A wellness coach who professed about daily walks, better sleep, and eating clean has died following a “cleansing” ceremony that proved fatal.
According to the Daily Telegraph, 40-year-old Kristian Trend underwent a popular “detox” treatment that included using a drug that is made from the poisonous skin of an Amazonian tree frog.
It’s unclear where exactly Trend underwent the “detox” treatment, but, according to police, units on April 11 responded to Clarendon Park in Leicester, United Kingdom, about a report that a man had not been feeling well.
Trend was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
What Kind of ‘Cleansing’ Ceremony Was This?
The Telegraph reports that Trend was taking part in a “cleansing” ceremony. The drug in question is Kambo, which the outlet describes as a drug traditionally used in South American “purging” ceremonies.
Trend’s mother, Angie, told The Telegraph that her son “was going to cleanse himself.” She added that Trend was “very spiritual … took a lot of vitamins. But I don’t know what happened.”
Kristian Trend/Facebook
What Is Kambo?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes Kambo as a “secretion of an amphibian traditionally used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon region. This secretion is derived from the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) and is utilized in tribal cleansing rituals known as Kambo ceremonies.”
It’s purported that Kambo benefits physical and psychological components. Some of those claims include enhancing physical endurance, mental clarity, and boosting overall health.
The NIH also includes the following side effects:
A White-lined Leaf Frog, Phyllomedusa vaillantii, in the Napo River Basin in Amazonian Ecuador. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Tachycardia (fast resting heart rate)
Blood pressure fluctuations
Gastrointestinal distress
The NIH underscores the “potential and concrete dangers associated with Kambo uptake, including sudden cardiac death and esophageal rupture. These episodes may be exacerbated in patients with pre-existing risk factors.”
Trend’s last Facebook post came the day before his reported death. In that post, he touted “sea therapy,” imploring his followers to “experience how floating and earthing can transform your recovery.”
A fundraiser has been set up to help Trend’s family.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on May 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
