Quiz: Health benefits of everyday herbs

Shameem Akthar, yogacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, takes you through five questions that explain how and why certain herbs have become effective household remedies.

Photograph: Wikimedia Commons

In several cultures common herbs are listed as having spiritual, religious or superstitious significance.

The science of herbs can be simply explained through the phyto-nutrients that plants have created as part of their evolutionary safeguards, to protect against a hostile world, while ensuring propagation and assuring them of nurture.

Alternative therapies and ancient magic studied and exploited this hidden science.