He Huan Pi
StarAlbizia julibrissin
Synonyms: Feuilleea julibrissin, Mimosa julibrissin, Sericandra julibrissin, Acacia julibrissin
☯ TCM Properties
Calms the Spirit and relieves constraint; Invigorates and harmonizes the Blood, stops pain and reconnects sinews and bones; Regulates Qi, alleviates pain, dissipates swellings and reduces abscesses
Traditional Chinese Uses
He Huan Pi (albizzia bark, silk tree bark) is a neutral, sweet herb used in Chinese medicine to calm the Shen, relieve emotional depression, and invigorate Blood. It is specifically indicated for emotional conditions from Liver Qi stagnation — including sadness, grief, depression, irritability, insomnia, and difficulty sleeping due to emotional suffering. Its Blood-activating properties extend to traumatic injuries and swellings. Its gentle emotional calming and Blood-moving actions make it a balanced herb for treating the combined pattern of emotional stagnation and Blood obstruction.
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Albizia julibrissin is a fast-growing deciduous tree reaching 5-16 m tall with a broad, spreading, flat-topped crown. Bark is smooth and grayish-brown. Leaves are bipinnately compound, 20-45 cm long, with 12-25 pairs of pinnae each bearing 20-30 pairs of small leaflets; the leaves fold up at night. The distinctive flowers have numerous long, silky, pink stamens in a pompom-like head 3-4 cm across, borne in clusters. Bark (He Huan Pi) and flowers (He Huan Hua) are both used in TCM.
Dry hillsides, open woodlands, roadsides, and rocky slopes; native from Iran to China, widely planted as an ornamental tree in temperate and subtropical regions worldwide.
Albizia julibrissin is widely planted as an ornamental tree and naturalized in many regions. While native to Asia, it is considered invasive in parts of North America and Europe. No conservation concerns.
Active Constituents
Triterpenoid saponins (julibrosides, e.g. Julibroside J1, C1)
Triterpenoid saponinConcentration: Major bioactive fraction of the bark
Considered the principal active constituents of the bark. Julibrosides have shown anxiolytic and anti-tumor/anti-angiogenic activity in experimental models, and are implicated in the herb's spirit-calming (anxiolytic and antidepressant) reputation.
Lignans and lignan glycosides
Lignan / lignan glycosideConcentration: Characteristic of the bark (vs. flowers)
Lignans and their glycosides are a signature class of Hehuan bark. They contribute to reported antioxidant and neuroprotective activity in pharmacological screening.
Flavonoids (quercetin, isoquercetin, kaempferol glycosides)
Flavonoid / flavonol glycosideConcentration: Present in bark; more concentrated in the flowers
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoids. Quercetin and kaempferol derivatives are proposed to contribute to mood-modulating effects via interaction with serotonergic and GABAergic signaling.
Condensed tannins
Polyphenol (tannin)Concentration: Notable in bark
Astringent polyphenols contributing to antioxidant capacity and to traditional topical wound-healing and swelling-reducing applications of the bark.
Phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, spinasterol glucoside)
PhytosterolConcentration: Minor
Plant sterols with anti-inflammatory activity that form part of the lipophilic fraction of the bark.
Phenolic acids
Phenolic acidConcentration: Minor to moderate
Contribute to the overall antioxidant profile; part of the ~140 compounds catalogued across Hehuan bark and flowers.
⚠ Drug Interactions
CNS depressants / sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol)
Bark constituents (saponins, flavonoids) show anxiolytic and sedative activity in animal models, with proposed modulation of GABAa and serotonergic signaling. Concurrent use with sedatives could theoretically potentiate CNS depression.
Clinical note: Use caution when combining with prescription sedatives or alcohol; monitor for excess drowsiness. Interaction is theoretical and based on pharmacology rather than clinical reports.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-12 g | daily | — | adult | — |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (water extraction)
Parts: Dried stem bark
Typically 6-12 g of dried bark decocted in water and taken orally, often combined with other spirit-calming herbs for insomnia, irritability and emotional constraint. The bark is cut into shreds before decocting.
Topical application
Parts: Dried stem bark
Powdered bark, or the residue from a decoction, applied externally to promote healing of abscesses, swellings and traumatic injuries reflecting the herb's blood-invigorating, swelling-dissipating actions.
Clinical Studies
Molecular basis and mechanism of action of Albizia julibrissin in depression treatment and clinical application of its formulae
Comprehensive review of the antidepressant pharmacology of Albizia julibrissin, describing multi-target mechanisms including modulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission and regulation of the HPA axis, and summarizing clinical use of Albizia-containing formulae alongside conventional antidepressants.
Pharmacological Spectrum of Substances Derived from Albizia julibrissin Durazz
Review of the pharmacological spectrum of Albizia julibrissin-derived substances, cataloguing antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities and relating them to saponin, flavonoid and lignan constituents.
Historical Texts
Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica)
Han dynasty (c. 200 BCE - 200 CE)Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty, 1578References
- Huang B, Wu Y, Li C, Tang Q, Zhang Y. Molecular basis and mechanism of action of Albizia julibrissin in depression treatment and clinical application of its formulae . Chinese Herbal Medicine (2023) [DOI]
- Bensky D, Clavey S, Stoger E. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd Edition . Eastland Press (2004) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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