05/15/2026
The recent rains have brought forth the first blossoming of He Huan Hua in our North Florida region. Its fragrant blooms are putting on a beautiful show. Today, my son and I took a little detour near his dad’s farm to gather some of these delicate yet powerful flowers for this year’s tincture.
The aroma is sweet and intoxicating, reminiscent of night-blooming jasmine with a soft fruitiness. Freshly tinctured, the flowers carry an almost watermelon-like note — green, floral, and distinctly summer.
Traditionally used in East Asian medicine to calm the Shen and ease emotional tension, He Huan Hua has long been known as the “Flower of Collective Happiness.” Modern research has begun exploring its anxiolytic and neuroprotective properties, supporting its traditional use for emotional well-being and nervous system support.
If you are interested in the research, I’ve included a few studies below. If you are interested in trying some of this year’s bottling, send me a DM.
— Dr. Alice Novak, DAcCHM
Alice’s Apotheke
Huang, B., Wu, Y., Li, C., Tang, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Molecular basis and mechanism of action of Albizia julibrissin in depression treatment and clinical application of its formulae. Chinese herbal medicines, 15(2), 201–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chmed.2022.10.004
Jung, Y. H., Ha, R. R., Kwon, S. H., Hong, S. I., Lee, K. H., Kim, S. Y., Lee, S. Y., & Jang, C. G. (2013). Anxiolytic effects of Julibroside C1 isolated from Albizzia julibrissin in mice. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 44, 184–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.02.012
Kim, W. K., Jung, J. W., Ahn, N. Y., Oh, H. R., Lee, B. K., Oh, J. K., Cheong, J. H., Chun, H. S., & Ryu, J. H. (2004). Anxiolytic-like effects of extracts from Albizzia julibrissin bark in the elevated plus-maze in rats. Life sciences, 75(23), 2787–2795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2004.05.024
