Complementary medicine chiefs have warned Britons to avoid an ancient healing ritual known as “kambo”, which involves the use of frog poison, after a Briton died during a ceremony in their London flat.
The British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) urged people to use only qualified practitioners for any form of alternative treatment, following the death of wellness coach Kristian Trend, a 40-year-old cancer survivor from Leicester. Trend collapsed and died in his flat after consuming kambo, the dried skin secretions of the giant leaf frog.
The ritual, which originated among Amazonian tribes, involves burning or scraping the skin and rubbing the frog secretion into the wound. Kambo can legally be bought in the UK but is not a licensed medicine and is not regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Trend's mother, Angie, said her son was trying to cleanse himself and was very spiritual. She expressed devastation and called for a ban on the practice. The frog poison has been linked to seizures, liver failures, and heart attacks.
The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) also issued warnings, advising people to speak to licensed healthcare professionals before using any medicines, as unlicensed treatments may be harmful or interfere with prescribed medicines.
