Evidence supporting the use of: Kukicha
For the health condition: Stress
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Kukicha, also known as twig tea, is a Japanese green tea made from the stems, stalks, and twigs of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Its use for stress is primarily supported by tradition rather than robust scientific evidence. In Japanese culture and macrobiotic dietary practices, Kukicha is considered a gentle, low-caffeine beverage believed to promote relaxation and balance due to its mild flavor and purported alkalizing properties. This traditional use aligns with the general notion that warm, non-stimulating herbal teas can provide comfort and aid in stress reduction through ritual and relaxation, rather than through direct pharmacological action.
However, scientific studies specifically investigating Kukicha’s effect on stress are lacking. While green teas contain the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown in clinical studies to promote relaxation and reduce stress, Kukicha contains less L-theanine than traditional green tea leaves, as it is made primarily from twigs and stems. Therefore, any calming effect is likely to be less pronounced. There are no clinical trials or strong scientific data directly supporting Kukicha’s use for stress beyond the general relaxing effects associated with drinking warm, non-caffeinated teas. For these reasons, the evidence rating for Kukicha's use in stress is low, and its use is justified more by cultural and traditional practices than by scientific validation.
Other ingredients used for Stress
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
7-Keto-DHEA
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Agarwood
Agastache
Agmatine
Agrimony
Akebia
Albizia
Algal protein
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-pinene
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
anise
Anserina
antler
Antrodia camphorata
apigenin
Aralia
Arginine aspartate
arjun tree
arjuna
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
baccosides
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
banana
banyan
Basidiomycota
bee pollen
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
biota seed
bird\'s nest
black ginger
Black spruce
black tea
bonito peptide
borage
brahmi
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
C-phycocyanin
calamus
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
Canscora
Capitate Valerian
cardamom
caterpillar mushroom
catnip
catuaba
Celastrus
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chaga mushroom
chamomile
cherimoya
Chinese fleeceflower
Chinese mountain ant
chocolate
chuchuhuasi
Clary sage
Clerodendrum phlomidis
coca
cocoa
Codonopsis
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
coriander
corktree
Corydalis
cowslip
curcumin
Cymbopogon martini
cypress
damiana
date
devil\'s club
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
dismutase
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dong quai root
eleuthero
emblicanin
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Eplotab
Erythrina
Eurycoma Longifolia
Ficus religiosa
fish
fish protein
flavones
fo-ti
fragrant rosewood
frankincense
Fumaria parviflora
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
galactooligosaccharides
gardenia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
Ginsenosides
Glycine
goji berry
goldthread
gotu kola
green tea
Griffonia simplicifolia
guayusa
gum
heartwood
Hemidesmus
hericium mushroom
hibiscus
Homalomena
honeybush
Honokiol
hops
Hypericum
isoliquiritigenin
Japanese kadsura
jasmine
Jatamansi
jiaogulan
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
kola nut
kuding tea
kudzu
Kukicha
L-ornithine
L-taurine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactalbumin
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactucarium
Lactucopicrin
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lemon balm
Lentinula edodes mycelia
Leptadenia
limonene
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
longan
lotus
lupulinum
Lycium
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
mandarin
mangiferin
maral root
Marjoram
Matcha
Mate
Meadow sage
Melatonin
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesembrine
Methylxanthine
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mint
Mistletoe
Monkey flower
Motherwort
Muira puama
Mulberry
Mulungu
Mung bean
Myrcene
Nardostachys
Night jessamine
noni
Nymphaea caerulea
oat
oolong tea
orchid
oriental arborvitae
Oxindole alkaloids
passionflower
Passionfruit
Patchouli oil
Pentatropis capensis
Pepper Bark Tree
Peppermint
perilla
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
pine bark
Piper chaba
Pistachio
Polygala
polygala root
poppy
pregnenolone
Purple Monkeyflower
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
quail egg
Rauvolfia
Rehmannia
relora® (proprietary)
Rhodiola
Rooibos
Rosabin
rosavins
rose
rose oil
Safed musli
saffron
Safranal
Salidroside
Sandy Everlasting
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Semecarpus anacardium
sesame
Shankhpushpi
Shataverins
Shilajit
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
skullcap
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spikenard
spinach
St. John's Wort
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
star of Bethlehem
suma
Sumbul
Sweet Woodruff
Tagara
Taurine
Taxillus chinensis
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Tetrahydropalmatine
Traveler's Joy
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
Uncaria
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
Vanilla
velvet bean
Verbena
Vetiver
Viburnum
Vine tea
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
Vitexin
Waterhyssop
whole adrenal glandular
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xanthine
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba mate
Ylang ylang
Yohimbine
Yumberry
Yuzu
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by Kukicha
Addictions (coffee, caffeine)Colds (general)
Digestion (poor)
Fatigue
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Indigestion
Insomnia
Nausea and Vomiting
Stress