About Herbs

Bottom Line: Kombucha tea has not been shown to treat cancer or AIDS in humans. The process of fermenting Kombucha tea encourages contamination and serious adverse effects have been reported.
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. Allergic reaction and severe adverse reactions due to contamination have been reported.

No clinical studies of Kombucha in humans have been found in published literature.

If your immune system is suppressed, you should avoid Kombucha beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment.

Champagne of Life, Manchurian Fungus, Manchurian mushroom, Tea Fungus, Kargasok Tea, Haipao, Fungus Japanicus, Combucha, Kwassan, Spumonto, T'Chai from the Sea, Tschambucco

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⁾. Animal studies have shown potent antioxidant, immunostimulating ⁽⁵⁾, and hepato-protective ⁽⁶⁾ effects with limited toxicity ⁽⁷⁾, however clinical studies in humans are lacking ⁽⁸⁾. Because of the method of preparation, 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)}. Kombucha may reduce the absorption of drugs that are sensitive to the pH level of the stomach ⁽¹²⁾.

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⁾.

Patients with suppressed immune systems should not consume Kombucha beverages produced in an uncontrolled environment ⁽¹⁾.

Reported (Oral): stomach problems and yeast infections ⁽¹²⁾.
Case Report (Topical): A case report of an outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in 20 people who had applied Kombucha grown in unhygienic conditions ⁽¹⁰⁾.
Case Report (Oral): Case reports of severe illness and death ^{(9) (17)} have been associated with the consumption of Kombucha tea. Two cases of lead poisoning have been reported following drinking Kombucha tea brewed in a lead-glazed ceramic pot ⁽¹⁵⁾. Four cases of gastrointestinal toxicity have been reported from Kombucha as well, including two cases of allergic reaction, one case of jaundice and one case of nausea, vomiting, head and neck pain ⁽¹¹⁾. One case of hepatotoxicity has also been reported following Kombucha tea consumption ⁽²⁾.

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⁾.

A systematic review of clinical evidence found no clinical trials on humans ⁽⁸⁾.

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