Japan's well-known matcha green tea powder could help reduce sneezing in people with nasal allergies, according to a study published on March 11.
The findings are important for those who suffer from allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, which causes symptoms such as sneezing and discomfort. The research points to the potential of matcha as a food-based option that could complement existing treatments for allergy sufferers.
Professor Osamu Kaminuma from the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine at Hiroshima University led the study. "Human studies suggest green tea may relieve allergic rhinitis, but how it works is unclear," Kaminuma said. In their recent paper published in npj Science of Food, Kaminuma and his team gave mice engineered to have hay fever symptoms matcha tea two to three times a week for over five weeks. The mice also received an extra dose of tea before being exposed to allergens that would normally trigger their symptoms.
The researchers found that the mice sneezed much less after receiving matcha treatment. However, they noted that matcha did not seem to affect immune responses involving immunoglobulin E (IgE), mast cells, or T cells—key players in typical allergic reactions. Instead, the team observed changes in brain activity related to sneezing. Specifically, they measured the expression of a gene called c-Fos in a part of the brain involved in sneezing and found that matcha reduced this gene's activity almost back to normal levels during allergen exposure.
Kaminuma said the next step is to investigate whether these effects can be seen in humans as well. "The goal is an evidence-backed, food-based option that complements standard care for allergic rhinitis symptoms," he said.
If future studies confirm these results in humans, matcha could become part of dietary strategies aimed at managing allergy symptoms.
