On December 1, 2024, Mexican actress Marcela Alcázar Rodríguez, aged 33 and recognized for her performances in several short films and local productions, passed away following her participation in a Kambo ritual at the Centro Moyocoyani retreat in Durango, Mexico. The ritual involved the application of a substance derived from the secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), commonly known as Kambo.
Kambo is a traditional medicinal practice utilized by certain South American indigenous tribes like the Matsés and Yawanawá. The ritual aims for body purification, enhancement of physical strength, and expulsion of negative energies. The procedure typically entails creating small burns on the participant’s skin and subsequent application of the frog’s secretion to these open wounds. The practice is believed to trigger a detoxifying purge leading to intense vomiting and diarrhea. However, there’s no scientific evidence to validate the health benefits claimed by Kambo proponents, and the ritual carries significant health risks.
Health professionals caution that Kambo can provoke severe adverse reactions, including tachycardia (increased heart rate), abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling of the face. In certain instances, it has been associated with life-threatening conditions such as toxic hepatitis, acute renal failure, and even death. Kambo is classified as a Schedule 10 poison by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, indicating substances with such health dangers as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply, and use. Experts warn of these potential risks.
During the ceremony, Rodríguez reportedly drank a significant amount of water, received burns on her skin, and had the Kambo secretion applied to these wounds. She subsequently suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms commonly associated with the ritual. Initially declining medical assistance, she was eventually transported to a local hospital as her condition deteriorated, where she later succumbed. The shaman presiding over the ritual, identified as Jonathan Fernando, allegedly absconded when Rodríguez’s health worsened, and is now being sought by authorities.
Following Rodríguez’s death, the State Attorney General’s Office of Durango has initiated an investigation, treating the case as a possible negligent homicide. The local filmmaking community has expressed deep sadness over her loss. Mapache Films, a production company with which she had collaborated, remarked, “Her dedication, joy, and commitment left a profound mark on all of us who had the privilege of working beside her.” The Durango Film Guild also honored her, noting her work in “various short films, series, and movies filmed in Durango.”
The increase in popularity of Kambo rituals outside of their traditional indigenous context has sparked worries about cultural appropriation and the commodification of traditional practices. Indigenous leaders have criticized the usage of Kambo without proper preparation or consent, underlining the potential risks involved. The lack of regulation for such ceremonies in urban scenarios further amplifies these concerns, leading to hazardous consequences for participants.
