Albizia

A Chinese herb, from a beautiful tree (also known as Mimosa) with delicate ferny leaves and fragrant pink feather-duster flowers. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Albizzia is considered a primary tonic to Shen, the state of peaceful calm and supportive strength that resides in the heart.

Albizzia is especially useful when disturbed Shen is manifesting as depression, and other Shen tonic herbs might be too lowering to the spirits.

Since it was first mentioned in the second century in the classic Divine Husbandman’s Materia Medica, Albizzia has been known as the Tree of Happiness. It was recommended for anyone suffering grief, emotional pain, or anxiety as the result of a loss.

This herb both anchors and calms the spirit, and works to lighten it and bring joy, working as an emotional adaptogen. It also acts as a blood and energy mover, bringing back healthy Qi flow when it has been constricted in the chest or digestive system by constrained emotions.