Kambo is a secretion from a green tree frog, Phyllomedusa Bicolor, which lives in the upper areas of the Amazon Rainforest. It has no natural predators – even snakes spit it back out if they swallow them.
They are found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. The IUCN database lists them in the ‘Least Concern’ category in view of their wide distribution and large population.
Kambo is completely legal everywhere in the world. The only restriction that exists is in Brazil where it is forbidden to advertise or market Kambo in order to restrict biopiracy.
A Kaxinawá legend tells that the Indians of the tribe were very ill and their medicine man (Pajé) had done everything that was possible to cure them. Under the effect of sacred plant medicines, he entered the forest, were he received a visit from the Grandmother. She brought in her hands a frog, from which she took a white secretion, and taught the Pajé how to apply it. Returning to the tribe and following the guidelines that he had received the Pajé was able to cure his brothers. From then on he was known as Pajé Kampu. After his death, his spirit lived on in the frog where it continued its mission to protect the health of those who defend the forest.
The Indians continue to use its secretion to stay active and healthy. The secretion became known as Kambo but in some tribes it is called Sapo, Kampu or Vacina da Floresta. Its usage spread and it is still used widely amongst indigenous people in the Amazon to this day although the rituals vary from tribe to tribe.