Albizia 合欢皮
Chinese name : He huan hua
Botanical name : Albizia julibrissin
Organs - Heart, Liver
Energetics - Neutral
Treasure - Shen, Qi
Taste - Sweet
Sourced from - Sichuan, Hubei regions of China.
This flower comes from what is traditionally called “The Tree of Happiness.”
It is considered one of the ultimate Shen herbs of Taoist Tonic Herbalism, and although the bark is often used, the flower is even more effective in stabilising the Shen and nourishing the Shen, which elevates one’s mood, strengthens spiritual resolve and, with long term use, makes happiness more accessible.
This is one of the greatest herbs to use when someone is deflated and feeling down on themselves. It is often used when mood is erratic, and especially when any of the classic signs of mental imbalance due to Shen disturbance are present.
Traditionally it is always favoured when one is experiencing a broken heart or despair. Although this issue seems trivial in the West, classically trained herbalists know that the Qi of the body can benefits heavily from herbal (and community) support during times of loss.
