Herbs at Home: Easy Ways to Enjoy Sage, Chamomile, Sunflower Petals, Hawthorn Berries, Astragalus, and Mint

The other day I was looking around my kitchen and garden and realized how many simple herbs I use regularly, often in my tea cup. I thought I’d share a few of my favorites and how I use them at home. Read on to learn a little about sage, mint, chamomile, astragalus, hawthorn berry and sunflower petals. Yes, even sunflower petals! All of these don’t just taste good, they may also support your mood, energy, digestion, and more. I hope this encourages you to try a few and enjoy their everyday magic!

🌿 Hawthorn Berry (Shan Zha): A Natural Digestive and Heart Health Aid and Herb at Home

Shan Zha, known in English as hawthorn berry, has been used for centuries in Chinese herbal medicine as a powerful aid for digestion and circulation. In Western terms, it’s also recognized for its ability to support healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

Hawthorn is particularly helpful after heavy meals, especially those high in fat and meat, and is often used to relieve bloating, sluggish digestion, and food stagnation. It also promotes circulation and is used to gently move blood, making it supportive for mild cardiovascular concerns.

Today, many people use Shan Zha as a tea, decoction, or smoothie addition for a natural boost in digestive and heart health.

Raw Shan Zha, Hawthorn Berry

🍵 How to Use Hawthorn Berry at Home

You can find Shan Zha in several forms. Here’s how to use each one effectively:

1. Raw, Whole (Unsliced) Hawthorn Fruit

This is the dried, round, whole version that still contains the pit. It's very hard and needs extra prep.

How to Use:

• Rinse a small handful (about 10–15 grams or 5–8 berries)

• Soak in hot water for 15–30 minutes to soften

• Optional: Lightly crack them with a rolling pin or mortar for better extraction

• Boil in 2–3 cups of water for 30–40 minutes

• Strain and drink while warm. Use after meals or daily for 1–2 weeks

Tip: You can reuse the same berries once by boiling them again with fresh water.

2. Raw, Sliced Hawthorn (the Traditional Decoction Form)

This is the most common version found in Chinese herb shops. The berries are sliced before drying, making them easier to cook.

How to Use:

• Use 10–15 grams (about 1 small handful)

• Add to 2–3 cups of water

• Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15–30 minutes

• Strain and drink, especially after meals or during periods of poor digestion or mild cholesterol concerns

3. Raw Hawthorn Powder 

When ground into a powder, hawthorn becomes an easy addition to drinks or food. The taste is sour and fruity, and it blends well.

How to Use:

• Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon to:

  • Smoothies

  • Warm water or tea

  • Applesauce or oatmeal

• Great for people who want the benefits of hawthorn without boiling

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🌿 Sage: Earthy, Warming, and Flavorful and a Great Herb for Home

Sage is a wonderfully aromatic herb best known for its use in cooking. It has a strong, earthy, slightly peppery flavor that pairs especially well with meats, stews, broths, and roasted vegetables. It adds depth, warmth, and a grounding quality to food — especially in cooler weather.

Sage is also known for its use in teas, especially when you want something warming, earthy, and soothing for the throat or digestion.

Sage

🍲 How to Use Sage in Food

Sage is commonly used dried or fresh, and a little goes a long way. It’s best known for pairing with:

• Roast chicken or turkey

• Lamb and pork

• Stuffing, gravies, and bone broths

• Root vegetables and mushrooms

• Beans and lentil stews

Try sautéing it in butter or olive oil to release its flavor before adding it to dishes. It also pairs beautifully with garlic, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. 

☕ Sage as Tea, a Great Herbs at Home

Though bold in food, sage makes a surprisingly gentle and grounding tea. I love it as a tea.

To make tea:

• Use 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves

• Add 1 cup hot water (190–205ºF)

• Steep 3–5 minutes, then strain

It has a slightly savory, earthy flavor and can be mixed with mint, chamomile, or lemon balm for a more balanced taste. Sage tea is traditionally used for soothing the throat, supporting digestion, and reducing excessive sweating or hot flashes.

🌟 Final Thoughts on Sage

Whether in your kitchen or your tea mug, sage is a strong but comforting herb. Use it in your meals to warm and deepen flavors, or steep a little for a cup of earthy calm. It’s a small leaf with a lot of heart.

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🌼 Chamomile: A Gentle Herbal Ally for Relaxation and Rest; a Great Herbs at Home

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is one of the most widely used herbal teas in the world — and for good reason. Traditionally used across Europe and in folk medicine for centuries, chamomile has found its place in modern herbalism as a gentle but effective relaxant, especially helpful for calming the mind, soothing digestion, and easing into rest.

With its delicate floral scent and mild, apple-like flavor, chamomile is safe, effective, and deeply soothing — making it a staple in many home herbal toolkits.

🌙 What Chamomile Is Good For

Chamomile shines as gently calming the nervous system without sedation.

In modern and traditional use, chamomile tea is helpful for:

• Reducing anxiety and stress

• Easing tension in the body

• Supporting sleep and winding down before bed

• Calming digestive upset, including gas, bloating, and stress-related indigestion

• Relieving muscle tension, including menstrual cramps and headaches from stress

Chamomile is one of the few herbs that works on both the nervous system and the digestive system, making it ideal for people who “hold stress in the gut.”

🍵 How to Use Chamomile at Home

The most common and effective method is a simple infusion (tea) using dried chamomile flowers. You can buy these loose in bulk, or in high-quality tea bags.

1. Chamomile Tea for Relaxation and Sleep

This is the go-to method for using chamomile at home.

How to Prepare:

• Use 1–2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers, or 1 tea bag

• Add 1 cup of just-boiled water

• Cover and steep for 10–15 minutes (longer = stronger effect)

• Strain and drink warm, ideally 30–60 minutes before bed, or any time you need to unwind

• Covering the tea while it steeps is important — it helps preserve the essential oils that carry the calming properties.

☕ For Extra Relaxation:

Chamomile pairs beautifully with:

• Lemon balm (for mood and nervous tension)

• Lavender (for sleep and relaxation)

• Fennel or peppermint (for digestion)

You can also add a touch of honey if desired.

2. Afternoon or Evening Calming Ritual

Chamomile isn’t only for sleep. A strong chamomile infusion can be your 2pm reset or evening unwind to release the mental clutter of the day — without caffeine, and without sedating you.

Try a cup when:

• You're feeling anxious or wired

• You’re winding down after work

• You’ve had a stressful conversation or overstimulation

• You want to transition into rest mode after screens or social time

Gentle Enough for Children

Chamomile is safe and effective for children too:

• A mild tea (1 tsp in 1 cup hot water, steeped 5–10 min) can soothe irritability, tummy aches, or restlessness in kids.

• For babies, a diluted tea can be given via dropper or bottle (check with a pediatric herbalist for exact dosing).

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🌞 Astragalus (Huang Qi): A Natural Energy Tonic for Daily Use

Huang Qi, known in English as astragalus root, is one of the most beloved and well-researched herbs in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern natural health circles. Traditionally used to tonify Qi (vital energy), modern practitioners and herbalists often turn to astragalus to support energy levels, immune strength, and resilience — especially during times of stress, recovery, or fatigue.

Astragalus

While Huang Qi is widely used in combination with other herbs in classical formulas, it is also one of the few powerhouse herbs that works beautifully on its own — making it a great choice for home use as a daily tea, broth addition, or tonic brew.

⚡ What Is Astragalus Used For?

In Western terms, astragalus may help:

• Support immune system function

• Increase energy and stamina

• Promote recovery after illness

• Strengthen the body’s resistance to stress and fatigue

• Assist in regulating blood sugar and blood pressure (mildly)

In Chinese medicine, it’s known to:

• Tonify Spleen Qi (translation: gives you energy!)

• Raise clear Yang (translation: more energy!)

• Strengthen the Wei Qi (translation: strengthens immunity)

• Promote tissue regeneration and healing (translation: omg it’s great for you!)

1. Astragalus Tea (Single Herb Qi Tonic)

This is the most common and accessible way to benefit from astragalus at home.

How to Prepare:

• Use 10–15 grams (about 4–6 root slices)

• Add to 3 cups of water

• Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 30–45 minutes

• Strain and drink warm or room temperature

• Optional: Boil a second time to get more out of the roots

Drink in the morning, or as a 2–3pm pick-me-up when energy dips. Unlike caffeine, it won’t spike and crash — it gently supports energy over time.

🌿 Tip: Add to Other Teas

Astragalus has a mild, slightly sweet, earthy taste. You can throw in a green tea bag or a few goji berries in the last 5 minutes of simmering for added antioxidants and flavor.

2. Astragalus in Broths and Soups

A classic traditional method! Astragalus strengthens the body from the inside out, and this is especially nice during colder months or post-illness recovery.

How to Use:

• Toss 3–6 sticks of Huang Qi into your soup or broth pot

• Simmer with other ingredients for at least 30 minutes (ideally longer)

• Strain out the root slices before eating — they’re woody and fibrous, not meant to be eaten

This is a subtle, nourishing way to make your food work as medicine.

💡 Final Thoughts on Astragalus - Why You'll Love It

Astragalus is one of those herbs that’s gentle enough for daily use, yet powerful enough to make a real difference over time. It's an ideal herb for people who feel run down, burned out, or looking to stay strong during stressful seasons or demanding schedules.

It's not a stimulant — there’s no crash, no jitters. Just steady, rooted energy and deeper immunity.

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🍵 How to Use Mint (Bo He) at Home

Bo He is most often enjoyed as a tea, but it also makes a wonderful food herb, adding brightness to meals and drinks.

1. Mint Tea for Digestion and Calm

This is one of the easiest herbal teas to make and enjoy at home.

Mint, Bo He

How to Prepare:

• Use 1–2 teaspoons of dried mint leaves, or a small handful of fresh mint

• Pour just-boiled water over the mint

• Cover and steep for 5–10 minutes

• Strain and enjoy warm or cool

Covering the tea while it steeps preserves the essential oils that help digestion and mood. This tea can be enjoyed:

• After meals to ease bloating or gas

• In the morning to awaken the senses

• On hot days to cool and refresh

• In the afternoon for a calm energy lift without caffeine

2. Pair Mint with Other Herbs

Mint combines beautifully with:

• Chamomile – for stress or tension headaches

• Ginger – for digestive warmth and balance

• Green tea – for clarity and focus

• Sunflower Petals - for brightening the mood

You can add a green tea bag and a few mint leaves to your morning cup for a refreshing and bright start.

3. Use Mint as Food!

Mint is not just a tea herb — it’s a delicious and uplifting addition to food as well!

• Add chopped fresh mint to salads, soups, yogurt, smoothies, and grain bowls

• Use in sauces like mint chutney, tzatziki, or pesto

• Toss into fruit dishes, iced drinks, or even cocktails/mocktails

Look online for “mint recipes” and you’ll find hundreds of creative, refreshing ideas — from Middle Eastern dishes to herbal desserts.

🌟 Final Thoughts on Mint

Mint (Bo He) is a cooling, bright, and versatile herb that’s as at home in your teacup as it is in your kitchen. Whether you’re settling your stomach, lifting your mood, clearing your head, or just adding flavor to a dish, mint offers a refreshing herbal ally for everyday life.

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🌻 Sunflower Petal Tea (Kui Hua Ban): A Cup of Sunshine

I grow my own sunflowers, and when the blooms are full and golden, I harvest the petals and dry them. I like to add them to my mint tea or other blends — not for flavor, because they don’t really have any strong taste — but because sunflowers lift my mood. There’s something about the bright yellow petals in my teacup that brings me joy.

Sunflower petals!

It’s safe to use the petals in small amounts, as long as they haven’t been sprayed with anything. I love the visual beauty and the mental boost they give me. Just knowing I’m drinking sunflower petals makes me smile.

Some people say sunflower petals have health benefits too. In folk medicine, they’ve been used occasionally to support the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, and gently move energy. But honestly? I use them because they make me feel good.

☕ How to Make Sunflower Petal Tea

• Boil water (about 190–205ºF)

• Add 1–10 dried sunflower petals to a cup

• Pour hot water over them

• Steep 3–5 minutes

• Strain and sip

You can drink it on its own, or add the petals to any other tea you love — mint, chamomile, green tea, etc. I often look into the cup, see the petals floating, and think about sunshine and summer fields. That’s the real medicine for me.