In some cultures, the elders will say a prayer to their younger ones whenever they hurt themselves, in order to call their souls back. One of the most reputable centers in the country isPsychonauta Foundation. Hosting several retreats every month ranging from 14 to 56 days (or more!) this center often runs retreats that fill up quickly.

Benefits & Risks

To reduce the risks of hyponatremia, facilitators must avoid giving their participants too much water . Since kambo affects heart rate and blood pressure, people with conditions related to the heart should avoid taking it. It can cause vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and a boost of adrenaline.

At this point, the more subjective, psychological effects take hold, reaching their peak two to four hours after consuming the cactus and gradually declining over the next eight to twelve hours. Peak effects are compared to those of LSD, and are known to profoundly alter one’s perceptions of self and reality, increase suggestibility, and intensify emotions. While some find peyote more sensual and less reality-shifting than LSD, others have trouble telling the difference. Once the experience of the hapé has subsided, you may want to clean yourself up to feel more fresh, by rinsing your nostrils or patting cold water on your face. Ultimately, to fully experience the intensity of the hapé, it’s much better to have a friend blow you than to blow yourself.

Indigenous use

In the United States, only Native American members of the NAC are legally permitted to use mescaline—but only in the form of peyote. A 2013 study also found that lifetime mescaline or peyote use was significantly linked to a lower rate of agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder where subjects perceive their surrounding environment to be threatening.

Why Take Kambo?

Some experts recommend that patients with T-cell CAEBV who are stable should be monitored closely and have a donor identified but not undergo transplantation until the first sign of clinical or laboratory result deterioration. Furthermore, once the disease process becomes fulminant, the prognosis is drastically reduced, because the patient may no longer be eligible for HCT, and if he or she is able to tolerate HCT, the chance of relapse is substantially increased. However, there is some disagreement among experts in this regard, because a vast majority of patients inevitably do require intensive treatment. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin, tiny needles into specific points on the body to relieve symptoms of certain health conditions. Acupuncture won’t cure fibroids, but research shows it can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and chronic pelvic pain.

I’ve worked with many chronically ill people, and I’ve never seen a modality work as effectively as kambo. Kambo has been suggested to treat a number of psychospiritual issues including addiction, and health issues like chronic inflammation; but there have not yet been any large investigations into its healing potential. Peyote’s effect on the serotonin system likely has something to do with the treatment of substance addiction, but the set/setting and social support inherent in the traditional ceremony may have just as much if not more of a therapeutic effect. In addition to the sacrament of peyote, for instance, these ceremonies feature a master guide, marathon group sessions, ego reduction techniques, social networks, and a focus on self-actualization throughout. A peyote trip is often characterized by personal blessings, healing, and insights, and many people emerge with an awareness of their place in the web of being.

Read more about Kambo Training School here.

Qualia will also make the experience more pleasant and help you retain more benefits from it. As Caitlin highlights, compared to other activities kambo has relatively low risk.

While there are key differences between modern Western medicine and the medico-religious approach of Native American mystics, clinical studies have supported mescaline’s role in pain relief, and in promoting the release of growth hormones. Research into mescaline’s psychotherapeutic potential is still limited, but renewed interest in the drug shows that it could successfully treat mental health disorders. Studies suggest, for example, that mescaline may increase blood flow and activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain in charge of planning, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and behavior. Low activity in this area is linked to depression and anxiety, leading scientists to hypothesize that mescaline could help alleviate symptoms of these disorders. Most users find mescaline personally or spiritually transformative, and many emerge with a lasting appreciation for the interconnectedness of all life in the universe, and of their role within it. Sometimes the mere thought of a separate identity can even seem “obscene.” Others feel a deep sense of gratitude and unconditional compassion for everyone and everything around them.

When you are receiving a soplada in a ritualistic way, it’s easier to treat the experience as a ceremony. Also keep in mind that peyote has become severely endangered as a natural source of mescaline, so you might want to either avoid plants harvested from the wild or grow an alternative cactus. For reference, San Pedro contains approximately 0.3-2% mescaline (compared to peyote’s 3-6%) and Peruvian torch is thought to have a mescaline content of up to 0.8%. Virtually all labs require a specific test for the substance, so unless your employer is a real stickler and specifically worried that you’ve been frequenting peyote ceremonies, you should be fine. While psilocybin and LSD are more commonly used for microdosing, mescaline is a good alternative. In fact, many users find mescaline more consistently reliable than LSD and psilocybin—and many also report greater results in personal growth and benefit.