Frontier Chemistry Project

The Frontier Chemistry project consists of a variety of plants located in the Eastern Deciduous Forest and Tall Grass Prairie in Missouri. Each of the plants is used to treat a number of different maladies, and the active chemical is named.

The importance of identifying a plant/root correctly is necessary when on the frontier. If you misidentify a plant, then obviously, the plant will not work as you expect it. The malady in which you are suffering will most likely get worse, and the effects could be devastating. Also, the misinterpretation of a plant could kill you because the plant may be poisonous or could do the opposite of the plant you were looking for.

It would be prudent to know a variety of species from other regions when dealing with natural medicines and food because you never know what could happen, and it can't hurt to know the plant species. If you're on a hike and get lost in a foreign area, knowledge of plants could save your life in multiple aspects. If you get sick or injured, the natural healing components of plants could treat your ailment. Also, knowledge of what you can and can't eat can keep you alive for long enough to where you can get rescued.

Traveling in different seasons would make a difference because different plants bloom at different times, and many plants are dormant over winter. Additionally, the chemicals that are active in the plants at the time of the year differ, so plants could have completely different uses between times of the year.

Developing a relationship with local people would benefit a scientist in many ways. First, the scientist would learn about the common plants around the area. Also, the scientist would learn of the treatments different plants can be used for, and the way in which they are used. Recipes for different tinctures, ointments or poultices could be learned as well, and how they are used in that specific area.

I would trust my or a reference texts knowledge of local flora because if I was suffering from a malady, I would have to trust them. My knowledge, if I had enough to know about the local flora, would be trusted because I would know what I was doing. I also could be dying, so I would have to rely on my knowledge if I wanted to survive.


Malaria

Tick Bite

Frostbite

Sore Throat

Constipation

Diarrhea

Food Poisoning

Sprained Ankle/Wrist

Knife Cut

Axe Wound

Rattlesnake Bite

Dermatitis

Rope Burn

Poison Ivy

Blisters

Fungus Infection

Bear Attack

Deep Puncture Wound

Oil Burn

Toothache

Flea Bites

Sunburn

Gunshot Wound

Broken Bone

Fire Burn