Kambo sticks: a remarkable ethnobotanical collector's item
Kambo sticks are flat wooden sticks coated with the dried secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor tree frog. This striking green amphibian lives high in the canopy of the Amazon rainforest and produces a peptide-rich secretion as a natural defence mechanism. Indigenous tribes such as the Matsés, Katukina and Yawanawá have been collecting this secretion in a traditional manner for generations, without harming the frog.
The kambo sticks offered by Avalon Magic Plants are fresh and sourced directly from South America. For collectors of ethnobotanical objects, they represent a fascinating item that brings the rich traditions of the Amazon region to life.
Phyllomedusa bicolor and its secretion
Phyllomedusa bicolor, also known as the giant leaf frog or giant monkey frog, can grow up to 10 centimetres in length. Behind the eyes are two prominent glands that produce a cocktail of bioactive peptides. Scientific research has identified several compounds in this secretion, including dermorphin, deltorphin, phyllocaerulein, phyllokinin and sauvagine. Italian pharmacologists first described these peptides in the 1980s.
The secretion is traditionally collected by gently restraining the frog and scraping the skin excretion onto wooden sticks. After collection, the frog is released unharmed back into the rainforest. This makes it a sustainable practice that has been part of Amazonian culture for centuries.
Cultural background and traditional use
In the cultures of several Amazonian peoples, kambo sticks hold an important ceremonial role. The Matsés tribe of Peru is known for using the secretion during hunting rituals. Among the Katukina and Kaxinawá, kambo plays a part in purification ceremonies. Knowledge about collecting and preparing kambo is passed down orally from master to apprentice, a tradition that lives on from generation to generation.
The word "kambo" is the Matsés name for both the frog and its secretion. The Portuguese term "sapo" (toad) is also widely used, although Phyllomedusa bicolor is strictly a frog rather than a toad. In scientific literature, the secretion is also referred to as "vacina da floresta" (vaccine of the forest).
What you receive
Each kambo stick contains a layer of dried secretion applied to the wood in the traditional manner. The sticks are supplied without a separate wooden applicator stick. This product is intended solely as an ethnobotanical collector's item and is not suitable for consumption.
Important information and safety notice
Kambo secretion contains potent bioactive peptides that can cause serious physiological reactions upon contact with the skin or bloodstream, including tachycardia, nausea, vomiting and blood pressure fluctuations. Serious adverse effects have been documented in scientific literature, including kidney damage and cardiac complications. In Australia, kambo has been classified as a schedule-10 poison and is prohibited for sale and use.
This product is not a medicine and is sold exclusively as an ethnobotanical collector's item. Always consult a healthcare professional before coming into contact with bioactive substances. Avalon Magic Plants accepts no responsibility for improper use of this product.
Why order from Avalon Magic Plants
Avalon Magic Plants has been supplying a wide range of ethnobotanical products since 2009 and has over 15 years of experience importing Amazonian products. Our kambo sticks come from trusted, certified suppliers who harvest sustainably and ethically. We ship discreetly and quickly throughout Europe from our warehouse in Helmond, the Netherlands.
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