Litsea

botanical

What is it

Litsea (Litsea cubeba, also called May Chang or 'exotic verbena') is a small tree in the Lauraceae family native to East and Southeast Asia. Its fruit yields an essential oil with a strong lemon-like aroma, used in aromatherapy and flavor industries.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Aromatherapy / mood / fragrance

Mixed

No high-quality human clinical evidence supports specific therapeutic claims.

How it works

Litsea cubeba essential oil is rich in citral (a mixture of geranial and neral), with smaller amounts of limonene, methylheptenone, and other terpenes. Citral has antimicrobial activity in vitro and is widely used in flavor and fragrance applications. Animal and laboratory studies have shown anti-inflammatory and modest anxiolytic activity for the oil, but human clinical evidence is limited.

Dosage

There is no internal-use dose. Aromatherapy uses a few drops diffused or diluted in carrier oil. Citral is used at low ppm levels as a flavor ingredient.

When and how to take it

Aromatherapy as desired. No internal use timing.

1 commercial form

Essential oil (topical / inhalation)

Absorbed via skin and lungs in aromatherapy use.

Standard form.

Safety

Essential oil can cause skin sensitization in some users. Citral can be a respiratory and skin irritant at high exposure. Not for ingestion of concentrated oil.

Who should be cautious

Avoid concentrated essential oil in pregnancy and around infants. Keep away from cats. Asthmatics may react to inhalation.

Interactions

No clinically significant systemic interactions at aromatherapy doses.

Food sources

FoodAmount%DV
Litsea fruit / oil (culinary in some Asian cuisines)Small flavoring amounts—

Frequently asked questions

Is litsea oil safe to ingest?⌄

Concentrated essential oils should not be ingested. Trace amounts as flavoring in food are safe.

References

  • Litsea on Wikidata — Wikidata link
  • Litsea on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
  • Research on Litsea (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Litsea with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.