Positive Health Online

Abstract

SRINIVASAN and colleagues, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and Veterans Affairs, Amarillo 79106-1797 USA write that Kombucha tea is a health beverage made by incubating the Kombucha "mushroom" in tea and sugar. They write that although therapeutic benefits have been attributed to the drink, neither beneficial effects nor adverse side effects have been reported in the scientific literature.

Background

Methodology

Results

The authors report side effects probably related to Kombucha tea consumption in four patients, two of whom presented with allergic reaction symptoms, one with jaundice and another with nausea, vomiting and head and neck pain. In all four patients, Kombucha tea was consumed just prior to the onset of symptoms, which ceased when tea drinking stopped. This suggests a probably aetiologic association.

Conclusion

References

Srinivasan R et al. Probably gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen Intern Med. 12(10): 643-6. Oct 1997.