May Chang Essential Oil (Litsea cubeba)

Overview

May Chang may also be referred to as Aromatic Litsea. It is typically processed in Vietnam, China using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the fruit or flowers.

Summary

May Chang oil comes from the fruit of the Litsea cubeba tree. It has a sweet citrus scent. It has an antiseptic and antidepressant effect.

May Chang Essential Oil
阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Floral Fresh Lemony

  • Common Name(s): Aromatic Litsea
  • Botanical Family: Lauraceae
  • Botanical Genus: Litsea
  • Chemical Family: Aldehydes
  • Major Compounds: Geranial, Neral, (+)-Limonene, Methyl Heptenone, B-Myrcene, Linalool, Geraniol, Sabinene, Linalyl Acetate, a-Pinene, B-Pinene, Nerol
  • Perfumery Note: Middle
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong
  • Color: Yellow
  • Countries of Production: Vietnam, China
  • Indigenous Country: India
  • Cultivation: Unsprayed
  • Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
  • Part Typically Used: Fruit or Flowers
  • Shelf Life: 3 years
  • Conservation Status:  [NE] Not Evaluated
    IUCN Red List category abbreviations (version 3.1, 2001)
  • Ethically and sustainably sourced Ethically and sustainably sourced
  • Organic Organic
  • Vegan Vegan
  • Not Pregnancy Safe Not recommended or safe if pregnant or nursing
  • Not Child Safe Not recommend or safe for children

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:

Indigestion Skin : Oily Skin : Sweaty Spots ( Acne ) Sweaty Feet

Therapeutic Benefits of May Chang:

Analgesic Anti-anxiety Anti-bacterial Anti-convulsant Anti-depressant Anti-fungal Anti-inflammatory Anti-microbial Anti-spasmodic Anti-viral Insect Repellent Sedative Sudorific

Other Uses for May Chang:

Aromatherapy Cosmetics Natural Perfumery

Blends

May Chang Blends:

Basil Bay Black Pepper Cardamom Cedarwood, Atlas Cedarwood, Virginian Clary Sage Cypress Frankincense Geranium Grapefruit Orange, Sweet Patchouli Sandalwood Tea Tree Vetiver Ylang Ylang

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using May Chang:

Tisserand and Young caution that a drug interaction may occur if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6 and that there is a risk of teratogenicity. They precaution against topical use in children and infants under age 2 and for those with hypersensitive/diseased/damaged skin. They recommend a dermal maximum of 0.8%. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 349-350.]

This essential oil poses a higher risk of causing irritation and sensitization when used in the bath. Avoid using it in the bath, even if it is solubilized/diluted.

Safety Precautions for May Chang:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities

Energetics and Chakras Qualites of May Chang:

4th Chakra - Unconditional Love

Articles

May Chang Articles or Publications:

Mastic Essential Oil
Melissa Essential Oil