Intro to Peptides
The healing effects of Kambo come from the bioactive peptides and neuropeptides found in the secretion of the Phyllomedusa frog. These peptides interact with the human body to promote health and support physiological functions.
Kambo peptides have been studied for their effects on multiple systems, including:
Gastrointestinal system: anti-obesity and satiety peptides
Cardiovascular system: antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and cholesterol-lowering peptides
Immune system: antimicrobial and immune-modulatory peptides
Nervous system: opioid peptides with neuroactive properties
These bioactive compounds are responsible for the transformative effects reported by Kambo practitioners and clients.
Why supplement with Kambo peptides?
As we age, our bodies naturally lose cellular efficiency, impacting overall vitality. Peptides are critical for cellular function and longevity, and Kambo provides a natural source of these bioactive molecules.
There are over 7,000 naturally occurring peptides in the human body.
Over time, peptide levels decline, which can lead cells to enter an “arrested” state.
Kambo peptides help restore cellular efficiency, promoting immune strength, anti-aging effects, and overall well-being.
By supporting the immune system, Kambo can help the body respond more efficiently to viruses, illness, and disease, making it especially relevant during times like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Has there been any research on Kambo?
There are studies that have been done on Kambo since the first samples were brought into the U.S. by the award-winning investigative journalist, Peter Gorman and anthropologist, Katharine Milton. Here are a few of those studies:
Antitumor and Angiostatic Activities of the Antimicrobial Peptide Dermaseptin B2
Deltorphins: a family of naturally occurring peptides with high affinity and selectivity for delta opioid binding sites
Medusins: A new class of antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of phyllomedusine frogs
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300908413000461
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have discovered proteins in frog skins which could be used to treat cancer, diabetes, stroke and transplant patients by regulating the growth of blood vessels.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606181137.htm
Antimicrobial peptides from Phyllomedusa frogs:
from biomolecular diversity to potential nanotechnologic medical applications
http://www.kamboclear.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Antimicrobial-Peptides-From-Kambo.pdf
Frog Peptides Block HIV In Lab Study
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050930080923.htm
BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES IN KAMBO:
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Produces contraction at the smooth muscle level and increases secretions of the entire gastrointestinal tract such as the salivary glands, stomach, small and large intestine, pancreas and gallbladder. These peptides work to induce the deep purge that takes place in a Kambo session.
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Both are potent vasodilators, increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for their own access, as well as for that of other active peptides. They also have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
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These peptides have chains of 40 amino acids with myotropic properties on the smooth muscles, producing a contraction of the colon and urinary bladder. They produce a drop in blood pressure accompanied by tachycardia. They stimulate the adrenal cortex and pituitary gland, contributing to greater sensory perception and increased resistance. Both peptides possess a great analgesic power, contributing to the increase of physical strength, the capacity to confront physical pain, stress, disease, and diminish the symptoms of fatigue. In the medical field, this family of peptides contributes to improved digestion and has analgesic properties against pain in the renal colic, pain due to peripheral vascular insufficiency and tumor pain.
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Small peptides composed of 7 amino acids. They are selective agonists of the opiate receptors, 4000 times more potent than morphine and 40 times more potent than the endogenous endorphins.
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These work on the human body through the adenosine receptors, a fundamental component throughout all human cellular fuel. These receptors may offer a target for the treatment of depression, stroke, and cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s.
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These peptides are part of a broad spectrum of antimicrobial peptides involved in the frog’s defence against microbial invasion. These are the first vertebrate peptides that show lethal effects against filamentous fungi responsible for severe opportunistic infections which accompany immunodeficiency syndrome and the use of immunosuppressive agents. They also show lethal effects against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and protozoa.
Several years of research carried out at the University of Paris have shown that peptides Dermaseptin B2 and B3 are effective in killing certain types of cancer cells. A researcher at Queens University in Belfast won a prestigious award for his ground-breaking work with cancer and Kambo. It’s action mechanism is produced by inhibiting the angiogenesis of tumor cells with selective cytotoxicity for these cells.
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These peptides have similar properties and structure to human bradykinin. They are hypotensive, and due to producing vasodilation, they support contraction of the non-vascular smooth muscle, increase vascular permeability, and are related to the mechanism of inflammatory pain.
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These peptides stimulate the secretion of hydrochloric acid by acting on the G cells of the stomach. They also increase pancreatic secretion, intestinal myoelectric activity, and smooth muscle contractility.
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They stimulate gastric, bile, and pancreatic secretions, and certain smooth muscles. They could be used in the paralytic ileus and as a diagnostic medium in pancreatic dysfunction.
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These are neuropeptides consisting of 4-14 amino acids, which are opening up new perspectives on how the human brain works.
Antimicrobial and Antiviral effects
Many of the bioactive peptides in Kambo exhibit powerful antimicrobial and antiviral effects. In the frog, these peptides serve as a natural defense mechanism, protecting the skin from parasitic fungi and microbes in the jungle environment.
Scientific research suggests that several of these peptides may be effective in combating drug-resistant bacteria and viruses, making them particularly relevant for individuals with weakened immune systems, including those with immunodeficiency disorders or chronic health challenges.
The Western World’s intro to Kambo
Kambo was introduced to the Western scientific community in the 1980s when anthropologist Katharine Milton and journalist Peter Gorman studied tribes in Peru and Brazil that practiced traditional Kambo rituals. They provided samples to biochemists who conducted the first analyses of the biochemical composition of Kambo secretion.
One notable researcher, Vittorio Erspamer of the University of Rome—famed for discovering serotonin—dedicated much of his work to studying peptides. He recognized that Kambo might contain undiscovered bioactive compoundswith potential medical applications.
Further significant research in the 1990s was conducted by John Daly and his team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S., where they identified Adenoregulin, an antimicrobial peptide in Kambo with potential therapeutic effects.
Study on Adenoregulin and antimicrobial peptides by John Daly
The Future of Kambo
Over 70 medical patents have been filed for compounds isolated from Kambo, highlighting the scientific interest and potential applications in medicine. Active research continues to isolate and study additional peptides for their potential therapeutic and health-promoting effects.
Vittorio Erspamer described Kambo as: “A fantastic chemical cocktail with potential medical applications unequalled by any other amphibian.”
While science continues to explore these bioactive compounds, it represents only the tip of the iceberg. Traditional tribes have cultivated wisdom about Kambo over thousands of years, and its ceremonial use reflects deep knowledge of healing and well-being that modern research is only beginning to understand.
Want to experience the science-backed benefits of Kambo firsthand?