Hepu flower, also known as night-blooming cereus or black velvet, is the dried inflorescence of Albizia julibrissin Durazz., a plant in the Fabaceae family. It is mentioned in "Bencao Yan Yi". The flowers are harvested on sunny days during the summer and dried promptly.
[Processing method] Take the original medicinal material, remove impurities, and sift out the ash.
[Appearance of medicinal slices] It is a head-like inflorescence, wrinkled and curled into a cluster. The flowers are slender and curved, measuring 0.7 to 1 cm in length. They are pale yellow-brown to light yellow-brown in color, with short pedicels. The calyx is simple, with 5 small teeth at the apex. The corolla is about twice as long as the calyx tube, with 5 lobes at the apex, and the lobes are lanceolate in shape. There are numerous stamens, with slender filaments that are yellow-brown to yellow-brown in color. The lower part is fused and the upper part is separate, extending outside the corolla tube. It has a slight fragrance and a mild taste.
[Processing properties] Hepu flower is sweet and mild in nature, and has a neutral property. It belongs to the heart and liver meridians. It has the functions of calming the mind, resolving depression, regulating qi and stimulating appetite, dispelling wind and improving eyesight, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. It is used for symptoms such as depression and insomnia, chest tightness and poor appetite, eye diseases caused by excessive liver fire, blurred vision, lower back pain, and bruises. For example, the night-blooming cereus pill is used to treat lower back and leg pain, bruises, and injuries (from "Taiping Sheng Hui Fang"). It is also used in combination with arborvitae seed, white peony root, dragon's teeth, and amber to treat restlessness, depression, and insomnia (from "Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine"). Hepu flower is commonly used in clinical practice. After processing, the medicinal material becomes clean and is convenient for dispensing and formulation.
