Abstract
The lecture reflects on a project centered around the Phyllomedusa bicolor frog, which resides in trees in certain parts of the Amazon rainforest. The term "kambo" is not only a nickname for this frog species but also for the toxic waxy secretion it produces when irritated, used in rituals. Kambo is traditionally used by some Amazonian indigenous ethnic groups, the Matsés people being among the most well-known. Indigenous groups working with kambo in the traditional way extract the whitish secretion the frog produces, apply it to burned skin, and engage in trade involving it. The substance, rich for bioactive peptides, has gained popularity worldwide in recent times. The secretion has become popular for its therapeutic potential, as well as a component of self-development techniques and rituals, as kambo is not merely a carrier of biochemical reactions but also a socio-material entity, a part of the ritual, a commodity, a circulation of experience, and a component of various techniques for cultivating one's own self.
The lecture raises ethical questions that arise during the collection of the secretion and outlines the approaches of the various actors involved in the journey of kambo through the world.