It's good stuff if you're ever dying of fever, severe food poisoning, or internal infection. Usually a mixture very similar to tequila, but with several other local plants and herbs (like with a decent gin) and sometimes some type of animal oil(obviously the snakes in this case).
Down in the Yucatan, one could get a bottle of turtle oil (illegal in the states). One could cure quite a few different ailments with a small bowl full of freshly diced scorching hot chiles, mixed with a big table spoon of turtle oil, followed with a healthy shot of tequila(teh"kill"ya), and then eating an orange wedge to keep you from vomiting.
Turtle oil has got to be one of the most foul things I've ever tasted, but I was up and recovered from a nasty feverish bug in less than a day.
Seen a few different local "boom-boom"s in my travels. Rarely ever turned down an opportunity to try when offered. Used to make good money betting my shippies and swim buddies. But then, I've got the stomach of a billy goat.
Hell, if one can handle sashimi, this should be a snap.