Earth Medicine

17/12/2025

Did you know? 🌿

Did you know that rosemary is now a member of the sage family and has a different botanical name? According to new scientific evidence, the relationship between rosemary and sage is surprisingly much closer than originally expected. Therefore, botanists have revised its botanical classification. The plant we used to call Rosmarinus officinalis is now called Salvia rosmarinus.

Rosmarinus and Salvia had been classified as two entirely separate genera since the plant naming system began in 1753. The stamens of the plants were deemed to be similar but not enough to warrant identifying them as one plant type.

This decision was changed due to a study published in 2017. Scientists found, after studying the DNA of Salvias and closely related genera including Rosmarinus, that they are all equally related. Therefore, a reclassification would be necessary. This might mean either splitting the genus Salvia or putting plants from the other genera in with Salvia.

Including Rosmarinus into Salvia would require only 15 name changes, while retaining Rosmarinus and four other small genera and renaming various Salvia taxa would require over 700 name changes.

The study concluded: “Our results largely confirm results from previous studies based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA. Based upon the phylogenetic results presented here, previous phylogenetic studies, and taxonomic, morphological, and practical considerations, we conclude that the botanical community would be best served by maintaining a broadly defined Salvia, including the five small embedded genera Dorystaechas, Meriandra, Perovskia, Rosmarinus, and Zhumeria as Salvia species.”

In 2019, members of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Nomenclature and Taxonomy Advisory Group accepted the inclusion of Rosmarinus into the genus Salvia.

John David, Head of Horticultural Taxonomy at the RHS said: "It is important that our naming system reflects the latest science otherwise it stands to lose its meaning.

"Understanding plant interactions and therefore their uses, which is reflected in the scientific name they carry, could inspire more people to grow for people and planet. We’re certainly not meddling for meddling’s sake by adopting this name change but reflecting the latest research that could help us in conserving our gardens for the future."

My herb teacher, Hein Zeylstra, used to joke that he dreaded rainy days—because when botanists couldn’t go on field trips, they would instead sit around and change the botanical names of our favourite herbs!

For more information see: https://www.gardensillustrated.com/news/rosemary-salvia-rhs-reclassified
and
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.12705/661.7

19/08/2025

Many of us have far too much fructose ......

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=711697515200185&set=a.149392444764031

Just nine days without added fructose—the kind of sugar found in sodas, fruit juices, and processed foods—can begin to reverse liver damage, according to a study published in Gastroenterology by researchers at Touro University and UC San Francisco.

In the study, children and teens who cut out added fructose saw a 20% reduction in liver fat in just over a week. Crucially, the change wasn’t due to weight loss—participants lost less than 1% of their body weight—proving that the benefit came directly from eliminating fructose.

Fatty liver disease among youth has more than doubled over the past 20 years, contributing to insulin resistance and raising the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The trial focused on obese Latino and African-American adolescents—groups with some of the highest added-sugar consumption. They swapped out fructose-heavy foods for starchy, glucose-based alternatives, while keeping their total calorie intake the same.

After just nine days, MRI scans revealed significant drops in liver fat and improvements in insulin sensitivity—showing how rapidly the body can respond to even small dietary changes.

Researchers say reducing national fructose intake, even modestly, could dramatically cut healthcare costs by lowering the burden of metabolic diseases. The takeaway? You don’t need to overhaul your life—just ditch the added sugar, and your liver will thank you.

Follow Science Sphere for regular scientific updates

REFERENCE 📄
Schwarz, Jean-Marc et al. “Effects of Dietary Fructose Restriction on Liver Fat, De Novo Lipogenesis, and Insulin Kinetics in Children With Obesity.” Gastroenterology vol. 153,3 (2017): 743-752.

10/03/2024

❤❤❤

10/03/2024

Always! ❤

Your daily Higher Perspective of the Day

19/02/2024

15/02/2024

Higher mushroom consumption is associated with a lower risk of cancer

https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/higher-mushroom-consumption-associated-lower-risk-cancer/?fbclid=IwAR24VzFHn4h55uiRocvnewCH91b-O1mm46AOnLSBeSCG0u3fs0iF1OgsJ8o

A study by Penn State College of Medicine researchers found that higher mushroom consumption is associated with a lower risk of cancer.

03/02/2024

Always let Joy in ❤❤

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=930104725144924&set=a.276619250493478

One for the weekend…

JOY CHOSE YOU

Joy does not arrive with a fanfare,
on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life.

Joy sneaks in, as you pour a cup of coffee,
watching the sunlight hit your favourite tree,
just right.

And you usher joy away,
because you are not ready for it.
Your house is not as it should be,
for such a distinguished guest.

But joy cares nothing for your messy home,
or your bank-balance,
or your waistline, you see.

Joy is supposed to slither through the cracks of your imperfect life,
that’s how joy works.

You cannot truly invite her,
you can only be ready when she appears.

And hug her with meaning,
because in this very moment,

joy chose you.

Donna Ashworth

Art by Inge Löök Oy Ab

This poem is from Wild Hope ♥️
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2j0Nquu
🇺🇸US: https://a.co/d/h6FEaTv