Kambo ritual kills man in Britain; calls for ban as practice still has followers in Czech Republic
In the UK, the controversial kambo ritual has likely claimed its first victim. A 40-year-old man died following the application of frog venom; one person has been arrested.
Death from frog venom in Leicester sparks calls for kambo ban
A 40-year-old health coach Kristian Trend from Leicester died shortly after undergoing the kambo ritual, during which toxic secretion from an Amazonian frog is injected into the skin. According to iDNES.cz, the case has galvanised an initiative calling for a ban on this ceremony in the United Kingdom. Police have arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with the case on suspicion of administering poison.
Trend, who had previously overcome cancer, decided to undergo kambo as part of a fashionable detox. Shortly after the substance was applied, he became unwell and died in hospital. British politicians are now calling for an immediate ban on the ritual.
What is kambo and how does the ritual work
Kambo is a cleansing ceremony originating from the Amazon. During it, a shaman pierces the skin of a participant and rubs secretion obtained from the monkey frog, a species inhabiting rainforests, into the wounds. Supporters of the ritual consider it a detoxifying and strengthening procedure. However, experts warn of serious health risks: skin burns, severe vomiting, dangerous drops in blood pressure, and in extreme cases, organ failure or death.
Czech woman: "I experienced intense nausea, pressure and a racing heartbeat"
Kambo has its supporters in the Czech Republic. A Czech woman who underwent the ritual three times described its course to iDNES.cz as extremely unpleasant. "I experienced intense nausea, pressure and a racing heartbeat," she said. Despite these physical symptoms, she repeatedly returned to the ritual.
On social media, the frog venom business thrives
Despite the risks and growing calls for regulation, kambo remains a living part of the alternative wellness scene. On social media, the frog venom business thrives — ritual offerings, testimonies from participants and promotion by shamans reach thousands of users across Europe. Regulators have yet to keep pace with this trend.
According to available information, the Leicester case is the first recorded death associated with the kambo ritual in Europe. Whether the British government will proceed with a legislative ban remains undecided.
Source: iDNES.cz