Curare

Curare is an herbal medicine that has been used by traditional healers in South America for centuries. It is derived from the bark of various trees of the genus Strychnos, and is traditionally prepared by boiling the bark in water for several hours. The active ingredient in curare is an alkaloid called d-tubocurarine, which is a powerful muscle relaxant. Curare acts on the neuromuscular junction to block the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles, resulting in muscle relaxation and paralysis. This effect can be helpful for medical purposes, such as providing muscle relaxation during surgery, or providing relief from muscle spasms associated with certain neurological disorders. Curare has also been used as a traditional hunting poison by tribes in South America, where it was applied to the tips of arrows.