What is Kambo Scotland (Pyllomedusa Bicolor) and what is it used for?
- Ilona Dovey
- Jun 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 5
Walking the Path with Kambo: A Sacred Medicine of the Amazonian Jungle (Kambo Scotland)
Hi beloved soul,
As many of you know, I’ve spent the past several years deeply immersed in shamanic healing, sound medicine, drum making and sacred ceremony. But there’s a part of my journey that I haven’t shared much about - until now. It is time. Today, I want to open the door and speak from my heart about one of the most powerful medicines I’ve had the honour to work with: Kambo Scotland.
My Unexpected Introduction to Kambo Scotland medicine
My connection with Kambo began unexpectedly, during a soul-searching trip to the Amazon jungle in 2017. I wasn’t seeking it out - in truth, I didn’t know much about it at the time. But as is often the case with the medicines we are meant to meet, Kambo found me.
That first session was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was gentle, raw and deeply purifying. But beneath the physical challenge lay something profoundly clear and grounding—a sense of being stripped of illusions, of coming home to the truth within my body and spirit. I knew, without a doubt, that I had to walk deeper with this medicine. Something ancient in me remembered it.
Training and Service
In 2019, I returned to the Amazon to complete my Kambo practitioner training. It was one of the most transformative periods of my life - not only learning about the protocols, safety, and energetic aspects of the medicine, but also being guided in how to hold sacred space with humility, responsibility, and deep reverence.
Since then, I’ve been offering Kambo treatments here in Scotland - either in my home or in the homes of clients who feel called to receive the medicine in their own space. Every session is held with the utmost respect, integrity, and care. I do not take this responsibility lightly. Kambo is a powerful teacher, and my role is not to direct your healing but to create a safe, sacred container for your process to unfold.
What Is Kambo?
Kambo is the secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor, a tree frog native to the Amazon. This secretion has been used for centuries by various Indigenous tribes for cleansing the body, sharpening the senses, and enhancing physical and spiritual resilience. Traditionally, it’s applied through small burns on the skin, allowing the peptides to enter the lymphatic system and bring about a deep detoxification of body, mind, and spirit.
It’s not psychoactive, and it doesn’t induce visions - but it does bring you face to face with your internal landscape. Physically, it helps purge toxins, reset the immune system, and bring clarity to the body. Spiritually, it offers a mirror - sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce - into what is no longer serving you.
Many people come to Kambo seeking clarity, strength, emotional release, or energetic alignment. Some seek a deeper cleanse for physical ailments like Lyme disease, gut issues, pain relief, etc. Others feel called simply because they know, just as I did, that something is waiting to be remembered.
The Kambo/Sapo frog lives in the trees and generally has no natural enemies. Kambo frogs are nocturnal and can be easily located by imitating their mating sound. The frogs are particularly active during the rain and around the new moon. Sometimes one would need to climb a high tree to get the frog. Kambo frogs are tranquil and do not try to escape, so it is very easy to move them onto a large wooden stick or a branch from where they can be transported to the place where the extraction happens.
Kambo is used for various reasons. First of all, it is a natural detox treatment, so it cleanses the body via the purgative way, strengthens the immune system and activates self-healing within the body. Kambo is a natural antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal and thereby kills bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is anti-inflammatory, cleans the blood and can improve general well-being. Kambo also works on an energetic level, so it can help to release any energy that is not positively serving the person. This can come across as crying, moaning, screaming and etc...
Studies show that some peptides in the Kambo can be very effective in dealing with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, infertility, hepatitis, cancer, AIDS and other serious conditions. Although there is no doubt about the wide range of uses of Kambo, it is necessary to find the right treatment specific to each person and condition.
There has been no modern clinical research conducted on humans to demonstrate its curative nature; however, a large number of people have experienced the potency of Kambo. Kambo can help many people with a variety of conditions, including allergies, skin diseases, asthma, rheumatism and joint disorders, chronic pain and infections, malaria, diabetes, hepatitis, epilepsy, depression, post chemotherapy, disease prevention and many more.
It is very important not to compare Kambo with conventional medicines. In order to gain true long-term benefits of healing, one often has to make healthy lifestyle changes in addition to the treatment.
What a Session Looks Like
Each Kambo session is tailored to the individual and begins with grounding, intention-setting, and a clear explanation of the process. We move slowly and respectfully, with time for rest, reflection, and integration. The medicine itself typically lasts 30–60 minutes, but the real work often unfolds afterwards, sometimes days or even weeks later, as the body and spirit recalibrate.
While Kambo is not for everyone, it can be a potent ally for those who feel genuinely called. It’s important to listen deeply, and I always offer consultation beforehand to ensure it’s the right time and space for the work.
Why I Serve Kambo
I don’t offer Kambo because it’s “trendy” or dramatic. I offer it because I have witnessed, time and again, the profound shifts it can bring when approached with respect, intention, and humility.
I offer it because I believe in empowerment, not dependency - because this medicine, like all sacred tools, helps you remember your strength, your resilience, and your inner healer.
I am not here to fix you. I am here to walk beside you. To hold space while you shed the layers that no longer serve you, and to remind you that you are already whole.
If You Feel the Call
If something in your heart stirs as you read this - whether it’s curiosity, nervousness, or a quiet inner “yes” - trust that. I am here if you want to learn more, ask questions, or explore whether Kambo may be the right ally for you at this point in your journey.
Thank you for letting me share this part of my path with you. It is an honour and a blessing to walk this sacred medicine path - and to walk it with those who feel the call.
For more information about my offerings, please visit the link below:
With love and frog medicine blessings
Ilona
Pictures below of some of my past Kambo clients over the years
Kambo Scotland
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