Scott Polhill and Reconnecting with the Spirit of the Jungle Through Frog Medicine, Kambo, and Indigenous Lineage
The District House recently hosted a deeply moving and expansive evening with Scott Polhill, founder of Tao Te Kambo, for a talk titled Frog Medicine and the Prophecy Path: Reconnecting with the Spirit of the Jungle. What unfolded was far more than an educational presentation. It was a story of recovery, devotion, lineage, and service.
The conversation was guided by Joshua Milne, who stepped into the guest host interviewer role for the very first time and did so with remarkable presence and skill. Just one month prior, Joshua had been the interviewee at The District House. Watching him move from the guest seat to the interviewer seat was a beautiful reflection of what this community is about: growth, trust, and showing up when called.
Scott shared his personal journey through opioid addiction and the long road back to health, purpose, and alignment. With honesty and humility, he spoke about what it means to walk through darkness and come out the other side not only healed, but devoted to helping others heal as well. His story set the tone for the evening and grounded the conversation in lived experience rather than theory.
Much of the talk focused on Kambo, often referred to as frog medicine, and its traditional use among Indigenous tribes of the Amazon. Scott spoke to Kambo’s purgative and cleansing properties, both physical and emotional, and emphasized the importance of honoring the cultures, histories, and ceremonial frameworks from which this medicine comes. Drawing from his extensive travels in South America and years of learning directly from Indigenous elders, he highlighted the responsibility that comes with carrying and serving these medicines in the modern world.
The conversation also expanded into Scott’s work with other psychedelic medicines, including ayahuasca, mushrooms, and 5-MeO-DMT. He shared how each played a role in his own healing journey and how, when approached with respect, preparation, and integration, these medicines can support profound transformation. Throughout the evening, Scott consistently returned to the theme of integration. Ceremony does not stand alone. Healing is woven into daily life, relationships, creativity, and service.
Scott spoke not only as a practitioner, but as a father, husband, musician, and human committed to living what he teaches. His holistic approach blends Kambo with Qigong, breathwork, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, offering a path that honors both ancient wisdom and embodied modern practice.
The title of the talk points to a deeper message that resonated strongly with the room. Indigenous prophecies speak of a time when these medicines would travel beyond the jungle to help humanity remember how to live in balance with the Earth and with one another. Scott framed this moment not as a trend or awakening to chase, but as a responsibility to listen, slow down, and re enter right relationship with nature, spirit, and community.
This evening was a powerful reminder of why The District House exists. To create space for nuanced conversations. To center lived experience. To honor lineage while exploring what conscious, responsible engagement with these medicines can look like today.
We are deeply grateful to Scott Polhill for sharing his story and wisdom, to Joshua Milne for guiding the conversation with such care, and to our community for holding the room with curiosity, respect, and heart. 💜
