Episode #205: Plant Medicine (Kambo) for Mental and Physical Health with Caitlin Thompson
Would you apply secretion from a frog’s skin on your own skin if it improved your mental health?
In this episode of the Biohacking Superhuman Performance podcast, we're joined by Caitlin Thompson as she shares her personal transition to Kambo practitioner, revealing a profound chapter in her life where the battle with chronic illness steered her toward the unexpected healing powers of this traditional ritual. Her tale is one of resilience, bridging the gap between rigorous scientific analysis and the depths of spiritual practice.
Caitlin helps us to understand the nuances of a Kambo ceremony, from its rigorous participant screening to its diverse after-effects. With a neurobiologist's precision and a healer's intuition, she illustrates the importance of respecting the body's response to the frog secretion and the profound emotional release it can catalyze. Her insights into the symbiotic relationship between Kambo, ayahuasca, and other plant medicines reveal a broader, integrative approach to emotional healing and chronic conditions.
Finally, Caitlin sheds light on the exciting research surrounding Kambo's potential in mental health and chronic pain management.
Caitlin’s background is in neurobiology, with emphasis in mood disorders and autoimmune conditions. In pursuit of her own health, Caitlin has studied nutritional neuroscience and helps people conquer their chronic health struggles, autoimmune and psychiatric conditions through diet, nutraceuticals and other healing modalities (such as Kambo). Caitlin is also an independent scientific researcher and is currently conducting the first human kambo research in the field. Her past research has focused on psychedelic treatments for autoimmune conditions.
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What we discuss:
(00:02) - Exploring the Benefits of Kambo Therapy
(10:07) - Indigenous Use and Ceremonial Adaptations
(16:55) - Effects of Kambo and Ayahuasca
(27:33) - Ayahuasca and Kambo Therapy Benefits
(38:20) - Kambo for Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Pain
(47:32) - Choose Safe, Reliable Kambo Practitioner
(57:41) - Researching Medicine Frog for Knowledge
Key takeaways:
Kambo is a traditional Amazonian healing ritual that involves the use of the secretion from the skin of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). The frog's secretion contains a potent combination of bioactive peptides, including dermorphin and deltorphin, which have powerful physiological effects. The ceremony typically involves a trained practitioner applying small burns or superficial wounds to the skin and then applying the kambo secretion to these points. The peptides in the secretion are believed to enter the bloodstream and induce various effects on the body.
The benefits of Kambo therapy include detoxification, increased energy, improved mood, and enhanced physical and mental well-being. It also has spiritual and emotional cleansing properties.
It is important to select a well-trained and knowledgeable Kambo practitioner due to the powerful nature of the therapy. The individuality of each participant's experience and the importance of respecting their unique physiological and emotional responses during and after the therapy are important factors to consider. All in all, healing through Kambo is not a one-size-fits-all process but rather should be tailored to each individual's needs and circumstances.