British wellness coach dies after Kambo frog toxin ritual

A 40-year-old British wellness coach and cancer survivor has died after a detoxification ritual involving a substance derived from the toxic skin of an Amazonian tree frog. Kristian Trend collapsed at his flat in Leicester on April 11 after taking Kambo, a secretion from the giant leaf frog traditionally used in South American fertility and purging ceremonies. He was treated by paramedics at the scene in the Clarendon Park area but later died in hospital.

Kambo remains legal to purchase in the United Kingdom, though it has been banned in countries including Australia, Brazil and Chile. The substance is not licensed as a medicine by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, and the agency does not regulate those who administer it. Kambo has gained popularity across Europe as an alternative therapy marketed for health benefits, though no scientific evidence supports these claims. Potential side effects include rapid heartbeat, vomiting, kidney and liver damage, seizures and psychosis.

Mr. Trend’s mother, Angie, told the Telegraph that her son was “very spiritual” and said he was “going to cleanse himself.” She added, “But I don’t know what happened. We haven’t...