What is Licorice and silk tree?

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is one of the most widely used herbs in the world, prized for thousands of years in Chinese, Persian, Ayurvedic, and European traditions for its soothing and adaptogenic qualities. Silk tree bark (Albizia julibrissin), called He Huan Pi in Traditional Chinese Medicine, translates literally as 'collective happiness bark' and has been used for centuries as a calming herb for the mind and heart. Together, these two herbs form a classic TCM pairing aimed at easing emotional distress, calming a racing mind, and restoring restful sleep.

How does Licorice and silk tree work?

Silk tree bark appears to work largely through the serotonin system — its active compounds help regulate serotonin receptors and may gently support GABA activity, both of which calm nervous system overactivation. Licorice complements this by helping the body handle stress more gracefully, partly by slowing the breakdown of cortisol and supporting balanced adrenal function. Together, they provide a layered calming effect that targets both the emotional and physiological sides of anxiety and poor sleep.

What forms does Licorice and silk tree come in?

Traditional TCM decoctions (simmered teas) using dried bark and root remain popular and are considered highly effective. For everyday convenience, standardized capsules or liquid extracts are widely available. Tinctures offer flexible dosing. When choosing a product, look for standardized extracts that specify glycyrrhizin content for licorice, and julibroside content for silk tree.

Where it comes from:

Licorice has been documented in the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus (~1550 BCE), ancient Assyrian herbals, and is one of the most referenced herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia. Silk tree bark has been used in Chinese medicine for at least 2,000 years, appearing in the classic Shennong Bencao Jing, and was traditionally given to people grieving, heartbroken, or struggling with persistent worry. Their pairing reflects the TCM philosophy of combining a 'guide' herb (licorice) with a targeted mood herb to amplify and harmonize the overall effect.

What does Licorice and silk tree help with?

• Anxiety and nervous tension: Silk tree bark is the primary driver here, with compounds that appear to calm overactive stress signals in the brain by supporting serotonin and GABA pathways — the same systems targeted by many anti-anxiety medications, but more gently. Licorice adds a steadying effect on stress hormones, helping the nervous system stay out of 'alarm mode' for longer stretches.
• Low mood and mild depression: Silk tree has been used for centuries specifically for low mood, grief, and heartache, and modern research is beginning to confirm its serotonin-supporting properties. Licorice contains isoliquiritigenin and other flavonoids that show antidepressant-like activity, making the combination a gentle mood lifter for everyday blues rather than a replacement for clinical treatment.
• Sleep and insomnia: Both herbs have calming properties that can make it easier to wind down at night. Silk tree bark in particular has been associated with shorter time to sleep and fewer nighttime wakings in traditional use, likely through its effect on serotonin (which converts to melatonin) and mild sedative compounds. Licorice helps by reducing the cortisol spikes that often keep people wired at night.
• Stress and adrenal fatigue: Licorice root acts as a mild adaptogen — it helps slow the breakdown of cortisol in the body so your stress response is more measured and sustainable. This is particularly useful during periods of prolonged stress where the adrenal glands feel depleted. Silk tree complements this by reducing the emotional weight of stress rather than just its hormonal footprint.
• Irritability and emotional overwhelm: In TCM, He Huan Pi (silk tree bark) is specifically prescribed for irritability, a quick temper, and emotional sensitivity — conditions described as 'liver qi stagnation' in Chinese medicine. The combination with licorice helps smooth out sharp emotional reactivity, with users often reporting they feel less triggered by everyday stressors.
• Grief and emotional trauma: Silk tree's traditional reputation as a herb for grief and heartache is one of its most distinctive features. It was given to people mourning a loss or going through significant emotional pain. While modern clinical trials on grief specifically are limited, the underlying mechanism of serotonin modulation supports this traditional application.
• Menopausal mood changes: Licorice contains phytoestrogenic compounds — plant-based substances that can mimic mild estrogen activity — which may help smooth out the mood swings, irritability, and anxiety that often accompany hormonal shifts during menopause. Silk tree's calming properties add additional emotional support during this transition.
• Hormonal imbalance (women): Licorice root has well-documented effects on hormonal balance, particularly in women with elevated androgens (like testosterone) such as those with PCOS. Its compounds can help regulate hormonal ratios, and when combined with silk tree's mood benefits, the pairing offers a broader approach to hormonal wellness.
• Cognitive fog linked to stress: Chronic stress is one of the most common causes of mental fog, and both herbs target this at the root. By reducing stress hormone overload and calming an overactivated nervous system, this combination can help bring mental clarity back gradually — users often notice improved focus and sharper thinking as their stress levels come down.
• Chronic fatigue with mood component: When fatigue is accompanied by low mood, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion rather than pure physical depletion, this combination can be particularly well matched. Licorice supports energy by helping normalize adrenal function, while silk tree lifts the emotional weight that makes chronic fatigue feel so heavy.

What can Licorice and silk tree help prevent?

• Relapse of depressive episodes during high-stress periods (emerging evidence for silk tree's serotonergic support)
• Hormonal acne and androgen-driven skin issues in women (licorice's androgen-modulating effects)

Which foods are rich in Licorice and silk tree?

1. Licorice root tea: The most direct way to consume glycyrrhizin and licorice's active flavonoids in a whole-food form, widely available as a dried root or tea bag.
2. Fennel: Shares some of the same volatile compounds and mild phytoestrogenic properties as licorice, and supports digestive and hormonal pathways in a similar way.
3. Tart cherries: Support serotonin and melatonin production, reinforcing the sleep and mood pathways that silk tree targets.
4. Walnuts: Rich in serotonin precursors and anti-inflammatory omega-3s, supporting the same nervous system calming effects as silk tree bark.
5. Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale): High magnesium content supports GABA activity and stress resilience, complementing both herbs' calming mechanisms.

Practical Tips:

Neither licorice root extract nor silk tree bark extract are directly found in common foods in meaningful therapeutic concentrations — they must be taken as herbal preparations. The foods listed above support the same biological pathways these herbs target: serotonin production, GABA activity, stress hormone balance, and hormonal regulation. Eating a varied whole-food diet rich in these items will amplify the herbs' effects. Foods high in refined sugar and alcohol should be minimized as they disrupt serotonin signaling and worsen cortisol dysregulation.

How much Licorice and silk tree should you take?

• Recommended daily: Licorice root extract: 200–600 mg standardized to 20% glycyrrhizin, OR deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) 380–1,140 mg for safer long-term use. Silk tree bark extract: 200–500 mg standardized extract, or 3–9 g dried bark in decoction per TCM guidance. In combined formulas, follow product label dosing.
• Best time of day: Evening dosing is preferred when the primary goal is sleep or anxiety relief — silk tree's calming effects are especially useful 1–2 hours before bed. For stress and mood support, split dosing (morning and evening) works well.
• With or without food: Best taken with food to minimize any digestive upset and to support absorption of fat-soluble flavonoids.
• Time to effect: Mild calming effects within days; meaningful mood and sleep improvements typically seen after 2–6 weeks of consistent use.
• How long to take it: For general stress and mood support, cycles of 8–12 weeks followed by a 2–4 week break are commonly recommended, particularly with standard licorice (not DGL). DGL formulations can generally be used for longer periods without the blood pressure concern. Consult a practitioner for ongoing use beyond 3 months.