Frontier Chemistry Project



What is this?

The Frontier Chemistry Project is designed to give students knowledge about local flora through research and real life experience. In creating an online resource guide, students can readily find information and heal maladies with information found previously.

Why do I need to know this?

It is extremely vital to be able to identify a plant/root correctly because in order to harvest edible plants, one needs to be able to distinguish between the correct plant and one that could possibly cause death. Also, it is important for people who raise livestock, so they can determine whether or not their animals are ingesting toxic plants. Finally, for people wanting to manage vegetation, they need to be able to distinguish weed from native plant in order to preserve those plants.

In order to be able to distinguish plants from other regions, one would need to do some research to get better knowledge. One would need to do this when dealing with medicines and food because the plants found in one region might contain plants/roots from other areas as well, because plant species are able to drift locations over time. This is especially important when contracting an illness or ailment in the wild and needing treatment using plants quickly and with certainty.

It would make a significant difference when traveling in different seasons in regards to plant life in season at the time. One type of plant needed to treat an ailment might not be in bloom during summer, but in fall. This would be vital in knowing because instead of wasting time looking for that specific plant, one could move on to another plant they know would help them quickly.

Developing a relationship with native peoples about their habitat would be beneficial as a scientist because they have lived in the region for more time and are more familiar with the contents and behaviors of the habitat. They might also be able to provide interesting treatments for illnesses or patterns in the weather or growing over the years.

I would trust my knowledge or reference texts of local flora to treat illness or disease. I have been doing extensive research of plants' medicinal properties and have been exploring reference texts and have become familiar with them. I would not be comfortable, though, if the reference I'd be using was outdated because habitats do change. 

Medical conditions that will be treated using plants:

• Malaria
• Frostbite
• Tick bite
• Sore throat
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food poisoning
• Sprained ankle/wrist
• Knife cut
• Axe wound
• Snake bite (Rattlesnake)
• Dermatitis
• Rope burn
• Poison Ivy
• Blisters
• Fungus infection
• Bear attack (large flesh wounds)
• Deep puncture wound
• Burns from oil
• Toothache
• Flea bites
• Sunburn
• Gunshot wound (fleshy)
• Broken bone
• Burns from fire