Many herbal remedies make use of plants that are traditionally found in the English countryside, or at least the European countryside. You know the sort of thing – hawthorn extract for helping blood circulation, chamomile for stomach upsets, willow bark for headaches, and garlic for nearly everything. But some herbs and plants you can find are more exotic (not counting herbs that have become more popular here in the west, even though they have an exotic origin, such as aloe vera and cinnamon). Some of these exotic herbs have been used for ages in the Ayurvedic (Hindu) tradition and some have been widely used in China, while still others have only been recently discovered in the rainforests.

Neem oil: This oil comes from India and is used topically for ulcers and some skin conditions, and internally for treating fever. It also has a range of other uses; it is a disinfectant and an organic pesticide. No natural home should be without it!

Guggul: Another herb from India. This one is used for lowering cholesterol.

Gotu kola: Acts as a mental stimulant and a general pick-me-up. This is probably because of the caffeine content.

Ginseng: Originating from China, this herb is used as a general pick-me-up and for combating depression. It is also reputed to help boost the immune system and to ease menstrual cramps. It also has a reputation (probably unfounded) as an aphrodisiac.

Ma huang: Also called ephedra and controversial because it can be used as a performance enhancer for athletes (and is banned by the Olympic committee plus many other sporting bodies) and can be risky if taken in excess (which some idiots striving for competitive edge do). However, in China it is a popular remedy for respiratory problems, such as coughs, colds, asthma and hay fever, and it also helps fight fever. Many over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for coughs and cold, and even allergies use a lab-created substitute for ma huang. Avoid it if you are serious about sport, just in case.

Ginko: Another Chinese herb that has become very popular. This herb is supposedly a memory booster (rosemary, incidentally, was the memory booster of choice in the Western herbal tradition, which is why rosemary symbolised remembrance in the language of flowers).

Stevia: This is the diabetic’s best friend and comes from the Amazon rainforest. Stevia is as sweet as sugar or even sweeter, but contains no carbohydrates and minimal calories. It’s the perfect solution for those who want a sweet taste but have to watch their sugar, but don’t want to go for those awful artificial sweeteners (which are pretty bad news from a health perspective).

Yerba Maté: Pretty much the staple drink of the gauchos of Argentina, as it contains a good dollop of vitamin C and other antioxidants, and is a stimulant. Rumour has it that gauchos live pretty much on yerba mate and lean beef. Yerba mate extract can be found in a few tablets, but it is traditionally drunk as a tea (maté is South American Spanish for any herbal tea). The “proper” way to drink yerba maté as a tea is as follows: Put a generous dollop of yerba mate into a wooden bowl and add a spoon or three of natural sugar (or honey or stevia – you will need a sweetener). Stir well. Sip the tea through a special straw known as a bombilla, which is made from a hollow piece of cane and has a strainer (traditionally made from silver) at the lower end to prevent bits going up the straw. You can drink yerba maté alone this way, but in a group, the bowl and the bombilla is passed around the circle, everybody taking a sip as the bowl goes around.

Black Cohosh: From woodland parts of North America and with the alternative name of squawroot, this is recognised as being a great women’s supplement, used for easing PMS and the symptoms of menopause. Some clinical studies claim that black cohosh is as good as HRT for getting through the menopause but without the breast cancer risks.