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Curare

Useful properties and applications of curare


Description curare

Curare is a large vine, we can say that its stem is similar to the structure of the tree, its size, reaching 10 cm. On the stem are heart-shaped large leaves with stalks, standing alternately. On top of the leaves are smooth, their veins are clearly visible, and the bottom are covered with hairs, having a white hue. In addition, on the vine are small flowers, having a greenish color, collected in the brush. Female flowers are formed juicy, very little fruit oval, tapering to the base, shape.

The past of this plant is quite interesting and rich. Initially about curare recognized Indian tribes, and they called it differently – that curare, kururu and similar names. Also, a long period of time there were differences, what kind of plant is the basis for the manufacture of poison, as numerous tribes used different types of plants and their combinations for these purposes. Curare is a poison used in such weapons as a bow.

And 75 years ago R. Gill, a scientist from America, still managed to identify what kind of plant is actually served as raw material for the poison curare. This plant was Chondodendrontomentosum that is part of the family Menispermaceae. In further studies, scientist found that the Indians used curare. Their division into species was on two grounds – the symptoms that occur with death, and also for raw materials that was used, and the method of storage of the manufactured from the extract.

This extract could be stored in the tube from the processed stalks of bamboo or in a special pot. It's basically kept many types of poisons derived from Strychnostoxifera included in the family logunovich. This poison combines all the qualities strahanovich plants. But the most dangerous and fast-acting venom that is extracted from Chondrodendrontomentosum, stored in unusual bamboo tubes.

Curare is one of the most powerful poisons of vegetable origin. It was widely used by South American tribes for hunting for lubrication of shafts. But the poison curare have been used in other areas of life. Spanish conquerors first tried the effect of the poison when they tried to enslave the Indian tribes. And white people are very afraid of the mysterious and deadly poison curare.

In Europe, the poison first appeared thanks to W. Reilly. It was a versatile person. He was a knight under Queen, a talented poet and writer, as well as a famous traveler, who discovered many new corners of the earth. Tounfortunately, after him there was no showing of papers on curare. The earliest documented recording was made a priest from Spain after he visited the shores of the great river Amazon.

But in the later scientist Charles Marie de La Condamin brought to France by the poison, and knowledge about its manufacturing process, and what is most interesting, the information he stole from the Indians. At this event the history of curare did not end, but was given a new impetus to the study of the mysterious poison in the world.

At that time there was quite a bit of information about curare – only that it was extracted from plants belonging to the genus Strychnos, the natural habitat of which are South American territory, and the Indians used them to hunt animals and defend against various aggressions of the conquerors. Historical documents of that time contain a lot of stories about how the Indians hunted animals using poison curare. And in one of these sources is described how quickly acted this poison, just a few minutes.

Further study of curare led to remarkable discoveries which became the basis for the progressive development of scientific knowledge.

In the 19th century many scholars believed that the transition of the excitation pulse with the nerve fibres on the muscles is a kind of phenomenon with physical characteristics, some electric process. However, ongoing studies aimed at identifying the primary action of curare on the body, has raised serious doubts on these findings.

In the mid-19th century French physician K. Bernard received from the Emperor of France, Napoleon III as a gift curare to carry out the necessary experiments and studies. And scientist proved that the poison neither muscle nor neural activity has no effect. However, here arose natural question: what and how they brought an animal to death? If the poison had any effect on the muscular and nervous system of the animal, why was the immobility and paralysis? Even after a little less than a quarter of a century it remained a mystery.

The poison caused enormous interest, many scientists began to conduct experiments, various studies to know the mechanism of its action. Some of them assumed that in the space that is between the muscles and nerves is something that's susceptible to curare. And this place where the contact of nerve fibers with the muscle, was awarded the name as a synapse.

Thanks to the discovery of the synapse and its substance was made open regarding the mechanism of action of the poison on the body. After contact with poison SYNOPTIC material cannot transmit the pulse and he is not able to overcome the synaptic cleft. Becausethis is the inaction of the muscles. Despite the fact that the animal as if ready to run, there is a complete relaxation of the muscles, it paralyzes the respiratory system, and it dies.

It seems to be the principle of action of curare was clear, but his story is not over. New studies began during the second World war and is still going on. At this time experiments are being conducted to identify the mechanism of action of curare in anesthesiology. During surgery, the famous doctors Griffith and Johnson used one of the elements of the poison – interactin. And he was very effective – was reduced dose of the drug due to curare.

Now in anesthesiology plays a huge role derivatives of curare. It is a muscle, and their action is very important. And the history of this field of medicine was divided into two parts. The first part is the period before the advent of muscle relaxants, and the second part is the beginning of their application.

Also interesting classification of curare, which include several subspecies.

The first subspecies is pipe curare. It is called tubo-curare. Essence of curare placed in a tube of bamboo, their length should be 25 cm. This billet was used to lubricate the shafts of the bow. A subspecies of this poison possessed of the strongest medicinal effect, and its main alkaloid is referred to as tuberin. It gidrohlorida component is used in surgery as muscle-relaxing substance, and tubokurarin chloride is to cope with the effects of strychnine poisoning.

The second subspecies is the pot curare. The concentrated plant material is formed into a pot of clay, definitely unfired, and is later used during bird hunting.

The third subspecies is pumpkin curare. The extract was stored in a small pumpkins. This poison is the strongest, and it is used for hunting large animals, or in repelling the attacks of enemies. The main part of the concentrated raw material is a nitrogen-containing organic compounds of the plant Strychnos toxifera

The principle of the mechanism of action of curare is as follows. The poison leads to paralysis of the nerves responsible for movement of all striated muscle and airway. The result is asphyxiation resulting in death, and interestingly, while consciousness is not impaired. In addition, if the poison is not sufficient, return to life through artificial respiration, since poison is excreted through the kidneys. But to poison curare enough to hurt the skin.

Venom has found wide application in physiology and for experiments on animals. As an antidote to curare are substances that slow or even prevent the chemicalreactions such as cholinesterase inhibitors.

Useful properties of curare

Despite the fact that curare is used to poison, it has useful properties. The composition of curare contains the following active substances: alkaloid, which identifies toxic properties Chondrodendrontomentosum is d-tubokurarin. This alkaloid possesses the following medicinal properties – it is a remarkable substance that violate the function of nerve impulses that control the muscles.

This lock leads to paralysis of the fingers of the upper and lower extremities, eyelids, vision, hearing, then in a state of paralysis coming on the face, neck, hands, feet, and then death occurs after paralysis of the respiratory system. During the last stages of dying, called agony, inflamed liver, and the skin takes on a bluish tinge. To intensify the toxic effect of the poison he needs to hit the blood. But if it to lick, then no consequences will come.

The use of curare

Since ancient times the shamans of Indian tribes are widely used in curare diuretic purposes. In addition, the action of curare was helped by violent patients during the next exacerbation. Also, curare is used to treat dropsy, kidney stones – patients were given the tool internally. And externally used for blending poultices for bruises. In addition, modern Brazilians make extensive use of the root of Chondrodendron tomentosum, and take it inside in very small doses to cure dropsy, fever, madness, and externally for bruises.

For the preparation of poison was used in several ways. The most famous is a classic. Following this method, shredded leaves, stems, and roots Chondrodendrontomentosum on slow heat transferred into the liquid phase, sometimes added to them, for example, blood poisonous frogs or snakes. While boiling substance was slowly stirring and brought to a thick consistency.

Poison used for hunting small animals and had a light color, and the most powerful poison came down to the black color and was almost hard and had a smell of resin. And with this poison hit a target, first the water or in thin sticks and blew them out of the tubes.

The word "curare" has native American roots and means poison. And to prepare the poison could only shamans, and broke this tradition was waiting for the death penalty.

For a lot of time curare was used only in researchobjective immobilize the animal, but with the condition of preserving the life of the organism. Now, however, the preparations containing curare found another use. They are widely used in the field of surgery, it perfectly relaxes all the muscles in a state of anesthesia. As well as using curare to suppress respiratory motion, connected to system of artificial breath.

Thanks curare and drugs with its contents, it is possible to perform the most complex operations on the heart, respiratory tract, and organ transplantation, as it requires you to relax the muscles completely and disable spontaneous breathing.

In the field of nervous disorders drugs with curare are used to relieve spasmodic reactions of the muscles and in the treatment of the disease Parkinson's.

But today widely used synthetically created drugs that have a muscle relaxant effect, because in Russia curare does not grow, and preparations with content delivered from abroad. Now, anesthesiologists can choose a large number of drugs to relax the muscles, in addition, widely used curare-like agents.

Contraindications curare

Since curare has toxic properties, it is necessary to follow the exact dosage and in any case can not make yourself without a prescription.