133. BTS of My Shamanic Medicine Journey133. BTS of My Shamanic Medicine Journey
Unbottled Potential
Amanda Kuda shares a detailed account of her first Kambo ceremony, from preparation and physical reactions to emotional release and post-ceremony clarity. She connects the experience to her grief and long-term sobriety while stressing caution and respect for traditional medicines.
22:21•17 Sept 2026
Behind the Scenes of Amanda’s Shamanic Kambo Experience
Episode Overview
- Shamanic and traditional medicines should be approached with extensive research, medical consultation and careful choice of facilitator.
- Kambo is a non-psychedelic Amazonian medicine that often involves intense physical purging, but emotional release can be just as significant.
- Preparing through dieta, including removing caffeine, sugar and dairy, can trigger early physical and emotional shifts before the ceremony itself.
- Experiences vary widely; Amanda’s gentle, tear-based purge contrasted with her partner’s more typical, physically intense response.
- Repeated ceremonies or "journey jumping" can become a new compulsion or a form of spiritual bypassing, especially for those in sobriety.
“Sometimes you don’t throw up. Sometimes… I just sat there and cried. That was my purge.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This behind-the-scenes episode follows Amanda Kuda as she shares her first experience with Kambo, a traditional Amazonian medicine used in some Indigenous healing practices, and how it intersects with her alcohol-free life and grief journey. Rather than glamorising shamanic work, Amanda talks candidly about why she waited ten years into sobriety before even considering any kind of medicine ceremony.
She stresses caution and responsibility, reading a clear disclaimer and repeating that her story is "shared for educational and storytelling purposes only" and not a suggestion that anyone else should do the same. You’ll hear her describe the lead-up "dieta" phase — cutting out caffeine, sugar, dairy and more — and how her body seemed to start "the ceremony" early with intense headaches, nausea and unexpected purging.
She explains what Kambo is, how it’s administered via small burns on the skin, and the typical physical effects, from flushing to vomiting. Amanda contrasts her own gentle, tear-filled experience with her partner’s more classic, physically intense purge, highlighting how differently the medicine can show up for each person.
Facilitators Melissa and Jimmy play a key role, offering energetic support, carefully choosing the placement of the medicine, and guiding her through a process that becomes deeply emotional rather than dramatically physical. Amanda reflects on the lightness and clarity she felt afterwards, while warning about "journey jumping" and how repeated ceremonies can slide into a new compulsion or a way of avoiding real-life healing work.
This episode speaks to alcohol-free women and anyone in recovery who’s curious about shamanic modalities but wary of the hype. It’s honest, cautious and gently humorous, as Amanda admits she once thought, "what the fuck, Amanda? This is crazy," yet still honours these ancient practices as sacred and easily misused. It leaves you asking: if you ever sought extra support in healing, how carefully would you choose it?
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