Natural Medical SolutionsGreen tea comes from the same plant as black and oolong teas. People have used it for health for thousands of years. Today, it is sold as a drink and as a supplement.
What is green tea?
Green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Workers steam and dry the leaves but do not ferment them. This process keeps the leaves green.
The FDA has approved one specific green tea extract ointment. It is a prescription drug for treating genital warts. Other green tea products are sold as dietary supplements.
What are the benefits of green tea?
People use green tea to help with weight loss and heart health. Research on these uses is not clear.
Studies show green tea may lower total cholesterol a little. It does not seem to change other types of cholesterol. Results on cancer risk are also mixed.
What are the side effects of green tea?
Drinking green tea is likely safe for most adults. It does contain caffeine, which can affect you.
Supplements can cause side effects. These include nausea, constipation, and stomach pain. They may also raise your blood pressure.
Rarely, green tea supplements can cause liver injury. Some people with a certain gene variant are at higher risk.
Is there a standard dose?
There is no standard dose for green tea. Supplements vary in how they are made. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.
Who should not take green tea?
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant. You should limit caffeine intake during pregnancy. Caffeine can pass to your baby through breast milk.
High levels of caffeine may make a nursing baby fussy. It can also cause poor sleep for the baby.
How is green tea regulated?
The FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold. This is different from how they treat drugs. Manufacturers must ensure their products are safe.
Does Green Tea interact with any medications?
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking green tea if you take any prescription medicine. The list below is not complete.
High doses of green tea can lower the amount of this drug in your blood. This makes the medicine less effective.
Green tea extract can lower the levels of this drug in your body.
Research shows that green tea can interact with this medicine.
Common questions about green tea
Is green tea safe to drink?
Can green tea hurt my liver?
Does green tea help with weight loss?
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Where this information comes from
Written from NCCIH, a public-domain resource from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Information retrieved 2026-08-21.
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