Display options
Cite
den Brave PS, Bruins E, Bronkhorst MW. Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2014;20:40doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-40.
den Brave, P. S., Bruins, E., & Bronkhorst, M. W. (2014). Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual. The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases, 2040. https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-20-40
den Brave, Paul S, et al. "Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual." The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases vol. 20 (2014): 40. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-20-40
den Brave PS, Bruins E, Bronkhorst MW. Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2014 Sep 02;20:40. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-40. eCollection 2014. PMID: 26413084; PMCID: PMC4582952.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2014 Sep 02;20:40. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-40. eCollection 2014.

Phyllomedusa bicolor skin secretion and the Kambô ritual.

The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases

Paul S den Brave, Eugéne Bruins, Maarten W G A Bronkhorst

Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Bronovo Hospital, Bronovolaan 5, 2597 AX Den Haag, The Netherlands.
  2. CEO Zoological Services, Ede, The Netherlands.

PMID: 26413084 PMCID: PMC4582952 DOI: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-40

Abstract

The ritual of Kambô or Sapo is a type of voluntary envenomation. During this purification ritual a shaman healer, from various South American countries, deliberately burns the right shoulder with a glowing stick from a fireplace. Excretions of Phyllomedusa bicolor (or Giant Leaf Frog, Kambô or Sapo) are then applied to these fresh wounds. This ritual is used as a means of purification of the body, supposedly brings luck to hunters, increases stamina and enhances physical and sexual strength. All the peripheral and most of the central effects of the secretion can be ascribed to the exceptionally high content of active peptides, easily absorbed through burned skin. This article describes the ritual and the bio-active peptides from the secretion.

References

  1. Eur J Cell Biol. 2000 Sep;79(9):631-41 - PubMed
  2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Nov 15;89(22):10960-3 - PubMed
  3. Toxicon. 1993 Sep;31(9):1099-111 - PubMed

Publication Types