My Huni Kuin Kaxinawá friends tell me that Kampum was once a powerful shaman that died and became a frog. Since as long as they can remember, the venom secreted by the Kampum frog has been used as medicine by their people, and by many other indigenous groups in the western Amazon region, including the Katukina, Kulina, Yawanawá, Marubo and Mayoruna. To apply it, they burn the a series of little dots on the skin with a red hot vine, then spread the venom over the burns - takes it straight into the bloodstream. The reaction is immediate and pretty intense! The indians use it to remove panema, a sort of heavy, negative energy, and for hunting, to increase speed, stamina and alertness in the jungle. It's also used to treat snake bites, fevers, infections, fertility problems, and to cleanse and strengthen the mind and body.
