The Effects of Curare

Found in South American rain forests, curare is a poisonous plant used by various Amazon tribes to arm poison arrows and darts for hunting prey. A large vine, curare can grow to be as thick as 4 inches at its base. The heart-shaped leaves, found on the floor of the rain forest, are between 4 and 8 inches long, with a smooth green top and a hairy white bottom.

Poisonous Effect

• South American tribes utilizes the curare plant when preparing poisonous hunting arrows. After harvesting the plant, hunters crush and cook the roots and stems adding venom from other poisonous animals and plants to the pot. The mixture is heated until it becomes a light-brown syrup called "ampi." Arrow and dart tips are dipped into the syrup and used to hunt game.

  Curare creates paralysis in victims when it enters the blood stream. Fatal doses result in respiratory paralysis, essentially causing lung function to slow to a stop. It must be in the blood system to work this way. Ingesting curare is not harmful, and eating the meat of animals killed with a curare arrow or dart is also safe.

Diuretic Effects

• Some Brazilians use curare medicinally. The root can be used as a diuretic to clear the system of harmful toxins. Eating curare is safe, as the stomach does not process the poison into the blood stream. It increases urination, reduces fever and promotes menstruation. In addition, it can be used to improve kidney function and reduce inflammation in the testes. Curare--when taken in small doses--cleanses the body of toxins as any diuretic would.

Muscle Relaxant

• When swallowed in a concentrated form, curare acts as a strong muscle relaxant. In addition, it can be used externally in small doses to treat bruises. The alkaloid in curare, d-tubocurarine, blocks brain signals that send pain through the body. Used in anesthesia in the 1940s, curare was an important resource for early modern surgery. Chemicals extracted from curare are used to create many prescription drugs sold today.