Green Tea Cause Back Pain?

by Kholiswa
(South Africa)

I'm a 37 year old woman and have been drinking green tea for two weeks now. It definately gives me lots of energy and people have commented about my beautiful skin.


My one concern though is that I have recenty been having this lower back pain, to an extent that I have found myself having to stand from time to time whilest working on my PC. I was wondering if it could have anything to do with it.

Answer:

Kholiwa, I am glad you have enjoyed drinking green tea.

Green tea is anti-flammatory, so if anything it should help rather than cause back pain.

If you have been sitting on your desk working on PC for a long time, it is not usual to suffer from back and neck problems.

Two weeks of drinking tea is highly unlikely to cause any "internal" side effect such as back pain.

Just make sure you are not drinking more than 6 cups of green tea a day, which is the recommended dosage by the UK Tea Council, due to the caffeine consideration.

(As you get more familiar with tea, you can drink more if you like.)

I have compiled a list of side effects here, you may want to check to be certain of any things else you may not be aware of:

Green Tea Side Effects

I am not medically qualified so I can only make some suggestions. Please consult your doctors for further advice.

I hope this helps.

Julian

Comments for Green Tea Cause Back Pain?

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Jul 12, 2009
Green Tea Cause Back Pain?
by: Lesego

Hi there

I am also experiencing back pains every time after drinking Green Tea, pains similar to menstrual pains.

What could be causing that?

I am not stressed or sitting in front of my pc for longs hours. This happens whenever even when I'm relaxed.

Should I be worried?

Jul 13, 2009
back pain = stomach cramps?
by: Anonymous

I have just recently started drinking green tea because I'm trying to clean out my system. I heard that drinking green tea makes you go to the bathroom, and that has been the case for me. I also get gas.

To me these feel like menstrual cramps, and happen only when i drink the tea warm or hot.

I've tried drinking cold tea, and i didn't get the cramps. It could be that when the tea is warm or hot, it absorbs much faster causing cramps in sensitive people. I know from giving birth too, that sometimes cramps can feel like back pain.

I hope this helped.

Aug 15, 2009
Be moderate when you drink green tea
by: jasmine girl

Hi there. just to add something here that many people (other than perhaps chinese/japanese/koreans etc) do not know.

You should not drink green tea on an empty stomach. Especially if your green tea is strong.

There is a saying in china, if you want to kill yourself, drink tea while your stomach is empty.

In other words, green tea is strong in nature. that is why it is good for detoxification. so usually the Asians drink tea after they eat (but preferably not right after). It is especially good when you eat oily or heavy food.

If you want to drink on empty stomach, don't use too much leaves. a few will do, basically make it light. Otherwise too much and too strong green tea can make you hungry and may effect you in some ways.

Moderation is the key.

Sep 21, 2009
The opposite happend for me
by: Jessica

The opposite thing happened for me. I hurt my back lifting a resident at work. I just began drinking two cups in the morning, and my back pain is gone. I swear!

I'm sure the ibuprofin helped too, and there are other factors. But I also think it has A LOT to do with the Green Tea.

I drink the pure green tea. I tell people that I think green tea got rid of my back pain, and they look at me like I'm insane.

Ah well.

Feb 01, 2010
Green Tea Back Pain
by: Anonymous

I am in my 40's as well and whenever I drink Green Tea for long periods of time I experience the same thing.

Jul 02, 2010
Back Pain after drinking Green Tea
by: SBW in Portland

I thought I was imagining it but when I drink too much green tea, I get back ache and sometimes a painful muscle spasm episode.

Then when I read some of the other experiences on this site, I realized that it's true.

I practice herbal medicine so I can see why this would be true for certain types, i.e., thin people with dry skin and a sensitive colon are more likely to get back pain because green tea aggravates the Vata dosha in the pelvic area.

I think the suggestion to drink it after food is a very good idea and I am going to try that.

Thanks for listening. SBW in Portland

Nov 09, 2010
Oh come on!
by: Phil

Tea affecting your backs, what? Are you all mad.

Do all the research you want, green tea, jasmine, black etc. are the best things you can consume to stay healthy, and the Asians live very long due to many other things including a great diet.

Backaches lol

Nov 11, 2010
Its possible that it can
by: Anonymous

I've been drinking TONNES of tea for about 10 years, and I'm only 20 and I have so many back problems (including reduced back bone density which not my age should have) that puzzle doctors, and before they showed up on xray/MRI.

I was already complaining about terrible back pain/muscle spasms/tension when they couldn't find anything, and I do think tea has something to do with it all, I get high off tea basically but I've never used more than 2 litres/4t-bags per day regularly, I think the back pain has to do w certain people getting slight muscle spasms/tensions as a tea hangover basically.

Nov 21, 2010
Oh, Yes It Is possible!!
by: Anonymous

When I drank tea for two weeks straight, two twelve ounce cans a day. My back pain and restlessness began halfway into the second week. So yes it was the tea, that was the only thing I started new. Cut it out and now I'm fine.

Dec 03, 2010
upper back, sholder pain
by: Anonymous

Yes, same thing, I have drank green tea on and off over the years. Just put it together and realized it was causing my pain.

Dec 28, 2010
Back Pain From Tea
by: tjake13

I have inflammation from some scar tissue, that bothers me sometimes. I recently twisted my back, and it hurt a little.

I started drinking black teas, and my back pain went from a 3 to a 10. I was crawling on the floor.

What ever is in tea, caused my tissue around the injury to swell. I tried drinking tea again, and the pain came back. Whatever is in tea, does not agree with me.

Jan 31, 2011
Green tea and lower back
by: Andy

I tried drinking green tea for 2 weeks and it as made me feel ill. Also my lower back is hurting real bad. I have found out that green tea blocks iron absortion might have something to do with musle strength. so I won't be drinking any more.

Apr 04, 2011
Muscle spasms & muscle cramps
by: Maureen

I've been drinking a lot of green tea for about a year or so. For the past several months I have been having painful muscle cramps everywhere...toes, feet, ankles, legs, ribs, back, fingers, hands, arms....and I began to think that perhaps the green tea, being a diuretic, might be draining me of needed potassium.

I'm going to stop drinking it for a while, get some potassium supplements, and see if that cures my problems. I cannot sleep through the night with out bolting out of bed several times with painful cramps somewhere.

Wish me luck....I need some sleep.

Apr 07, 2011
Back Pain -- Yes!
by: Anonymous

I definitely notice a correlation between frequent green (and black) tea drinking and lower back muscle spasms. I think the back pain is the result of its expansive effect on the bladder and bowels. Frequent urination is also a result.

No more than a few cups of tea a day for me, and only with/after meals. I have quickly noticed the difference.

Jul 12, 2011
Possible Link?
by: Anonymous

I notice my back hurts whenever I am a bit dehydrated. As teas often have a bit of a diuretic effect, perhaps drinking more water would help.

Just a thought...

Dec 22, 2011
Back pain
by: jay

33 year old male into fitness. Green tea definetly giving me back pain assoiciated with constipation. Get it just after a few days of starting to drink green tea even once a day.

Mar 20, 2012
Caffeine
by: Anonymous

Sure it's not the caffeine?

Apr 26, 2012
Back pain & cramps
by: NJ

Very fit 43 y/o female. Experiencing lower back pain and menstrual like cramps since recently starting to consume green tea 2-3x daily.

I think it is an affect on uterine fibroids???

May 09, 2012
I agree
by: Anonymous

I am 16 and i have been drinking green tea for a couple of weeks, only 1 cup a day, but I found I started getting a really sore lower back as well.

I tried not eating for a couple of hours then having a cup of green tea to see what the effects were. Almost instantly my back started to ache.

I do enjoy green tea so i still drink it occasionally and i can deal with the pain easier. :)

Jun 01, 2012
Upper Back Pain
by: D

Yes, I have had upper back pain the past couple days, especially around the spinal area.

I've been on a green tea addiction lately for the last month (consuming more these past couple weeks), not to mention the night before the back pain started (in the morning and middle of the nights).

I have now a severe upper back pain & ache.

Such a shame, because I love green tea.

Jan 10, 2013
Shoulder Pain
by: Anonymous

Ive ben drinking green tea on and off for around 3 years now. I find that the tea gives me a sharp pain in my shoulder, which goes away when I stopp drinking it for a few days.

Doctor didn't seem convinced though.

Feb 25, 2013
Back pain drinking tea
by: vivian

I love tea....green, white, brown...all of it, but i notice everytime I drank like 2 cups/bottles a day for a few days...I get lower back pain...that is really bad....I stop dranking the tea and the back pain is gone.

I tried this over the course of 5 years and the pain comes back everytime I drank tea. I limit the tea dranking down to about a cup or so a week...I don't know why this happens, I just know it does.

Aug 29, 2013
Backache
by: Anonymous

Regular black tea gives me backaches, Lately I have been drinking Calli tea for the last couple of weeks and have no backaches. I really love the favor of calli tea. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

Sep 11, 2013
OMG
by: Anonymous

I started adding green tea to my regular tea and I've never been in so much pain now that I read this it makes me wonder I get shoulder pain and spasms and lower and upper pain and cramps that's crazy I'm going to stop drinking it to see what happens.

Nov 22, 2013
tea and back pain
by: Anonymous

Both green and black (especially pronounced) give me back and joint pain if I drink them regularly. Thought I was imagining it at first, but after several years, have definitely determined a correlation.

Jan 12, 2014
I love green tea but it's revenge hurts.
by: Anonymous

I love green tea but it really gives me gas pains in my upper shoulder area of my back. I shall stop drinking tea and see what happens. This has happen in the past also but I never thought it had any connection to the tea I drink! BP

Jan 29, 2014
Green tea dilemas
by: Dona

Green tea is supposed to have many benefits and that is why I started it two weeks ago. It has affected me in two ways.

1- muscle aches. Read that caffeine could contribute to muscle aches and green tea has caffeine.

2- constipation. Read that tannin and caffeine
contribute to constipation. Both are in green tea.

Also the fact that green tea is a natural mild diuretic can add to the problem. Tried taking in more liquid to compensate and ended up running to the bathroom all night.

How do I get the benefits of green tea without the nasty side effects?.

Feb 25, 2014
Yep
by: Anonymous

Yep, same here! After several years on and off of various teas, definite correlation with low back pain and hip pain. Even had an xray to determine that it was not osteoarthritis. I'm a 50 yr old Caucasian woman with Nordic heritage, suspect that Asians and Middle Easterners do not suffer from this side effect, as tea has had a long history of use in these populations. Someone prove me wrong.

Feb 26, 2014
Yes, with me!
by: Anonymous

I was wondering for along time why I have sometimes very heavy lower back pain, especially at night and sometimes not. First I blamed my age. But, I suspected it may also have something to do with my exercise, posture, eating/drinking habits. I followed every food I eat and seen no change. As a regular jasmine/ green tee drinker, I switched my tea to Hibiscus tea for one week. Not only the stomach cramps but the Back pain was completely gone. I didn't believe this. So, I switched back to concentrated jasmine tea. I drank two cups/day as usual. Back pain was back in full. The next morning I threw away the very expensive tea. Now I drink any other herbal tea but black, green/jasmine tea and I have no issues anymore. It took me a lot of time experimenting what was causing my back pain. I can't exclude other causes, but I feel an unknown ingredient in green tea is at least aggravating my back pain.

Finally I came to this website to see if others had this experience before and I see I am not alone. Looks we fixed the back issue, for now, without seeing a doc.

Sep 12, 2014
Tea and backache
by: Anonymous

I love green tea. ..hot or cold..but I also notice it makes my lower back hurt..I can drink the black tea with no trouble...but everytime I try again drinking the green tea..the backache returns...I been doing this for about 10 yrs now with always the same results

Sep 19, 2014
Yes it's right...
by: Anonymous

I am 34 yr female. I never had back pain in my life. however after drinking green tee for more than last 4 months now I have very very acute lower back pain and I feel like drinking green tea is the only change in my eating habit rest all other things n work are the same as they were. So green tea definitely have something to do with back pain.

Nov 30, 2014
Green Tea the cause of Colon Spasms ?
by: Anonymous

For a period of time during August 2014 well into October I was drinking tons of Iced Green tea - both bottled and from Starbucks. I love it, but ran into a problem where I was experiencing severe colon spasms - crippling spasms. I went on the fodmap diet after my Drs recommendation but still didn't cut out green tea inking that was the healthy thing to do --- still had the issue. I finally cut out the green tea and slowly things cleared up for me. I can't exactly say the cause was Green Tea overconsumption - but I have a very strong feeling my issue was directly related. Just throwing this out there - it might help others in the future.

Feb 09, 2015
My experience
by: Anonymous

I've been trying to figure out the cause of muscle spasm on my lower back. After numerous eliminations I found that Greebn Tea was the cause. I wish there were some research on this.

Nov 08, 2015
Oxalate in Green/Black tea might be the culprit
by: Sophie

I have experienced same lower back pain after drinking green tea, my pain became at some point nauseating, I had to see the doctor which suspected a kidney stone, had X-rays but doctor couldn't find anything wrong.

After many searches on internet I have concluded that high oxalate content in the green tea might be the culprit.

Dec 23, 2015
I agree!
by: Anonymous

I am asian and 34 years old. I've been drinking green tea since last year and then my back pain also started since then. Last 2 months I stop drinking green tea and then my back pain stops.

Last week I started to drink green tea again and after few days my lower back pain came back. Just now I've read this blog and I can say that the green tea is the reason why my lower back become stiff and painful when sitting in the office for about 20 to 30 minutes.

I couldn't stand immediately because of this lower back pain. A deeper research for green tea bad effects for a particular person (age, activities involve, etc.) must be conducted.

Mar 11, 2016
Yes! Green tea causes backpain
by: Anonymous

I am 38 year old Indian Woman. I had been suffering from unexplained pain, especially in lower back area for 3 years. After I quit coffee and tea, it reduced from 1 year, I was fine.

But from 3 weeks now, I am having a stiff back, because I drank green tea for 4 days. 2 years back, I had stiff back after having green tea for one day but i was not sure it was really green tea. After reading an article on green tea, started again and from past 3 weeks almost bed ridden :(

Ayurveda doctor's told me it is because of high Ph Value in my blood(They call it heat. May be it is Vatha dosha). Some of the solutions that help me are : drinking coconut water, drinking water in which rice is washed.

May be green tea doesn't suit for certain body types. But yes, something in tea/coffee/green tea causes these problems.

Apr 18, 2016
Yes, it is true
by: Anonymous

Facing same problem after taking green tea. Even I wasn't able to hold anything due to wrist pain, which was increasing up to shoulder. After stop consuming green tea my pain is gone surprisingly.

May 12, 2016
Seems to bother me too
by: BB

I seem to get pain in my way lower back and upper glutes (my "buns") when I drink green tea for a few days in a row. It's a low-grade pain/ache just bad enough to keep me awake. Ugh. Maybe others could comment on if they are getting pain in the upper buns.

Jun 06, 2016
My expeience
by: Tea drinker

I am chinese and over 50, PhD biologist working on drug discovery in pharma. After reading these comments I am glad I am not the only one who has had these problems. I have been muscle injury prone for 15 years, started after suddenly drinking a lot of green tea. All my muscles are easily injured after drinking tea or beer. Of cause it went away after waning off tea for some time - like everyone else here. Green tea is the worst. Unfortunately I do need these stimulants to survive or enjoy in the Morden age, I found drinking milk helps very significantly! My theory is that tea, coffee and beer are diuretic and cause significant loss of fluid and essential nutrients like calcium from the body, which is causing muscle weakness or spasms. I encourage you to try milk. If someone knows something better than milk, that would be great. Surely together we can explore and find a formular! Withou caffeine my head does not function, without alcohol life is no fun, hope you all agree with me on that!

Jul 30, 2016
Green "back ache " Tea
by: Anonymous

Yes green tea could be a contributing factor to the back ache
I have had the same experience and after speaking to a few people have found the same in others. I am no doctor but I am speaking from experience and according to web Md the following info was posted: Green tea is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth long-term or in high-doses. It can cause side effects because of the caffeine. These side effects can range from mild to serious and include headache, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremor, heartburn, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions, and confusion. Green tea seems to reduce the absorption of iron from food. Drinking very high doses of green tea is LIKELY UNSAFE and can actually be fatal. The fatal dose of caffeine in green tea is estimated to be 10-14 grams (150-200 mg per kilogram). Serious toxicity can occur at lower doses.

Aug 05, 2016
it hurts my lower back
by: swetha

I had worst experience with green tea. It hurts my lower back a lot. I get unbearable pain and have to take so much rest to get rid of it. When i don't drink I am not having pain.

Sep 23, 2016
lower back pain
by: Hoody

I've experienced lower back pain for about a year and a half. A few weeks ago I went on a 4-day trip to Virginia, during which I didn't drink my usual one cup a day of green tea that I had been doing religiously for the past year and a half. I didn't pick up on it right away, but a few days after I returned home I suddenly realized that the entire time that I was in Virginia, I experienced absolutely no lower back pain whatsoever. Immediately, I considered the real possibility that my back pain was being caused by something that I was ingesting. The most obvious culprit, I reasoned, was the green tea. In the recent past, I had experienced my first attack of gout, which I traced to the consumption of black tea. I stopped drinking it at once, and the gout never returned. I had never read anything negative about green tea---until now! Within 48 hours of stopping my consumption of green tea, all of my back pain has completely disappeared. No more stiffness, no more brain fog, no more lack of energy---I feel reborn! It took only a half a teaspoon per day.

Mar 01, 2017
Yes it does
by: Colin

I wouldn't have believed it But I have experienced the same thing. I drink alot of strong green tea and randomly started getting a sore back. To the extent that It feels like an injury. I often got this in the past when I was gyming and put it down to bad form on squats. However I have not gymed in 3 months and started a detox recently and now have the back pain.

Mar 05, 2017
back pain
by: siddeshwar

I am taking one cup of green tea a day from two weeks.I got body pains.

Mar 12, 2017
Back oaine
by: Anonymous

I also love green tea...hot or cold, but whenever I drink even one cup...it makes my lower back hurt. I tried and tried it and every time the same thing happens. I'm not crazy..like one person suggested on here...I know what I feel and I know what causes it....

Jul 26, 2017
Yes! Green tea causes back ache
by: Anonymous

I came here to ask if green tea causes back ache and i believe the answer is yes. I'm young female in mid 20s, very healthy, athletic and do lots of yoga. Lately I've been drinking a fair amount of green tea and thats the only thing i have added to my diet and routine, n i have been having this sharp aching in my upper back and spine area. Going to stop or reduce my tea in take for a few days and see what happens

Sep 11, 2017
I'm Feeling The Green Tea Back Pain X 20
by: Karen

White Caucasian Fe 58
Vegan and gluten free so I consider myself to be healthier than most my age. I love coffee and want to quit cause it also leaves me feeling wasted.
But MATCHA TEA has given me incruciating lower back pain in just 3 days. Started drinking it and okay I can do this attitude. Day 2, well this is good put lower back pain. Day 3, well I will drink the anti-inflamitory GREEN MATCHA TEA so my back pain gets better. I'm literally in bed from lifting a garden hose. That is how inflamed my lower back is.. YES GREEN MATCHA TEA causes back pain and so GREEN TEA which is weaker surely would but it would take a little longer than with the MATCHA. Listen to your body, it knows what it likes and doesn't like. Best to all of you suffering the GREEN TEA BACK PAIN, I'm feeling your pain x20.

Nov 24, 2017
Kidney pain after green tea
by: Anonymous

I also had to give up hot green tea after severe lower back pain and recently gave up coffee and switched to hot tea in the morning with the same results. It appears that the oxalate in tea affects my kidneys and hot tea irritates the kidneys.

Jan 07, 2018
Any tea
by: Anonymous

I can’t say green tea hurts my back because I don’t drink it but regular tea do cold or hot.

Feb 05, 2018
Black tea
by: mick Hort

I gave up drinking black tea with milk and my back pain has gone. I was totally disabled by the pain Now I can function reasonably well. Green tea has tannin so no reason to suspect it does not cause back pain. No more tea for me.

Feb 12, 2018
Green Tea and Muscle Twitching
by: Anonymous

I find that when I drink green tea, my calf muscles twitch and the arches of my feet will cramp. I believe that it has to do with the chemical makeup of green tea. It doesn't seem to be caused by the caffeine content because other forms of caffeine don't seem to have the same problem for me. My biggest issues seem to come from Green Tea and Dark Chocolate. Must be some similar compounds in them causing the reaction. I recommend expermenting to determine how your body reacts.

Feb 14, 2018
green tea
by: Anonymous

i have swapped from coffee to green tea.After 3 weeks,i went back to coffee.Green tea was killing me.

Mar 21, 2018
Glad I'm not alone!
by: Anonymous

I started drinking green tea bc I heard it kills h Pylori. I'm a sensitive person, energy levels are okay and I battle with stomach problems. So I noticed every time I drunk green tea I would get a dull pain on the right side of my hip. I only had a sip today and that damn pain keeps popping up. I started chugging water. :/

Oct 26, 2018
I toi got back pain after drinking green tea NEW
by: Anonymous

I too had thia nack pain. Probably the kidney can't process the green tea sibce they mix the tea leaf with water. Theh should seperate it like normal tea. I can't even stand.

Nov 22, 2019
muscle cramps NEW
by: Anonymous

Similar story, want to quit coffee, started drinking organic plain green tea 4 days ago. No back pain but aching cramps deep in my thigh and biceps muscles shortly after drinking a glass of green tea. Unmistakably connected, that's what brought me here. Disappointing to say the least, but whatever the connection, it is clear the green tea is doing something bad in my body like stripping minerals or causing inflammation.

Feb 28, 2020
Tea affects strength NEW
by: Anonymous

After drinking a small cup of green tea for several days (after lunch or breakfast) shortly afterwards I begin to feel almost immobilized.
Sometimes to the point where I can hardly lift my legs. Several years ago I also noticed black tea was my enemy. If I drank it with milk and didn't eat, I would feel extremely weak for most of the day

May 19, 2020
Upper back and shoulder pain NEW
by: Anonymous

If I drink green tea, in couple of hours will get muscle spasm in my upper back and shoulder. Green tea is not good for health in my experience.

Jul 12, 2020
Back pain! NEW
by: Anonymous

I’ve been laid up going on two days with debilitating lower back pain, after a morning cup of green tea.. First sign was the tea made me nauseous - very difficult to drink, then an hour or so later the pain started, much like spasms...

I’ve experienced back pain off and on for years, Only now have I considered a possible green tea connection...

Aug 13, 2020
Yes and Yes Green tea can be the cause of ur back pain NEW
by: Anonymous

last 3 months i started drinking green tea daily and since i didnt drunk a cup of coffee nor tea in the last 2 years...i felt the waking up effect of tea on me and i liked it...days gone by and that devilish like back kidney pain didnt leave me a single day it felt like carrying bags of stones inside my back every single day a horrible pain zero stamina aching everywhere i started to beleibe that it s fibromiyalgia...and by pure coicidence i read somewhere that partient with fibromylgia should avoid menth once and for all and since i had my tea with peppermint i stop it with no hope it s gonna do me any good...the next morning it was magical i swear the first day i open my eyes to no pain felt so light i almost forgot about that feeling... i m on my third day free of pain after 3 months of horror and all i did is STOP DRINKING GREEN TEA IF U FEEL BACK PAIN

Nov 30, 2020
I'm having back pain when I drink Matcha Green Tea NEW
by: Alex

I was experiencing lower back pain without knowing the cause. I just realized that I am having lower back pain after drinking Matcha Green Tea.
The last time I drank the Matcha the pain lasted for few days. Now again after drinking it again the pain is back.

Jan 12, 2022
I think it definitely causes back pain!
by: JC

I started having lower back and flank pain that would occasionally radiate up higher to the bottom of my should blades. It was mostly on both sides but sometimes more prominent on my left side.

I couldn't figure out the cause for over a month. I thought I hurt my back but I couldn't recall a time this could have happened. I looked at my diet and other things over the past month or two and realized that I started drinking a fair amount of green tea. I googled it and found this website with multiple people reporting similar issues.

I would have 2-3 cups of green tea per day and I would never take the tea bag out so it was steeping continuously. It is hard to believe one teabag could do this but I stopped drinking it entirely and my back pain has significantly improved in 24-48 hours. I think the pain is actually due to oxalates in the tea affecting your kidneys. Good luck everyone.

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