The 5 Plants I Always Keep at Home On a Daily Basis and How I Use Them

As a herbalist, the plants I use most aren’t the rare or complicated ones. They’re the ones that fit easily into daily life and that I’ve built a relationship with over time. These are the five I always have at home.

1. Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Tulsi is probably the herb I use the most when it comes to stress and nervous system support. It has a noticeable effect on that wired feeling where your mind is busy but your body feels slightly depleted underneath it.

I tend to drink it as a tea, especially in the morning or early afternoon. Aside from its calming effect, it’s also has been shown to promote healthier blood glucose levels overtime, so I love knowing it’s also helping my metabolic health stay on track.

Tulsi is one of those herbs that feels easy to keep coming back to. The taste is naturally sweet and slightly aromatic, and it doesn’t feel like something you have to convince yourself to drink.

2. Chamomile

Chamomile is often seen as a sleep herb, but I use it just as much during the day. It’s one of the simplest ways to support both the nervous system and digestion at the same time.

If I feel tension and anxiety that’s manifesting in my digestive tract (tightness, cramps, indigestion) chamomile is usually the first thing I reach for. There’s a clear link between stress and digestion, and chamomile supports both simultaneously, which is a win win for sure.

3. Ginger

Ginger is one of the most practical herbs to have at home. It supports digestion in a very direct way, boosting gut motility and is especially useful when things feel sluggish or stuck after heavy after meals, or as a way to stimulate your “digestive fire” first thing in the morning. It’s also great for nausea and motion sickness.

I usually work with fresh ginger, slicing it and simmering it into a tea when I want something stronger. It’s warming, which makes it helpful when the body feels a bit cold or low in energy.

Adding it into meals like soups, stews, and curries is also one of the easiest ways to bring in herbal support without needing to do anything extra.

4. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is one of the herbs I reach for when stress is feeling like a constant force in my life.

It works a bit differently to something like tulsi or chamomile. Those are herbs I use more in the moment, when I feel the effects of stress during the day. Ashwagandha is more about what’s happening underneath that, and supports how the body responds to ongoing stress over time.

I don’t usually use it as a tea, since it has a strong taste and tends to work better in powder or extract form, like in Jennah Organics Hormone Balance. In this research-backed formula, Ashwagandha is combined with other supportive ingredients to help regulate stress and support the body through hormonal shifts.

It’s something I reach for when there’s that persistent feeling of fatigue, low resilience, or when your nervous system feels like it needs a deeper reset.

5. Calendula

Calendula is a gentle herb that I love for its affinity to the lymphatic system.

As a tea it has a natural affinity for moving stagnation when the body needs when things feel slightly puffy, sluggish, or inflamed.

Calendula oil is also something I use often on my skin, especially when it feels dry, reactive, or a irritated. It also works well applied more intentionally along lymphatic areas like the neck or under the arms, where things can feel a bit congested.

You can make it yourself by covering dried calendula petals with a carrier oil like olive or jojoba and letting it infuse over a few weeks before straining.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully this leaves you feeling inspired to slowly turn your kitchen into a bit of an apothecary.

It doesn’t have to be structured or perfect. Most of the time, it’s just small things done consistently, and if you don’t have the time or space to make everything yourself, having well-formulated blends from a brand like Jennah Organics can be a simple way to still bring that kind of support into your daily routine.