curare
Amazonian dart toxin
Curare is a plant-derived poison traditionally used by South American indigenous peoples on arrow and blowgun darts for hunting.
It paralyzes prey by blocking nerve signals to muscles.
In medicine, purified curare compounds serve as muscle relaxants during surgery.
The word comes from a Carib term for poison.
Breath-propelled dart tube
- dartHandheld pointed projectile
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- indigenousOriginating in a region
tribal · shaman · ritual · jungle · South America · hunting · prey · tip
Nitrogenous plant compound
- neuromuscularNerve-to-muscle signaling
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- muscle relaxantAgent reducing tissue tension
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
receptor · blocker · anesthesia · surgery · intubation · ventilator · depolarizing · nicotinic
Poison attacking neural tissue
- paralyticUnable to move voluntarily
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
- respiratory failureInadequate lung gas exchange
- lethalCausing or capable of death
antidote · poisoning · toxicity · diaphragm · suffocation · immobilization · flaccid paralysis · reversible
Inherited therapeutic practices
- folk remedyTraditional unofficial medical treatment
- healingRestoration of health
- botanicalRelated to plants
- collectedCalm and self-possessed
processed · shamanic · cultural heritage · oral tradition · conservation · medicinal plants
blowgun
Breath-propelled dart tube
- dartHandheld pointed projectile
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
indigenous · tribal · shaman · ritual · jungle · South America · hunting · prey · tip · coating
alkaloid
Nitrogenous plant compound
- neuromuscularNerve-to-muscle signaling
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- muscle relaxantAgent reducing tissue tension
acetylcholine · receptor · blocker · anesthesia · surgery · intubation · ventilator · depolarizing · nicotinic · dosage
neurotoxin
Poison attacking neural tissue
- paralyticUnable to move voluntarily
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
- respiratory failureInadequate lung gas exchange
lethal · antidote · poisoning · toxicity · diaphragm · suffocation · immobilization · flaccid paralysis · reversible · animal testing
traditional medicine
Inherited therapeutic practices
- folk remedyTraditional unofficial medical treatment
- healingRestoration of health
- botanicalRelated to plants
collected · processed · shamanic · cultural heritage · oral tradition · conservation · medicinal plants
- Rainforest Productsacai, Brazil nuts, cacao, cocoa, mahogany
- alkaloid plantsbelladonna, coca plant, coffee plant, opium poppy, tobacco plant
- Amazonian tribesGuarani, Amazon tribes, rainforest tribes, tribal chiefs, tribal elders
- ethnobotanyayahuasca, peyote, coca, coca leaf, cannabis
- hazardous substancescyanide, arsine, mustard gas, nerve gas, phosgene
- herbal medicineherbal medicine, herbal remedies, herbal remedy, herbal tea, herbal teas
curarestrychnine
Highly toxic plant alkaloid
stimulant · convulsant · caffeine · epinephrine · adrenaline
curareantidote
Substance neutralizing harmful agents
remedy · counterpoison · medicine · cure · restorative