(Ch.5) Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice

Chapter 5: A Recipe for Poison

Chapter 5: A Recipe for Poison

A recipe for poison What is curare?

is a plant-derived poison used by indigenous peoples of South America for hunting.

How do most curares function?

by blocking neuromuscular transmission, causing paralysis (immobility) in prey animals.

What is taxidermy?

art of preparing and stuffing skins of animals for display/study

What are the 2 staple dishes in almost every Latin American country?

rice and beans

The poor often subsist on little else. Oranges originated in tropical _____ and are therefore not native to the Amazon.

Southeast Asia

Orange juice and lime juice can prevent the disease called ________ which was prevalent in sailors during colonial times. Oranges are actually green on the outside unless exposed to _______air.

scurvy; oxygen

A bitter almond smell can be a sign of what?

cyanide poisoning

Tonka beans were once used to make synthetic _____ but we now know that they can be toxic in high quantities.

coumarin

Why is it important for the book of medicinal plants to be translated into Tirio for future Shamans?

for preservation/pass on knowledge of plant medicine within cultural records