Well, this is a tricky question.

Most plants which cause paralysis are highly toxic, and it is difficult to calculate precisely the dosage which will paralyze an individual without killing him. There are also different kinds of paralysis — spasm, which generally targets only skeletal muscles but often accompanied by pain, convulsion, and vomiting; and muscle relaxation, which can affect smooth muscles such as the heart and diaphragm, causing death.

Come to the greenhouse; let me show you something I’ve been working on…

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Strychnos toxifera one of two main sources of curare, or the “arrow poisons,” used in South America.

There are, in fact, a number of different preparations of curare, with different primary toxins, all of which work via muscle relaxation. I am currently working on isolating the toxin Alcuronium, which is effective in small doses, administered subcutaneously, and has minimal side effects.

But why on earth would you be interested in this stuff?