Herb of the Week: Albizzia

 This Eastern herb is from the Mimosa tree, also called the Tree of Happiness...and for good reason. Albizzia has long been a valued Chinese botanical for relieving anxiety, stress, depression and grief. Sometimes called "the herbal prozac" by modern herbalists, it is considered comparable with other powerful herbs for treating depression such as St. John's Wort and Kava Kava. Both the bark and the flowers of Albizzia are used as a calming sedative in Eastern traditional medicine. The bark is thought to 'anchor' the spirit, while the flowers lighten it. The flowers have also been used for the treatment of insomnia, amnesia, sore throat, contusions and topical swelling.