Actress dies after eating Amazonian frog venom during cleansing ritual

Marcela Alcázar Rodríguez died after taking part in a South American cleansing ceremony in which the mucus of a poisonous frog is applied to open wounds on the skin

An actress has died after consuming deadly Amazonian frog venom as part of a cleansing ritual at a spiritual retreat.

Marcela Alcázar Rodríguez, 33, became unwell after participating in the "Kambo" ritual in Mexico, a tradition that originates in parts of South America. Participants involved in the ritual consume poison to cleanse the body of toxins, but it is known to have deadly consequences.

The poison, which is secreted by the Amazonian tree frog, has been part of the "supercleanse" trend for several years, and is known for causing highs after it enters the bloodstream through the skin. But any initial euphoria quickly gives way to sickness, and Ms Rodríguez started vomiting not long after ingesting the poison.

The actress also experienced severe diarrhoea after participating in the ritual, and was quickly rushed to a Red Cross hospital for emergency treatment. But doctors were unable to save her. A production company with which Ms Rodríguez collaborated later announced news of her death.

Mexican production company Mapache Films said in a social media post that it was bidding farewell to a "colleague and friend" and extended well-wishes to her family. The post read: "With deep regret, today we bid farewell to our colleague and friend Marcela Alcázar. Wishing also quick resignation for her closest family and friends."

The Kambo ritual in which the actress participated involves participants drinking more than a litre of water before small burns are created on the skin and the frog's mucus applied to the open wounds. The mucus causes blood pressure to surge, the heart to race, and the body immediately reacts by inducing vomiting or defecating to tackle the poison threat.

Other symptoms may include dizziness, fainting, swollen face and lips. While the symptoms tend to last up to half an hour, extended exposure to the blood stream can result in seizures and death. In a separate post, the Durango Film Guild said it "regrets the passing of Marcela Alcázar "Marsh".

The guild remembered her as "a young woman who worked in various short films, series and movies filmed in Durango", adding: "She leaves a void in the hearts of the people who knew her working in what she loved: cinema." Ms Rodríguez's death is not the first from Kabmo, with Australian authorities having announced last year that they were investigating the deaths of two people thought to have died after ingesting the Amazonian frog mucus.