Experts call for frog poison detox drug that killed British man to be banned amid warnings it will claim more lives

Published: 13:26, 6 June 2026 | Updated: 13:28, 6 June 2026 A group of toxicology and forensic medicine experts have urged for a ban on the frog poison 'detox' drug that claimed the life of a British man.  Kristian Trend, 40, died in April after using Kambo, a drug made from the secretion of an amphibian traditionally used by indigenous Amazon tribes.  But a paper published by experts on May 12 last year, before the British death, called for a ban on the drug and warned that unless the substance was prohibited, it would lead to more deaths.  While Kambo, sometimes known as Sapo, is not licensed in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not regulate those who administer it as a treatment and it remains freely available for sale.  The study warned that its growing popularity was cause for concern, since the dangers of Kambo remain 'largely unknown'.  Potential side effects from applications of the poisonous substance, extracted from the Amazonian giant leaf frog and applied to blistered skin, include confusion, memory loss, convulsions, psychosis, and damage to the kidneys, pancreas, and liver - sometimes leading to death.  The drug can also produce hallucinations and other states of consciousness induced by hyperthermia and hyponatraemia, often misinterpreted by users, as well as potential cardiac arrest.   Its rising use as a 'detox' treatment has seen deaths across the world, leading it to be banned in Brazil, Chile, and Australia.  Kambo, sometimes known as 'sapo', being extracted from the Amazonian giant leaf frog. The substance is traditionally used by indigenous Amazon tribes in South America  The drug claimed the life of 40-year-old Brit, Kristian Trend, in April, after he collapsed and died following a 'cleansing' ritual at his flat in Leicester Natasha Lechner, 39, died at her home in New South Wales, Australia, after suffering a cardiac arrest following a suspected Kambo ceremony It tragically claimed the life of Kristian Trend, a wellbeing coach and plant-based energy drink company owner who is believed to be the first Briton to have died in connection with Kambo use.  Mr Trend is believed to have been taking part in a 'cleansing' ritual at a flat in Leicester in April before he became unwell, collapsing and dying.  The Brit appeared to become interested in the so-called wellness community after being diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer that can affect the jaw, abdomen, or central nervous system – aged just 23. Writing on his Feel Good Polys website – named after his energy drinks brand – he said: 'At 23, I was given up to six months to live without intensive treatment. A rare cancer diagnosis forced me to choose: live in fear, or surrender to a higher purpose. 'After much travelling through India and Asia immersed in holistic wellness and meditation, the path became clear. Amongst the temples of Ubud, Bali, the vision for Feel Good Polys was born.' Elsewhere, in the US a 33-year-old woman developed psychosis after frequent Kambo rituals, and 39-year-old Natasha Lechner died at her home in New South Wales, Australia, after suffering a cardiac arrest following a suspected Kambo ceremony.  Ms Lechner, who was morbidly obese, had turned to kambo in an attempt to improve her health, but the substance triggered a severe cardiac reaction and she died suddenly. Following her death, a coroner warned that vulnerable people were placing their trust in so-called 'healers' who lacked even basic first-aid training. The drug is typically applied to blistered skin in dot formation. Potential side effects include confusion, memory loss, convulsions, psychosis, and damage to the kidneys, pancreas, and liver - sometimes leading to death Another victim: Jarrad Antonovich died after injuries from severe vomiting after taking Kambo Jarred Antonovich, 46, died at a festival in the US after suffering a perforated oesophagus suspected to be caused by excessive vomiting after using Kambo, and 33-year-old Macela Alcazar died in Mexico in 2024 after taking Kambo during a cleansing ceremony.   Kambo was traditionally used as a folk medicine among some indigenous people in the Amazon basin, before its adoption as a 'detox' treatment in the West.  But endorsements from celebrities such as Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom – who claims to have undergone the ritual multiple times – have catapulted the treatment into the mainstream in recent years, much to the alarm of medical experts.  In a paper published last May in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, American neurologists warned doctors on how to treat Kambo users, outlining the 'lack of medical oversight'.  The academics wrote that the drug can produce 'physiological disturbances, including violent emesis, fluid shifts, and hormone dysregulation'.  It continued: 'The combination of these effects with ritualistic overhydration of water can trigger life-threatening hyponatremia, cerebral edema, and ultimately brain death.  'Kambo rituals are unregulated and increasingly practiced in Western countries despite a lack of medical oversight.  'Physicians should consider Kambo exposure in patients presenting with acute neurologic decline and dot-like burn patterns.  'Public awareness, clinician education, and the development of treatment algorithms are critical as the use of this neurotoxic ritual continues to expand.'  Another paper published in January 2025 by Italian and Greek medical experts on 'Kambo Administration and Its Association With Sudden Death', warned of the 'largely unknown' status of the drug.  The paper reported how, following a series of fatalities, the sale and marketing of Kambo was banned in Brazil in 2016, with Australian authorities following suit by classifying the drug as a poison in 2021.  The study read: 'Kambo remains largely unknown, and many institutions do not yet recognise it as a poison.  'This lack of awareness presents a major medicolegal challenge, especially as traditional therapies are adopted in the West.  'The route of administration and failure to adhere to standard practices can lead to fatalities.'  It added: 'Adverse effects are particularly prevalent in areas where non-traditional practitioners operate.  'One challenge in evaluating the risks of these rituals is the unknown number of practitioners. In addition, the uncontrolled nature of Internet sales exacerbates the situation. 'With the spread of this practice through media globalization and the Internet, the number of cases and consumers is likely to increase.  'Therefore, policymakers in various countries should take measures to prevent the spread of this dangerous substance worldwide.'  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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