Global regulatory crackdown intensifies as Kambo frog poison linked to further fatalities

Multiple fatalities linked to Kambo, an ancient South American healing ritual involving the application of giant monkey frog secretions, have prompted renewed warnings from Indigenous groups and regulatory bans in several countries. Recent deaths include UK wellness coach Kristian Trend in April 2026, Mexican actress Marcela Alcazar Rodríguez in 2024, and Australians Natasha Lechner and Jarrad Antonovich in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Indigenous leaders, including Yamanawa leader Joaquim Luz, have warned against the use of Kambo by non-specialist practitioners, citing significant health risks.

Medical experts state there is no scientific evidence supporting Kambo’s efficacy for treating ailments such as anxiety, cancer, or chronic pain, while linking it to severe adverse reactions including cardiac arrest, oesophageal rupture, and hyponatremia. A recent review published in the medical journal Cureus has concluded that Kambo should be more tightly regulated following an identification of severe reactions and deaths linked to the ritual.

Regulatory bodies in Australia (TGA, 2021), Brazil (2004), Chile, and the US have banned or restricted the substance due to its toxicity. In January 2025, the US embassy in Peru issued a circular advising US citizens not to use Kambo while visiting Peru. The practice remains illegal in the US, while the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration classified the substance as a poison in 2021.

The ritual involves applying dried secretions from the giant monkey frog to small burns on the skin. While traditionally used by Indigenous groups such as the Yamanawa for spiritual and physical purification, the practice has gained popularity in Western wellness circles as a purported cure for conditions including anxiety, cancer, and chronic pain. However, medical experts and Indigenous leaders warn that the secretions contain potent peptides that can cause severe adverse reactions, particularly when administered by non-specialist practitioners.

Allegations have also emerged regarding the weaponisation of similar toxins. In February 2026, it was reported that Kambo secretions were allegedly used in the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, drawing a parallel between the frog’s natural toxins and weaponised applications. This development has further highlighted the potent and dangerous nature of the bioactive peptides found in the secretions, which can cause rapid drops in blood pressure, fainting, and in extreme cases, sudden cardiac problems or severe organ toxicity.