Rainforest Plants - Achocha

Family: Cucurbitaceaea

Taxon: Cyclanthera pedata

Common names: caigua, achocha, achoccha, achojcha, caiba, caihua, caygua, concombre grimpant, korila, kaikua, lady's slipper, pepino de comer, pepino de rellenar, pepino andino, slipper gourd, stuffing cucumber, taimia de comer, taimia de cipo, wild cucumber

General Description: Achocha (Caigua) is a vine found in tropical South America. It can grow to 40 feet, with tendrils that furnish occasion for climbing. The fruit resembles a flat cucumber and has been used historically in tribal medicine for lowering cholesterol, treating hypertension and regulating blood sugar. Other uses have also been documented among Peruvians.

Achocha is not grown commercially in the modern world, but seeds are ordinarily available from heirloom or heritage seed suppliers. It is a tender plant, and seeds are sown at the same time as tomatoes or beans. Achocha is an easy and spicy plant to grow, providing food screening and an eye-catching attraction for gardens.

Uses: An easy plant to grow, achocha was one of the food plants of the Incas and provides plentiful edible fruits in late summer. It was one of the food crops grown by the Incas that never became favorite in modern times. Achocha (Cyclanthera pedata) is not a true squash, but it belongs to the same family, Cucurbitaceae. This vine has been tested in cultivation outside the Americas and seems to have allembracing promise.

The flowers are small, but loved by hoverflies (beneficial garden insects) and achocha produces a prolific harvest. It is ready much like cucumbers and peppers; the fruit can be used small (1/2 inch) in salads or mature (1 inch, exploded) cooked. Some adolescent achochas look and taste like tiny cucumbers, a good substitute in many dishes. Filled with mincemeat or vegetables and baked, mature achochas make a tasty dish, not unlike stuffed peppers, with a flavor that has been likened to artichoke.

Achocha is increasingly favorite and available in the modern world. It has found its way to the natural products shop as a cholesterol administration supplement for lowering blood pressure, and blood-sugar regulation. It is sold in tablets or capsules, as well as freeze-dried fruit juice.

Rainforest Plants - Curare

Family: Menispermaceae

Genus: Chondrodendron

Species: tomentosum

Common Names: Curare, grieswurzel, pareira brava, pareira, vigne sauvage, uva-da-serra, uva-do-mato, ampihuasca blanca, antinupa, antinoopa, comida de venados, curari, ourari, woorari, worali, velvet leaf

General Description: Curare is a large vine found in the canopy of the South American rainforest. It is only four inches in diameter, but it grows high in the top of the canopy-100 feet. Also known as velvet leaf, its large heart-shaped leaves have a soft silky underside made up of tiny white hairs.

Uses: Curare, injected in high doses into level muscle tissue, is a very poisonous extract; it has been ready throughout tribal history in South America, for the purpose of poisoning the points of arrows. Curare, in large doses, paralyses the motor nerve-endings in striped muscle, and death occurs from respiratory failure. Curare is very bitter, and is truly a coarse name for varied dart poisons originating from South America. Curare is not to be confused with Curara.

Curare has differing effects depending upon dosage, either it is injected into muscle tissue, or ingested. Curare is used internally in tribal medicine for edema, fever, kidney stones and testicular inflammation. It is also known to relax muscles into a state of inactivity.

Under acceptable medical care and attention, curare is also used to ease spastic paralysis, to treat some thinking disorders, and to induce muscle freedom for setting fractures. Curare is now used extensively in modern medicine. It is only toxic if it enters the bloodstream. Curare is not for sale to the normal public.

As with many Amazonian tribal plant history and legend, curare is ready by old women. In some traditions, the witch physician has a monopoly of the business, but generally, wise old men get together to brew a batch. Extra curare was ordinarily carried by tribal members in a gourd or calabash, and stored with weapons.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or preclude any disease.