A deadly poison from South American plants that was traditionally used on arrows and darts to paralyze prey, now used in small amounts in medicine.
From Tupi (South American indigenous language) 'curari' or 'woorali.' Spanish conquistadors learned about this poison from indigenous peoples and the word entered European languages as they documented New World discoveries.
Curare was a mystery to Europeans until scientists realized it blocks the connection between nerves and muscles — now it's used in tiny doses during surgery to relax muscles, showing how indigenous poisons became modern medicine.
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