GREEN TEA EXTRACT (EGCG)
Green tea extract is a concentrated form of green tea, and EGCG is its best-known compound. It has been studied for antioxidant support, mast cells, the brain and nerves, and blood vessels.
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
Where to buy is near the bottom of this post.
Looking for teas I love? See my Tea post:
TEA
WHAT IS GREEN TEA EXTRACT (EGCG)?
- Green tea comes from the leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Its main active compounds are EGCG, caffeine and theanine.
- EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is a polyphenol, a type of plant antioxidant. It's the best-known compound in green tea.
- Green tea extract packs more of these compounds into a capsule than a cup of tea. Some extracts are decaf, so check the label if caffeine bothers you.
BABESIA (LAB AND ANIMAL RESEARCH)
- In a 2010 study, EGCG slowed two cattle types of Babesia in the lab. In mice, it cleared a mouse-adapted strain of Babesia microti by day 14 to 16 (older source, still worth reading).
- In a 2019 study, a green tea extract slowed four types of Babesia in the lab. In mice, it slowed the growth of Babesia microti by 42.4% (older source, still worth reading).
- These were lab and animal studies, so studies in people are still needed.
- I couldn't find studies of green tea or EGCG on Lyme bacteria or Bartonella yet.
MAST CELLS
- In a 2023 lab study, EGCG helped keep mast cells from releasing their contents after an allergy-type trigger. It also lowered the inflammatory messengers IL-4 and TNF-alpha.
- In a 2025 rat study, EGCG lowered histamine and inflammatory cytokines in an allergy model, and higher amounts had a bigger effect.
- The research is mixed: a 2026 lab study found EGCG could set off mast cells through a different receptor called MRGPRX2. Baicalin (from Chinese skullcap) did the same in that study.
- So EGCG is not a proven mast cell stabilizer or antihistamine. If you have MCAS, talk with your doctor first and watch how you feel.
ANTIOXIDANT SUPPORT
- A 2025 review of 38 trials found green tea improved the body's antioxidant markers and lowered one inflammation marker, IL-1 beta.
BRAIN AND NERVES
- In a 2025 trial, 80 adults (average age about 50) with memory complaints took a heat-treated green tea extract or a placebo for 12 weeks. The green tea group's memory scores improved more, and brain scans showed stronger connections in a network tied to memory.
- In a 2021 trial of 194 people with nerve pain from diabetes, those who took green tea extract for 16 weeks had less pain and fewer nerve symptoms than the placebo group. The difference showed up by week 8 (older source, still worth reading).
- In a 2025 mouse study, EGCG eased nerve pain caused by a chemotherapy medicine and calmed inflammation around the nerves.
- A 2024 review notes that lab and animal studies suggest EGCG may help calm long-lasting inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.
HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS
- A 2025 review of 36 trials found green tea lowered blood pressure by about 1 point (top and bottom numbers). The effect was small, and the authors describe green tea as a complementary (add-on) approach.
METABOLISM
- A 2025 review of 41 trials found EGCG supplements led to small drops in fasting blood sugar and HbA1c (a 3-month blood sugar marker). The authors say the changes were modest, and the research doesn't strongly support EGCG on its own for blood sugar.
A note from me: this list doesn't cover everything. Green tea extract may offer more benefits than I've included here. I'm sharing the uses that are best known or most studied as of today, from sources I trust. Research keeps growing, and one post can only cover so much.
BEFORE YOU START
- Read the warning on each bottle.
- Very high amounts of concentrated green tea extract, far more than a cup of tea or the amount in Find Relief, have been linked to liver problems, so follow the label. Many labels say to take it with food.
- Green tea extract has caffeine unless it's decaf. Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep or cause headaches.
- Green tea can affect how iron is absorbed, so talk with your doctor if you take iron.
- It can change the levels of some medicines, like nadolol (a heart medicine) and rosuvastatin (a cholesterol medicine). One product label below also lists blood thinners. Check with your doctor if you take prescriptions.
- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor first. Memorial Sloan Kettering advises against green tea then because of its caffeine.
- Always ask your doctor before adding anything new.
MY EXPERIENCE
I take green tea extract every day as part of Find Relief, and I drink green tea as well.
FIND RELIEF HIGHLIGHT
- Green tea extract is in Find Relief, at 65 mg (standardized to 98% polyphenols and 50% EGCG) per 3-capsule serving. That works out to about 32 mg of EGCG.
- Dr. Thoring included green tea extract in a smaller amount on purpose, because the ingredients in Find Relief are chosen to work together.
- How it works with ginkgo and grape seed extract: ginkgo supports healthy blood flow in the tiny blood vessels and mental clarity, grape seed helps protect blood vessel linings, capillaries and collagen, and green tea adds antioxidant protection for blood vessels and nerves.
FIND RELIEF - GINKGO BILOBA, GRAPE SEED EXTRACT, AND GREEN TEA EXTRACT: CIRCULATION AND COGNITIVE SUPPORT
- How it works with berberine: berberine supports gut balance and a healthy metabolism, while green tea adds antioxidant and cell-signaling support. Together they reach beyond histamine to the gut and metabolic side of inflammation.
FIND RELIEF - BERBERINE AND GREEN TEA EXTRACT: METABOLIC, INTESTINAL, AND CYTOKINE BALANCE
- How it works with ginger, berberine and nettle root: these four support digestion, gut balance and metabolism together, since the gut can affect immune activity and inflammation all through the body.
FIND RELIEF - GINGER, BERBERINE, NETTLE ROOT, AND GREEN TEA EXTRACT: DIGESTIVE AND METABOLIC CONTRIBUTORS
- Green tea extract is also part of Find Relief's mast cell, leukotriene and cytokine support:
FIND RELIEF - HISTAMINE AND MAST-CELL SUPPORT
FIND RELIEF - LEUKOTRIENE-PATHWAY SUPPORT
FIND RELIEF - CYTOKINE-SIGNALING SUPPORT
- See every Find Relief post in one place:
FIND RELIEF DIRECTORY
WHERE TO BUY
One I personally love: Find Relief, formulated by my doctor, Dr. Thoring.
I invested in Vital Harmony Nutritionals to help bring Find Relief to market, because I wanted a formula that saves people money.
Buy products on Fullscript for a 25% discount:
Buy here (Pure Encapsulations Green Tea Extract: decaf capsules, 70 mg EGCG each):
Buy here (Vital Nutrients Green Tea Extract: low-caffeine capsules standardized to 50% EGCG):
Buy here (Protocol for Life Balance EGCg Green Tea Extract: lower-priced capsules, 200 mg EGCG each):
MORE RESEARCH WITH MIXED RESULTS
- Babesia: in a 2016 lab screen of many compounds, EGCG had weak activity against one type of Babesia (Babesia divergens) (older source, still worth reading).
- Inflammation markers: the 2025 review of 38 trials found green tea did not change CRP, IL-6 or TNF-alpha. In a 2026 analysis of 97 women from a 1-year trial, a high-dose green tea extract also did not lower these markers.
- Metabolism: a 2025 review of trials in people with metabolic syndrome found no clear change in blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol overall, though some smaller groups, like women, seemed to benefit.
RELATED POSTS
BABESIA - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
MAST CELL / MCAS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
BRAIN FOG - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
BERBERINE
SOURCES
Memorial Sloan Kettering, About Herbs: Green Tea (2026)
Aboulaila et al., EGCG and Babesia, lab and mouse study (2010, older source, still worth reading)
Batiha et al., green tea extract and Babesia, lab and mouse study (2019, older source, still worth reading)
Rizk et al., Babesia divergens drug screen, lab study (2016, older source, still worth reading)
Zeng et al., EGCG and mast cells, lab study (2023)
Islam et al., EGCG and mast cells in rats (2025)
Zhang et al., natural compounds and mast cells, lab study (2026)
Dehzad et al., green tea, antioxidants and inflammation review (2025)
Joo et al., green tea extract and memory trial (2025)
Essmat and Hussein, green tea extract and diabetic nerve pain trial (2021, older source, still worth reading)
Kang et al., EGCG and chemotherapy nerve pain in mice (2025)
Li et al., EGCG and brain inflammation review (2024)
Rezaei et al., green tea and blood pressure review (2025)
Saadh et al., EGCG and blood sugar review (2025)
Cunningham et al., green tea extract and inflammation markers trial (2026)
Ghoflchi et al., green tea and metabolic syndrome review (2025)
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
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