Albizia Julibrissin ~ The ‘Happiness Tree’ + A Joy Tincture Recipe
If you’re lucky enough to have an Albizia tree near you, you’ll know that even looking at its fluffy pink blossoms is enough to bring joy. If ever there was a tree that shines with happiness, it’s Albizia.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Albizia is known as ‘He Huan Hua' (the flower) and ‘He Huan Pi’ (the bark), meaning “collective happiness” or “the tree of joy.” For centuries, it has been used as a remedy for sadness, grief, and disturbed sleep. It is believed to restore balance to the spirit and bring lightness to the heart. Ancient texts even call it ‘a herb for forgetting sorrow.’
This is the kind of herb you turn to when you are experiencing grief, stress, sadness or when you simply want to reconnect with joy. Albizia brings brightness and sunshine to life. Some people notice a subtle lift almost immediately; for others, it works more slowly, gently soothing the heart over days or weeks.
Herbal Actions
Mood support: a classic nervine, soothing mild anxiety, restlessness, and emotional heaviness.
Spirit-lifting: we call Albizia an “anxiolytic,” which can be loosely translated as a “joy tonic.”
Heart support: long used to strengthen both emotional resilience and cardiovascular health.
Active Constituents
Flavonoids: powerful antioxidants that protect and nourish cells.
Triterpenoid saponins: contribute to its calming, adaptogenic effects, the “happy, joy-bringing” compounds.
Alkaloids (mild): in Albizia, these are mildly sedating, helping to relax and soothe the nervous system and encourage sleep.
Contraindications
Albizia is considered safe for most people when used in moderation:
Avoid during pregnancy unless guided by a qualified herbalist or TCM practitioner (some uses exist in severe prenatal depression, but professional supervision is essential).
If you’re taking sedatives, antidepressants, or sleep medications, consult your practitioner first.
Rarely, people may experience tingling in the mouth. If this occurs, stop use immediately.
As with all tinctures, start small and observe how your body responds. When appropriate, Albizia can be a gentle, reliable ally, bringing joy and beauty into your life safely.
Tincture for Joy ~ Recipe
You’ll Need
Inner bark of the Albizia tree (fresh or dried)
Optional: a handful of fresh Albizia flowers
Vodka or brandy (as close to 40% as possible; higher strength, 50% or 100-proof, will extract more alkaloids and produce a more sedative tincture. For a light, joy-leaning tincture, 40% is best)
Clean glass jar with lid
Blender
Method
Blend the inner bark to a coarse, fibrous crumb. This increases surface area and helps the alcohol draw out its goodness.
Fill a clean jar ¼–⅓ full with the bark.
Pour vodka over until the plant matter is fully submerged and the liquid is 3–4× the volume of the bark.
Seal with a lid, label with the date, and place in a cool, dark cupboard.
Shake gently whenever you remember. This helps with extraction and keeps you connected to the medicine.
After 4–6 weeks, strain through muslin or a nut milk bag, squeezing out every drop of golden liquid.
Bottle in amber glass and label.
Suggested Use
5–15 drops, up to 3× daily, or as needed when you feel the need for joy.
Here is a lovely video on YOUTUBE by Matthew Hunter from Legacy Wilderness Academy if you’d like to learn more about this beautiful tree
I have short video on instagram showing how to make this remedy here
If you have access to Albizia, ideally you would harvest your own. You can also sometimes buy the dried inner bark from Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, or I get mine from here from Cottage Hill Herbs in NZ. 50g turned into a tincture could last you a year or more.
Making this recipe your own
This tincture is made in the folk style which means we do not need to be exact with measurements and can feel into the process more, even adding extra herbs if we feel called. If I was making this specifically for grief, I would be inclined to add rose petals, and hawthorn leaves, berries and flowers. If I was making this for creativity and social gatherings, some blue lotus petals with cocoa husk or nibs would be a lovely addition. For a sleep supporting and particularly calming blend I would look at adding lemon balm, skullcap or passionflower. To connect with your partner, the addition of rose and damiana could be lovely. You can add them to the same jar, or tincture them separately and have fun experimenting with blending once they are strained and bottled. Herbal medicine is peoples medicine and making this/considering blends yourself can bring even more benefit to the medicine.
If making your own is not possible for the time being, we offer tinctures in our store that have similar actions to Albizia. Our Rose Medicine is a powerful medicine for supporting one through grief and heartbreak. Our Blue Lotus Elixir is wonderful for creativity, connection and blissful feelings.
Albizia medicine reminds us that joy is not frivolous, but essential. We are beings that seek beauty and light, and this herb can deeply nourish us. Whether you’re navigating grief, stress, or even the dullness of everyday routine, this tincture can be a gentle yet powerful ally, helping you step out of the “numb” and back into lightness.
Sending love, Penelope xoxo
