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Could a Hot Cup of Matcha Dial Down the 'Sneeze Switch' In Allergic Rhinitis?

A recent early‑access study published in npj Science of Food reports that oral matcha consumption reduced sneezing in mice engineered to exhibit allergic rhinitis. The mice received matcha tea two to three times weekly for over five weeks and a dose before allergen exposure, resulting in fewer sneezes without altering IgE, mast cell, or T‑cell activity. Researchers traced the effect to suppressed activation of the brainstem sneezing center, as indicated by lower c‑Fos expression. The findings point to a non‑immune pathway through which matcha may alleviate hay‑fever symptoms.