Preparation

Before the Ceremony

  • Don’t drink any alcohol or take recreational drugs 48 hours prior.
  • Fast for 10 hours before the start of the circle. I recommend having a light vegetarian dinner the evening before and nothing afterwards (including drugs or supplements). Do not fast longer than 12 hours — you need energy for the ceremony.
  • Do not drink much water in the morning before the circle. You will be asked to drink 2 L of water when the time is right during the session.
  • Wear comfortable clothing; layers are best. Remove tight or restrictive jewelry beforehand.
  • Bring a cushion, blanket, or shawl for resting afterwards.
Kambô ceremony preparation

If you have specific health concerns, it’s best to discuss them with your practitioner beforehand. Those with serious health issues may benefit from more intensive treatments.

Kambô can be taken as a single or double treatment, or as an intensive treatment of three applications in three hours. The more treatments you have, the deeper the medicine works, though even a single session offers significant benefit.

In the Brazilian Caboclo tradition, Kambô is also taken as a “vaccine,” administered as three treatments over one moon cycle.

All first-time participants are tested for sensitivity before treatment. Your response, along with the practitioner’s experience, intuition, and connection with the spirit of the medicine, will determine the number of points applied. There is no fixed number — each person is treated individually.