Calabashes are small gourds and tube means a section of bamboo. Arrow poisons are also stored in small pottery containers by people of some cultures. Cissampelos species The preparation of these mixtures is usually complicated and many plant materials are used in addition to the major active ones. Some of these have been shown to have synergistic effects. Once prepared, the dose is often standardized by shooting small birds or animals of particular species and noting the amount necessary to kill them.
Death usually occurs by asphyxiation.
Most curares are not considered toxic orally, but some accounts suggest that consuming them can be hazardous. In Africa, Strychnos species are also often used to make curares. In other areas, plants of the Euphorbiaceae and Apocynaceae containing cardiac glycosides were used. In general, the active compounds are organic bases called alkaloids. The alkaloids from both tube and calabash curares have been used medicinally.