Burns

Partridge Pea

Chamaecrista fasciculate

Habitat: Eastern deciduous forest & tallgrass prairie

Active Chemical Ingredient: Jasmonic Acid (C₁₂H₁₈O₃)

Season: Mid-summer to early fall

Uses: The partridge pea can be used to soothe a sore throat, malaria, and minor skin problems such as burns.

Preparation: A cold infusion of the pea pods and drinking it treats sore throats. The leaves/roots can be boiled into a tea to treat a fever/malaria. Moistened leaves wrapped into a poultice will treat burns.

Jasmonic Acid (n.d) Retrieved September 1, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmonic_acid

American Bittersweet

Celastrus scandens

Habitat: Eastern deciduous forest & tallgrass prairie

Season: Early summer-fall

Active Chemical Ingredient: Beta-carotene (C₄₀H₅₆) protects cells against damage.

Uses: The bark of the plant is used to treat burns and scrapes.

Preparation: An ointment made from the bark and applied to the affected area will help heal burns and minor skin afflictions. The fruit is toxic.

 

How does neutralization of free radicals by beta-carotene work? (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/13866/how-does-neutralization-of-free-radicals-by-beta-carotene-work