It is very common to wonder about Kombucha Tea side effects, especially because our diets often lack fermented foods or probiotics. Introducing probiotics, new types of nutrition and cleansing is sure to bring benefits and side effects.
The good news is, those who drink Kombucha say that Kombucha adverse effects (which only a small percentage of them experienced) are temporary while the benefits of Kombucha (which nearly everyone says they see some kind of benefit) increase over time.
That’s because any side effects of Kombucha come from the body’s own toxins, not the Kombucha, which is simply helping you rid yourself of these built up toxins from past foods, pollution, stresses and other behaviors.
Let’s delve further into Kombucha side effects by exploring this usually misguided claim: ever heard someone say “I’m allergic to Kombucha?” I suppose it’s possible to be allergic to Kombucha, if you are allergic to tea for example.
Beyond that main ingredient* however, the concept of being allergic to Kombucha does not exist, IMO. The adverse effects of Kombucha those people have experienced upon first starting to consume it is almost definitely called a “Healing Crisis,” and though it can be scary at first, this is the first wonderful step toward feeling better.
Ever heard the phrase, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better?” Well, in some cases, that’s true. In the case of Kombucha, what might cause a reaction is not the drink itself but the initial effects it is having in your system. Let me explain.
The body is like a huge filing system. Everything good or bad you’ve ever done, your body has a small record of that stored away in fat cells and places like your joints and muscles. If you spent 2 years binge drinking in college, that’s stored somewhere inside you. Run a marathon, your body never forgets.
Potential Kombucha Side Effects: Healing Crisis
Those who seek out Kombucha often do so because they feel the need for a lifestyle change or an improvement to their diet and routine. That’s wonderful, but often it means the body is toxic and in need of purge. Even if the lifestyle has not been terrible, detoxification will occur. When detoxification is introduced, the Kombucha Tea side effects begin. Sometimes, too fast!!
That is why it is always recommended that new drinkers start with just a few ounces of Kombucha a day at first, along with plenty of water, and then gradually increase the intake. In this way, the body will slowly begin to release toxins and the water will ensure a smooth elimination process and minimization of adverse effects.
However, if the detoxification happens a bit too quickly, and especially if the drinker has previous “illnesses” or weaknesses (acne, prior rash, arthritis, etc), there may be an initial and temporary return or intensification of that previous condition. A breakout on the face or shoulder, feeling “itchy” all over. Upset stomach and loose stool are very common as the Kombucha has introduced pro-biotic life to a system that needs it badly and is ready to kick all the bad stuff out and get healthy!
The informative site The Natural Path lists the following as common symptoms of a healing crisis:
- muscle cramps or pain
- arthritic flair ups
- diarrhea
- extreme fatigue
- restlessness
- headaches
- insomnia
- sinus congestion
- fever
- skin eruptions
- strong emotions or mood swings
The good news is that these reactions are truly temporary and provide just a bump on the road towards better health. However, cut back on, but don’t stop your Kombucha intake until the reaction subsides. It will likely move from one part of the body to another and be short in duration.
You should also know that healing reactions are not exclusive to Kombucha. On the contrary, Kombucha side effects are exactly like those of most other holisitc and naturapathic treatments, intended to induce this detoxification process. Kombucha is simply one of the easiest to do for yourself, and moreover, actually helps the liver purge where other probiotics only stimulate the detox.
That means that one of the most important Kombucha Benefits is that it helps relieve Kombucha Side Effects and other temporary adverse effects of drinking Kombucha. That’s pretty amazing.
Shirley’s Wellness Cafe provides some great guidelines for getting through a Herxheimer Reaction (doctor speak for healing crisis) including:
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| Dr. Karl Herxheimer |
- Drink lots of pure alkaline ionized water
- Get minimal exercise daily
- Lots of sunshine
- Take detoxification slowly … one step at a time
- Don’t increase the dose of herbals
- Keep the organs of elimination (bowels, lungs, skin, kidneys) open
- Take detox baths
- Use aromatherapy oils for aches -like peppermint, birch, and wintergreen
- Sweat by using exercise, saunas, baths, and herbs
- Avoid foreign chemicals and refined processed foods
As she says, “The more toxins there are to eliminate, the sicker one is when they come out. Generally, one will feel better when all is over and health is restored again. Just remember, don’t give up.”
If you want to know more, please go there and read as there is a wealth of information available about how to identify a healing crisis vs. an illness, so that you can tell the difference between Kombucha side effects and something more serious with adverse effects that are unrelated to the Kombucha.
Please educate yourself if you have any concerns. Below are some other great resources you can utilize:
The Natural Path
Cajun Ernie
Health Science Spirit
Homeopathe International – Dr. Hering, father of American Homeopathy
Fernz Health
Hannah Crum is 
Interesting idea. If I haven't had kombucha for awhile the effects are stronger for me.
Guess what? I'm allergic to tea! (So is my mother! Allergy tests & all.)
A year ago I made a cup of hot tea- black raspberry green tea by Republic of Tea. I wanted to see if my allergy was still there. The tea smelled wonderful! But sure enough, I barely made it through half a cup before I was thoroughly nauseated and felt awful. I rarely experience nausea.
BUT-
I can drink kombucha no problem! In fact, it's usually quite a help! My guess is that the fermentation process alters it so much that it's a totally different product by the time I drink it. My mother used to drink it regularly, too, and she never had her usual symptoms of tea consumption (feeling drained, severe brain fog, headaches).
Obviously tea is not an anaphylaxis allergy for either of us, but it's wonderful to be able to drink kombucha. I've been brewing it for over a year now, and it's been an important part of my healing journey! =) Thanks for your blog!
Happy Saturday to you! Thanks for the article.
Happy Saturday to you, Denise!! =)
I’m waiting a couple more days before my very first batch of K. tea has fermented. So thanks for the ‘heads up’ advice. I would have freaked out if this happens and I wasn’t aware of it….;)
Drink your water! Its the best way to keep the toxins flowing OUT of the body.
Hello, I think i had a healing crisis and look forward to your comment, i started having kombucha, water kefir, and milk kefir, a little at a time, but after a few weeks i might have overdone it, i began brewing two batches of kombucha 2 weeks apart, and one day I woke up with a cold, the next day a bad skin infection that landed me in the hospital for 3 days, its been a year and i still have a little bit of the infection in my leg, i was never sure if it was all the ferments i had from the 3 i mentioned plus kraut, plus miso, plus raw milk, but i have stopped all ferments for 6 months maybe because two doctors told me to do that, two holistic doctors, who said the infection is from excessive heat in the body, and ferments cause more heat, so i am not sure what do, I would love to go back as i read how healthy they are for you but i have battling this infection on my skin for a year and want it gone, i look forward to your reply, thanks
ian