- How It Works
- Purported Uses
- Patient Warnings
- Do Not Take If
- Side Effects
- Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
Common Name
Champagne of Life, Manchurian Fungus, Manchurian mushroom, Tea Fungus, Kargasok Tea, Haipao, Fungus Japanicus, Combucha, Kwassan, Spumonto, T'Chai from the Sea, Tschambucco
Clinical Summary
Prepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, Kombucha tea has been used to treat a wide variety of symptoms as well as certain diseases such as cancer, AIDS and diabetes (3). The high caffeine and sugar content of the tea may account for increased energy some users have reported following consumption of the product (4). In vitro and animal studies show potent antioxidant, immunostimulating (5), and hepatoprotective (6) (18) (19) effects with limited toxicity (7); however, clinical studies in humans are lacking (8).
Because of the fermentation process, Kombucha can easily become contaminated. Allergic reactions, jaundice, serious illness and occasionally death have been associated with the consumption of home-grown Kombucha tea (9) (10) (11). It may also reduce the absorption of drugs that are sensitive to the pH level of the stomach (12).
Purported Uses
- Acne
- Atherosclerosis
- Cancer treatment
- Constipation
- Diabetes
- Fatigue
- GI disorders
- Headaches
- Health maintenance
- Hemorrhoids
- HIV and AIDS
- Hypertension
- Immunostimulation
- Osteoarthritis
- Stress
Constituents
Mechanism of Action
Preparation of Kombucha tea yields a slightly carbonated, acidic, fermented drink. Researchers have demonstrated Kombucha’s antimicrobial activity against a large number of pathogenic microorganisms even at neutral pH and after denaturation. This suggests that Kombucha contains antimicrobial compounds other than acetic acid and large proteins (13). In addition, Kombucha tea has been shown to have high levels of B vitamins (14). Because of the method of culture, it is easy for Kombucha to become contaminated with other organisms. Contamination with Anthrax (10) and Aspergillus (14), a fungus that is dangerous to people with lowered immune systems, have been reported. Green tea can stimulate the Kombucha fermentation better than black tea, however it is generally not used (3).
Warnings
- Growing Kombucha in unsanitary conditions has resulted in contamination.
- Lead poisoning has been associated with Kombucha tea brewed in a glazed ceramic pot.
Contraindications
Patients with suppressed immune systems should not consume Kombucha beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment (1).
Adverse Reactions
Case Report (Topical): Cutaneous anthrax was observed in 20 people who had applied Kombucha grown in unhygienic conditions (10).
Case Report (Oral):
Severe illness and death (9) (17) have been associated with the consumption of Kombucha tea.
Lead poisoning was observed following consumption of Kombucha tea brewed in a lead-glazed ceramic pot (15).
Hepatotoxicity (2) and gastrointestinal toxicity including allergic reactions, jaundice and nausea, vomiting, head and neck pain have been reported (11).
Yeast infections were also observed after consumption of kombucha tea (12).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Kombucha tea is acidic. This may affect the bioavailability of drugs that depend on the pH levels of the stomach for dissolution and absorption(12).
Literature Summary and Critique
Kombucha has not been studied in clinical trials (8).
References
- Mayser P, Fromme S, Leitzmann C, Grunder K. The yeast spectrum of the ‘tea fungus Kombucha’. Mycoses 1995;38:289-95.
- Perron AD, Patterson JA, Yanofsky NN. Kombucha “mushroom” hepatotoxicity. Ann.Emerg.Med 1995;26:660-1.
- Greenwalt CJ, Steinkraus KH, Ledford RA. Kombucha, the fermented tea: microbiology, composition, and claimed health effects. J Food Prot. 2000;63:976-81.
- Majchrowicz M. Kombucha: a dubious “cure”. GMHC.Treat.Issues 1995;9:10.
- Dipti P, Yogesh B, Kain AK, Pauline T, Anju B, Sairam M et al. Lead induced oxidative stress: beneficial effects of Kombucha tea. Biomed.Environ.Sci. 2003;16:276-82.
- Pauline T, Dipti P, Anju B, Kavimani S, Sharma SK, Kain AK et al. Studies on toxicity, anti-stress and hepato-protective properties of Kombucha tea. Biomed.Environ.Sci. 2001;14:207-13.
- Vijayaraghavan R, Singh M, Rao PV, Bhattacharya R, Kumar P, Sugendran K et al. Subacute (90 days) oral toxicity studies of Kombucha tea. Biomed.Environ.Sci. 2000;13:293-9.
- Ernst E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Forsch.Komplementarmed.Klass.Naturheilkd. 2003;10:85-7.
- Unexplained severe illness possibly associated with consumption of Kombucha tea—Iowa, 1995. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA 1996;275:96-8.
- Sadjadi J. Cutaneous anthrax associated with the Kombucha “mushroom” in Iran. JAMA 1998;280:1567-8.
- Srinivasan R, Smolinske S, Greenbaum D. Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen.Intern Med 1997;12:643-4.
- Kombucha—toxicity alert. Crit Path.AIDS Proj. 1994;31-2.
- Sreeramulu G, Zhu Y, Knol W. Kombucha fermentation and its antimicrobial activity. J Agric.Food Chem. 2000;48:2589-94.
- Gamundi R,.Valdivia M. [The Kombucha mushroom: two different opinions]. Sidahora. 1995;34-5.
- Phan TG, Estell J, Duggin G, Beer I, Smith D, Ferson MJ. Lead poisoning from drinking Kombucha tea brewed in a ceramic pot. Med J Aust. 1998;169:644-6.
- MICROMEDEX(R) Healthcare Series. 120. 2004. Thomson MICROMEDEX.
- SungHee Kole A, Jones HD, Christensen R, et al. A case of Kombucha tea toxicity. J Intensive Care Med. 2009 May-Jun;24(3):205-7.
- Murugesan GS, Sathishkumar M, Jayabalan R, et al. Hepatoprotective and curative properties of Kombucha tea against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2009 Apr;19(4):397-402.
- Bhattacharya S, Gachhui R, Sil PC. Hepatoprotective properties of kombucha tea against TBHP-induced oxidative stress via suppression of mitochondria dependent apoptosis. Pathophysiology. 2011 Jun;18(3):221-34.
How It Works
Bottom Line: Kombucha tea has not been shown to treat cancer or AIDS in humans.
Kombucha is a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria that grows inside a semi-permeable membrane. Kombucha tea is prepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with Kombucha for seven to ten days. Kombucha tea, a slightly carbonated and acidic drink, has been used to treat a wide variety of symptoms and diseases. Kombucha tea has high levels of caffeine, sugar and B vitamins which may account for some of its purported benefits. Kombucha has been shown to have wide antibiotic and antioxidant effects in animals; however few benefits have been shown in humans.
Contamination associated with fermentation of Kombucha tea has resulted in serious adverse effects.
Purported Uses
- To treat atherosclerosis (the formation of plaque on the arteries)
Scientific evidence is lacking to back this claim. - To treat cancer
Animal studies have shown Kombucha to have antioxidant effects; however human studies are lacking. - To treat diabetes
No scientific evidence supports this use in humans. - To treat AIDS
This claim is not backed by research. - To lower blood pressure
No scientific evidence supports this use in humans. - To stimulate the immune system
Animal studies have shown Kombucha to have immune stimulating activity; however there is no evidence to support this use in humans.
Patient Warnings
- Growing Kombucha in unsanitary conditions has resulted in contaminated product.
- Lead poisoning has been associated with Kombucha tea brewed in a glazed ceramic pot.
Do Not Take If
If your immune system is suppressed, you should avoid Kombucha beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment.
Side Effects
- Stomach problems
- Yeast infections
- Anthrax contamination
- Allergic reaction
- Jaundice
- Head and neck pain
- Impairment of liver function
Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
This field is only visible to only Inside MSKCC users.
Aliases
Tea Fungus
E-mail your questions and comments to aboutherbs@mskcc.org.
