Kombucha Tea: A New Wonder Cure or Deadly Curse?

Kombucha tea is also known by the name Kargasok tea, tea fungus and Manchurian tea the tea is made by fermenting a mixture of Kombucha mushroom and sweetened black tea. The Kombucha mushroom is not a true mushroom but gets its name due to its color and shape. The Kombucha mushroom is actually a colony of yeast and bacteria's.

To date there have been no human trial reports done on Kombucha mushrooms to support any of the claims made. There is no direct evidence and any health benefits claimed are based only on lab and animal studies along with personal reports.

U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings to consumers when making or drinking Kombucha tea based on reports of health claims of two women hospitalized with severe acidosis that were hospitalized based on high levels of lactic acid. One woman died 2 days after admission of cardiac arrest while the second women's heart stopped she was stabilized and later recovered. Adverse effects can also include allergic reactions and upset stomach.

Kombucha tea is made by soaking the culture in sugar and black tea for around a week. The original mushroom will start to produce a offspring mushroom as it floats upon the surface. The offspring mushrooms can be used to make new batches of tear. The original mushroom can be used until it turns a dark brown color which indicates that it's going bad and must be discarded.

At this time Kombucha tea has no scientific data to support the claims, but people are claiming it can strengthen the body against many disorders and diseases. These disorders and diseases include HIV, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, intestinal disorders, arthritis, liver function and helping to stimulate the immune system to name a few.

Kombucha Tea is also being sold in the United State as a dietary supplement. These supplements are not allowed to make claims that they will treat, cure or prevent any specific disease. There is no scientific testing to see if there are any interactions with foods, medications or other supplements and herbs. Combining other medications, foods, supplements and herbs may prove harmful to one health.

Different preparation methods vary, several types of yeast and bacteria's can grow under different brewing conditions, tea's may contain different varieties, these preparations methods may contain contaminants which may include fungi and molds which can lead to illness. Cautions should be taken prior to preparing or drinking tea's made with the Kombucha mushroom.

Source:

American Cancer Society: Kombucha TeaMayo Clinic: Kombucha Tea