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into the jungle

A 7 day journey into Peru & Brazil with the Matsés Tribe

By Wander with Jill

August 8^th, 2018

Last month I traveled to Peru to train to become a Kambo Practioner. Its been exactly a month since I returned from my journey deep into the jungle and its taken me some time to process what I went through out there.

I will start by saying being in the jungle, specifically in this Region is TOUGH. It was very hot during the days, and we were helpless to the mosquitos and no see ums attacking us even with massive amounts of bug spray. By around day 5 a few people in the group actually got very sick and this actually caused us to depart from the jungle a day early.

There is no official training for this type of alternative medicine, but one of the best ways to learn is from one of the tribes that uses Kambo, such as the Matsés. I was in Peru a total of 20 days, 7 of them being immersed deep in the Jungle. It was a once in a lifetime experience full of both ups and downs. I stayed in 2 completely different communities of the Matsès indigenous tribe in both Peru & Brazil where I got see how they live and also how they use the Kambo medicine.

The photos below show what this once in a lifetime journey was like...

Iquitos to Angamos

Our journey began by flying from Iquitos to Angamos Peru in a small plane. We stayed there for 1 night.

We had to take a 3 hour boat ride from Angamos down the river to the Matsés community we would be staying and training at on the Brazil side.

Yaquerana River - Which divides Peru and Brazil

The Brazilian MatsÉs community

We stayed on the Brazilian side of the river, in a Matsés community that was a 40 minute hike into the jungle.

Rolling up the Tamishi Vine which is used to burn a person during a Kambo session

Bonding with the people

On the end of our second day day in the Brazilian community we had a beautiful moment where we seemed to bond with the people. From the beginning of our arrival there they always seemed to just stare at us and seemed very curious to know exactly why we were there. The language barrier was what made it extremely difficult but they were still very friendly. When I started to take photos of them and show them they seemed to get very excited. From what we were told they have not had much contact with outsiders so this was a very special moment for me to see the excitement on their face.

Our hosts - She cooked for us daily and he guided the boat for us on our journey.

Preparing Nunu

Nu-nu is a psychoactive drug prepared and administered by Matsés people of the Amazon to prepare the men for a successful hunt. To prepare the snuff, the powdered roasted leaves of mapacho (N. rustica tobacco) are mixed with alkaline ashes of the inner bark of the mocambo tree (wild cacao, Theobroma bicolor), which, in the proper amount, improves the absorption of the drug while lessening the nasal irritation. The leaves and alkalizing ashes are ground into a very fine powder and mixed.

Placing the tobacco leaves to be heated over the fire

The Peruvian MatsÉs community

For this training we were originally supposed to stay on the Brazilian side but an issue came up in the Brazilian community and we were forced to leave sooner then expected. This caused us to have to go back up the river to the Peru side where we had to find a new community where they would allow us to stay and finish our training. Luckily the first community we went into were extremely welcoming and let us stay there for the remaining 6 days.

Where we stayed - hammocks and beds covered with Mosquito nets

Plant Medicines

The Amazon rainforest is known for its rich biodiversity, but few realize that this natural wealth goes far deeper than just the animals and beautiful flora. The rare plants of the Amazon not only create a unique natural environment, but have been used by ancient civilizations (and are still being used today) for their powerful medicinal properties. From anxiety to infertility, to cancer and AIDS, these medicinal plants have long been used to heal all of humankind’s ailments- and we’ve likely only discovered a small percentage of them. We were lucky enough to be guided into the jungle and shown a variety of plants that have these medicinal properties.

2 Matses women giving us a tour of the jungle.

1 of the 2 vines in the jungle that you can drink water directly from

Kambo training

What is Kambo you ask? Kambo is the venomous secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor (the giant leaf or monkey frog), a bright green tree frog native to the Amazon basin. It can be found in the rainforest regions of Brazil, Peru, southeastern Colombia, and parts of Venezuela, Bolivia, and the Guianas. In many regions outside Brazil, both the frog and its secretion are known as sapo (or ‘toad’).

The secretion of the Kambo frog has been used by the Amazon natives as a medicine for generations and each tribe has developed their own traditions, and legends around the discovery and use of Kambo. It contains a powerful combination of peptides, neuropeptides and biopeptides that perform very specific and positive functions in the human body.

As previously stated there is no official training to be a Kambo Practitioner but I chose to go under the direction of the Rainforest Healing center which actually was the first place that exposed me to Kambo. Like many tropical medicines gaining popularity beyond their original landscape, kambo is becoming known around the world for its healing properties. This growing popularity also leads to ambiguity for people seeking trained, responsible and trustworthy administrators of this medicine. Rainforest Healing Center’s staff have direct training from the Matsés people of the Peruvian and Brazilian amazon region.

Applying the venom during a Kambo Session

Kambo stick with venom ready to be used for a session.

Hunting the Frogs

Our group had the opportunity to go into the jungle one night to search and "hunt" for the frogs. The Matsés people have maintained a sacred relationship with the frog for thousands of years in which the frogs are not harmed in the collection process. They are collected near rainforest waterways by members of the tribes, who also imitate frogs song. The frogs are then carefully tied by each leg with strings and held in an X shape. Sometimes they will massage the toes of the frog to encourage the secretion which is released from glands on the side of the frog. The frog is then released and returned to it's habitat. The strings used to tie the frog leave small white lines on its legs that will stop anyone from harvesting it until the lines have faded. Harvesting in this way means the frog has enough secretion to protect itself from predators, and this first secretion is the strongest for treatment.

The frogs are always treated with utmost care and respect, as the Matses believe that to harm the frog will anger the animal spirits that they reside with in the jungle. They have a deep respect and love for them, knowing they are our teachers and healers.

Phyllomedusa bicolor (the giant leaf or monkey frog)

Massaging the frogs toes to stress it so it secretes venom.

Overall, even though this journey was Intense and full of both ups and downs, it was one I will never forget. By getting to experience true jungle life, I have come out with a greater appreciation of life. These people are so kind and so strong, and seem perfectly content with all that they have. I have nothing but gratitude for the life I live.

Now that I am a certified Kambo Practitioner, I hope to share the knowledge gained during this journey. I look forward to sharing this medicine with others so more people can live a happier and healthier life.