Albiziae Cortex
Aliases：Hé Hūn Pí (Night-closing Bark); Yè Hé Pí (Night-closing Bark); Yè Tái Pí (Night Platform Bark); He Huan Mu Pi (Silktree Wood Bark).
Hé Huān Pí (Silktree Albizia Bark) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the bark of Albizia julibrissin Durazz., a plant of the Fabaceae family. Because it is adept at relieving liver depression and can bring about “harmony of the five viscera and joy of the mind and spirit,” it is regarded as a key herb for “soothing the heart and calming the mind.”
Efficacy & Actions
Relieves depression and calms the mind; promotes blood circulation and reduces swelling.
Indications
Mental Restlessness: Depression, insomnia, and irritability. Traumatic Injuries: Contusions, fractures, and swelling with blood stasis. Surgical Abscesses and Sores: Lung abscess, carbuncles, and sores with toxic swelling.
Modern Pharmacology
Sedative and tranquilizing: Water decoction, ethanol extract, and total saponins exhibit sedative effects. Antidepressant and anxiolytic: Acts through multiple mechanisms including lowering HPA axis activity, protecting brain nerves, and regulating monoamine neurotransmitters. Treatment of insomnia: Acts synergistically through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Antitumor: Methanol extract, polysaccharides, and ethanol extract possess antitumor activities. Immunomodulatory: Ethanol extract and aqueous extract show immune-enhancing effects. Anti-fertility: Saponins from Hehuanpi (Albizia bark) possess anti-fertility effects. Others: Anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. Toxic effects: Improper use may cause toxicity in the blood, reproductive, respiratory, renal, and nervous systems, requiring attention.
Ingredients
Contains complex chemical constituents, including triterpenoids, lignans, flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, tannins, and polysaccharides. A 2025 study using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS identified 60 compounds from Hehuanpi (Albizia bark), including 23 fatty acids, 12 lignans, 7 alkaloids, 3 glycosides, and 15 other compounds. Major active components include lignans such as (-)-syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 6–12g; some sources suggest a dosage of up to 9–15g. May also be prepared in pills or powder. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and mixed for external application to the affected area.
Contraindications
Use with caution during pregnancy: Its blood-activating effect may promote uterine contractions and increase the risk of miscarriage. Use with caution in patients with ulcers or gastritis. Contraindicated in patients with wind-heat with spontaneous sweating or insomnia due to external contraction. Should not be taken for a prolonged period to avoid adverse reactions.
Selected Formulas
For Lung Abscess with Mild Fever, Irritability, and Chest Scaling (Huanghun Tang, from Qian Jin Fang) Take a piece of He Huan Pi (Silktree Albizia Bark) about the size of a palm, cut it into small pieces, and decoct with three sheng of water until one sheng remains. Divide into three doses and take orally. For Lung Abscess with a Wound that Does Not Heal (He Huan Yin, from Jing Yue Quan Shu) Take He Huan Pi (Silktree Albizia Bark) and Bai Lian (Ampelopsis Root), decoct them together, and take orally. For Traumatic Injury to Sinews and Bones (from Xu Ben Shi Fang) Take four liang of Night-closing Tree Bark (Yè Hé Shù Pí, i.e., He Huan Pi), stir-fry until dry and grind into powder. Add one qian each of Musk (Shè Xiāng) and Frankincense (Rǔ Xiāng). Take three large qian each time, mixed with warm wine, between meals. For Traumatic Injury and Fractures (from Bai Yi Xuan Fang) Take four liang of Night-closing Tree Bark (remove the outer rough bark, take the white inner bark, crush it, and stir-fry until yellowish-black), and one liang of stir-fried Mustard Seed (Jiè Cài Zǐ). Grind into a fine powder. Mix with wine and take it before bedtime. Apply the coarse residue externally to the wound and bandage it. For Spider Bites (from Ben Cao Shi Yi) Grind He Huan Pi (Silktree Albizia Bark) into powder, mix with soot from a pan bottom (Dāng Xià Mò) and raw oil, and apply topically.
Daily Consumption
He Huan Pi Tea (for Calming the Mind and Promoting Sleep): Take 5–10g of He Huan Pi (Silktree Albizia Bark), steep it in boiling water, cover, and let it infuse for 10–15 minutes before drinking.
Medicinal Parts
Dried bark.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place. Protect from moisture and insects.
