I'm writing a book and I'm looking for information on plants that could cause temporary paralysis in a human without fatal consequences. I want them for the fictional primitive society in my story, where some natural medicine keeps people still during surgery—not necessarily to numb pain, just to keep them immobile. Any suggestions on what plants might work?
3 Answers
Datura might be another option. This plant contains scopolamine, which can cause paralysis and also make a person extremely suggestible. It’s steeped in folklore too, which would add to your narrative. Just make sure to write it in a way that fits your world and storyline! There's also some myth around plants that create a sort of 'mental paralysis,' offering a whole angle to explore.
You might want to check out monkshood, also known as aconitum or wolfsbane. It's a pretty toxic plant but could be interesting for your story since it can cause numbness and temporary paralysis in small doses. You could play with the idea that it leaves someone conscious but unable to move, which would fit your surgery scenario. Just be careful not to go too dark with it, given its deadly potential in real life!
If you're looking for something a bit different, consider curare. It comes from plants in South America and has been used historically to paralyze animals. Just keep in mind that in high doses, it can lead to respiratory failure, so you might need to adjust that aspect for your story to make it less deadly.
Yeah, curare is interesting but definitely needs some reworking for fiction since it could lead to death.
Thanks, that's super helpful! I like the idea of something that can paralyze without lethal effects.