Curare is the generic name for potent poisons obtained by evaporating water extracts from certain tropical plants. These poisons have long been used by natives living in South America to poison arrowheads in military operations and during hunting. They knew the dosages necessary for instant death or temporary immobilization if the enemy was needed alive.
Poison curare, once in the blood, has a nerve-paralytic effect on the body. First, nerve impulses are blocked, muscle paralysis occurs. Then the respiratory system malfunctions, the skin turns blue, the liver becomes inflamed - and as a result death occurs. When meat with a deadly potion enters the stomach, there are no consequences, that is, animals killed by a poisoned arrow can be eaten. Moreover, their meat, according to the natives, becomes more tasty and tender.
The composition of this deadly poison for Europeans has long remained a mystery. The mention of him caused terrifying awe. Different tribes of curare venom are obtained from different plants and even compositions. There are several varieties of deadly potions that have different effects on the body and stored under different conditions. For example, curare - the poison from Chondrodendron tomentosum - acts very quickly. They kept it in hollow tubes of stems. The poison from Strychnos toxifera is slower, similar to strychnine. It was stored in clay pots.
Chondrodendron tomentosum is a liana belonging to the Loganian family and widely distributed in South America. Its lignified stem can reach a cross section of 10 cm. The leaves of the vine are large (up to 20 cm), heart-shaped, with well-visible veins. The upper side of the leaves is smooth, and the lower side is covered with light pile. Flowers are dioecious, small, greenish-cream, collected in inflorescences. Fruits are small (up to 2 mm), oblong, tapering downward.
The first mention of the plant is found in the records of the Spanish priest d'Acuna, which he made in 1693. Poison samples and manufacturing techniques were brought to Europe by the French scientist Charles Marie de la Cordamen (from an expedition to Peru). The Indians, of course, did not give the curare themselves. The scientist had to steal the poison and spy on how the natives do it.
The leaves, roots and stems of Chondrodendron tomentosum were crushed, flooded and
over low heat cooked for a while, until the mass thickened. At the same time, she was constantly stirred. Sometimes the blood of poisonous frogs or other animals was added to the brew. Less strong poison had a light color, it was used for hunting. More potent and deadly was a thick, sticky poison with a smell of tar. It was used against enemies, processing thorns, which were then blown out of the tubes. Only the shaman of the tribe had the right to make curare poison, death was supposed for disobedience.
The active substance of curare poison is D-tubocurarine - an active alkaloid. If it is used in microdoses, then it is able to exert a therapeutic effect. This substance is used in the treatment of dropsy, urolithiasis, insanity, fever, etc. You can use it externally in case of severe bruises in the form of compresses. Native American shamans have long known this and have skillfully used and continue to use curare poison.
