Complementary medicine chiefs have issued a stark warning to Britons against participating in an ancient healing ritual known as kambo, which involves the use of frog poison, following the death of a man during a ceremony in his Leicester flat. The British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) has urged the public to steer clear of self-appointed shamans who claim to administer the treatment safely, despite a lack of scientific backing.
The Kambo Ritual
The ancient practice originates from tribes in the Amazon rainforest and has gained popularity worldwide in recent decades. It typically involves the dried skin secretions of the giant leaf frog, applied to burned or scraped skin during a group ceremony called a kambo circle. The substance is often used for purging, with participants seeking to release physical toxins, emotional baggage, or negative energy.
Death of Kristian Trend
The warning comes after Kristian Trend, a 40-year-old wellness coach and cancer survivor from Leicester, collapsed and died in his flat after consuming kambo. His mother, Angie, told The Telegraph: "He was going to cleanse himself. He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins." Mr Trend had previously recovered from Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. "He was in hospital for four months and got through that, and for this to happen is just awful," she added.
The BCMA urged people to only use qualified practitioners for alternative treatments. "You would not go to a doctor without checking they were registered, properly qualified and insured; the same follows for a complementary therapist," it said. The association advised asking therapists for credentials and moving on if satisfactory answers are not provided.
Health Risks and Legal Status
Kambo has been linked to seizures, liver failure, and heart attacks. It is legally available in the UK but is not a licensed medicine, and the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not regulate its use. Australia has banned the substance after rare deaths during ceremonies.
The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) also warned against unlicensed treatments like kambo. "Many licensed medicines come from natural sources, but they are carefully tested for safety, quality and effectiveness before being approved for use," it said. "Safe prescribing depends on this evidence, proper clinical oversight, and an understanding of possible risks, side effects and interactions with other medicines."
Angie Trend expressed hope that the substance would be banned but said she lacks the strength to campaign. "I do hope this is banned and nobody has to go through this devastating pain, but it can’t and won’t be me who campaigns for it. I have no fight left," she said. Her son died on 11 April at a building in Queen's Road, Leicester.
