medications may make participation unsafe.

Our screening process helps determine whether Kambo is an appropriate option based on each individual's health history and overall retreat plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kambo psychedelic?

No. Kambo is not considered a psychedelic and does not produce the perceptual alterations or changes in consciousness commonly associated with medicines such as Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, or LSD.

At Plantas Sagradas, however, we view Kambo as entheogenic. While it does not induce a psychedelic state, many individuals report that the experience facilitates profound encounters with themselves through intense physical engagement, emotional release, heightened awareness, and deep introspection. In this sense, Kambo may serve as a catalyst for meaningful personal reflection and transformation.

From our perspective, an entheogenic experience is not defined solely by altered perception, but by its capacity to deepen one's relationship with self, foster greater awareness, and invite lasting growth. Like all of the medicines we work with, Kambo is approached with respect, thoughtful preparation, and comprehensive integration, recognizing that the medicine is only one part of a much larger healing process.

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How long does a session last?

The most intense portion of the experience generally lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, although the full session, including preparation and recovery, takes longer.

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Can Kambo be combined with other medicines?

In some retreat programs, Kambo may be incorporated as part of a broader preparation process. Whether Kambo is appropriate depends on the individual's goals, health history, and retreat schedule.

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Is Kambo included in every retreat?

Kambo is included in select retreat programs and may also be available as an individualized offering depending on the participant's retreat plan.

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Begin the Conversation

If you are interested in learning whether Kambo may be an appropriate part of your retreat experience, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team.