Curare is a fairly large vine, we can say that its stem is similar in structure to a tree and has a volume that reaches 10 cm. On the stem there are large heart-shaped leaves with pedicels, located alternately. From above, the leaves are smooth, their veins are clearly visible and from below they are covered with hairs that have a white tint. In addition, on the vine there are small flowers with a greenish color, collected in tassels. In the female flowers, very small oval-shaped juicy fruits are formed, which narrows towards the base.
Although curare is a raw material for poison, it also has useful properties. The following active substances are present in the curare composition: d-tubocurarin is the alkaloid that determines the toxic properties of chondrodendronthometosus. This alkaloid has the following medicinal properties: it is an extraordinary substance that disrupts the function of nerve impulses that control muscles.
This blockage leads to paralysis of the fingers of the upper and lower extremities, the eyelids, vision, hearing, then the face, neck, arms and legs enter the paralysis state, and then death occurs later of respiratory system paralysis. During the last stage of death, called agony, the liver becomes inflamed and the skin acquires a bluish hue. To activate the toxic effect of the poison, you need to enter the bloodstream. And if you lick it, there will be no consequences.
Since ancient times, shamans of Indian tribes have widely used curare for diuretic purposes. In addition, the curare action helped violent patients during the following exacerbations. Curare was also used to treat dropsy, kidney stones: patients received the medication internally. And it is used externally to apply compresses for bruises. In addition, modern Brazilians widely use chondrodendron tomentosum root, and ingest it in very small doses to cure dropsy, fever, madness and externally with bruises.
To prepare the poison, several methods were used. The most famous is the classic. Following this method, chopped leaves, stems and roots of Chondrodendrontomentosum were transferred to the liquid phase over low heat, sometimes, for example, blood from poisonous frogs or snakes was added. At the same time, the boiling substance was stirred and made with a thick consistency.
The poison used to hunt small animals was lighter in color, and the most powerful poison reached black and was almost hard and smelled like tar. And with the help of this poison they reached targets, they were first smeared with special thin sticks and expelled from the tubes.
The word "curare" has Native American roots and means poison. And only shamans could prepare this poison, and the death penalty would violate this tradition.
For a large amount of time, curare was used only in scientific research with the aim of immobilizing the animal, but with the condition of maintaining the vital activity of the body. However, now drugs containing curare have found other uses. They are widely used in the field of surgery, perfectly relaxes all muscles in anesthesia. And also with the help of curare, it is possible to suppress respiratory movements to connect artificial respiration systems.
Thanks to the cure and the preparations that contain it, it was possible to perform the most complex operations on the heart, respiratory tract and organ transplants, because for this it is necessary to completely relax the muscles and turn off independent breathing.
In the field of treatment of nervous diseases, curare preparations are used to relieve spasmodic reactions of the muscles, as well as in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
But today, synthetically created drugs are widely used, which have a relaxing muscle effect, since the curare does not grow in Russia, and preparations with its contents are supplied from abroad. And now anesthetists can choose a lot of medications for muscle relaxation, in addition, curariform agents are widely used.
