Kombucha Tea

Introduction

Kombucha tea is a fermented drink made from tea, sugar, and yeast. It can be brewed and flavored in many ways. Kombucha tea has been used to improve digestion and to help the body fight off illness.

Dosages

There are no advised doses for kombucha tea.

What Research Shows

There is not enough data to support that kombucha tea is helpful in treating health problems. We will review future studies as they are published.

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It may be safe to drink kombucha tea in small doses for a short time, but stomach upset, allergic reactions, and other problems may happen.^1-3 Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not drink kombucha tea. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References►

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unexplained severe illness possibly associated with consumption of Kombucha tea--Iowa, 1995. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1995 Dec 8;44(48):892-893, 899-900.

2. Srinivasan R, Smolinske S, et al. Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen Intern Med. 1997 Oct;12(10):643-644.

3. Ernst E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2003 Apr;10(2):85-87.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC Last Updated: 5/27/2020

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