Albizia

Also Known As: Albizzia, Mimosa, Silk Tree, Persian Silk Tree, Powder-Puff Tree, Pink Siris, and Persian Acacia

Botanical Name: Albizia Julibrissin Durazz

Family Name: Fabaceae

Native To: South-Western and Eastern Asia

Parts To Use: The Bark, Leaves, Flower, and Fruit

How It’s Used: Taken by mouth or applied to the skin to treat anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and reduce swelling associated with trauma such as: insect bites, skin infections (boils and abscesses), ulcers, fractures, and sprains.

Harvesting: The bark is often dried and used as an oral medication. Young leaves and flowers can be cooked. The dried leaves can be made into tea.

Originally from China, this plant was introduced to the United States in 1745. Albizia is an airy, tropical-looking tree with a flat spreading crown, leaves that fold at night, and fluffy pink flowers that appear from May to June. This small to medium-sized tree can grow 20 to 40 feet tall and is a member of the legume plant family.

The flowers and stem bark are used to make medicine, because the chemicals have calming, sleep inducing, anticancer, and antioxidant effects.

Oral Uses:

Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Improving mood, Swelling, Sore throat

Topical Uses: Insect bites, Abscesses, Fractures, Sprains

It is recommended that pregnant/nursing women and children should avoid use. Consuming too much Albizia may result in drowsiness and sleepiness. Albizia may affect the central nervous system and should be avoided at least 2 weeks before surgery since it can increase the effects of anesthesia and other medications.