Logo

A “cleansing” ceremony involving the poisonous skin of an Amazonian frog is believed to be the cause of death for a wellness coach — mere months after he beat cancer.

After recovering from Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive type of blood cancer, Kristian Trend became immersed in holistic wellness.

But his participation in a dangerous “detox” ritual involving the use of a “toad vaccine” had a fatal end.


  Wellness coach Kristian Trend recovered from a rare blood cancer but died months later after participating in a “detox” ritual. Facebook/Kristian Trend Wellness coach Kristian Trend recovered from a rare blood cancer but died months later after participating in a “detox” ritual. Facebook/Kristian Trend

The 40-year-old wellness coach and owner of a plant-based energy drink company regularly shared health tips on his social media account, “Kristian The Feel Good Guy.”

He became extremely interested in alternative medicine after traveling through Asia and took part in a “kambo” cleansing ceremony last month in the UK.

The traditional Amazonian ritual is practiced by indigenous tribes and uses kambo, a waxy substance secreted by a species of giant leaf frog (also called the giant monkey frog) in South America. The substance is toxic and used by these frogs to deter predators.

Ceremony participants drink a liter of water, then create small burns on their skin with a burning stick and apply the poisonous substance to the open wounds. For men, these wounds are typically on the arms or chest, while for women they are usually on the legs.

The resulting vomiting and diarrhea are intended to act as a “detox.” Practitioners say the cleanse enhances physical endurance, sharpens mental clarity and boosts overall health.

“He was going to cleanse himself, that’s what he said to me,” Trend’s mother, Angie, told The Telegraph. “He was very spiritual. He took a lot of vitamins.”

However, there is no evidence to support claims that kambo has any health benefits — and it’s been linked to serious health issues including seizures, liver failure, heart attacks and even death.

The frog toxin acts as a strong psychedelic similar to ayahuasca and can result in harmful effects like confusion, memory loss, lethargy and psychosis.


  Kambo, a poisonous toxin secreted from the leaf frog, is purported to enhance physical endurance and mental clarity. Gino Tuesta – stock.adobe.com Kambo, a poisonous toxin secreted from the leaf frog, is purported to enhance physical endurance and mental clarity. Gino Tuesta – stock.adobe.com

The physical effects can also include seizures, liver failure and heart attacks, sometimes resulting in sudden cardiac death.

In 2019, an Australian woman named Natasha Lechner died after using kambo. In 2021, another Australian named Jarrad Antonovich took kambo on a six-day retreat and also died.

The poisonous substance has been marketed as an alternative treatment, especially among cancer patients, and has become increasingly popular in other parts of the world, including Europe and the US.

While the sale of kambo is illegal in Brazil, Chile and Australia, the toxin isn’t banned in the UK or the US — though its use is strictly regulated in the latter.

Trend’s death is being investigated. A UK government spokesman urged caution when using alternative therapies.

“Any substance that poses a risk to public health or safety will be kept under review,” they said.

Trend’s mother hopes action will be taken to prevent future deaths.

“I hope they ban it, but I’m not strong enough to fight for it,” she said.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy