Marcela Alcázar Rodríguez, a 33-year-old actress from Mexico, recognized for her performances in numerous short films and local stage works, passed away on December 1, 2024. She died following her participation in the Kambo ritual at the Centro Moyocoyani retreat in Durango, Mexico. The ceremony involves the use of a substance sourced from the secretions of the Amazonian giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), also known as Kambo.
Indigenous tribes in South America, including the Matsés and Yawanawá, traditionally use Kambo in an attempt to cleanse the body, enhance physical strength, and dispel negative energies. The ritual typically includes making small burns on the participant’s skin and applying the frog’s secretion to these burns, believed to trigger a detoxifying purge, resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhea. Nonetheless, no scientific evidence backs the alleged health benefits of Kambo, and its usage poses substantial health risks.
Health professionals caution that Kambo may lead to serious adverse reactions, including tachycardia (rapid heart rate), abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling of the face. In some instances, it has been associated with critical conditions such as toxic hepatitis, acute kidney failure, and even death. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has categorized Kambo as a Schedule 10 poison, signifying substances so hazardous to health that their sale, supply, and usage warrant prohibition.
Reports indicate that Rodríguez consumed a considerable amount of water during the ceremony, received burns on her skin, and had the Kambo secretion applied to these wounds. She subsequently suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms that are commonly linked to the ritual. Initially, she declined medical assistance, but as her condition deteriorated, she was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died. The shaman who performed the ritual, identified as Jonathan Fernando, allegedly left the site when Rodríguez’s condition worsened, and he is currently being sought by authorities.
An investigation into Rodríguez’s death has been initiated by the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Durango, treating it as a potential case of negligent homicide. Her death has deeply affected the local film industry. Mapache Films, a production company she worked with, mentioned, “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 issued a statement, acknowledging that she “worked in various short films, series, and movies filmed in Durango.”
The rising popularity of Kambo rituals outside of their indigenous setting has sparked concerns about cultural appropriation and monetization of traditional practices. Indigenous leaders have expressed criticism of the use of Kambo without proper training or permission, emphasizing the potential dangers. The lack of regulation of such ceremonies in city contexts further compounds these issues, often leading to harmful results for participants.