Update 1/20/20. Japanese Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills are another in a long line of weight loss supplements from Japan, China, Vietnam, etc. aimed predominately at Americans. I admit I'd never heard of these slimming pills until it was brought to my attention by one of the readers of my blog. At various websites, these pills are said to be “in high demand,” and when I checked eBay, I saw some people selling them for over $60! Do these slimming pills work? Let’s see what the research says. This review contains updated and new information, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who tested Hokkaido weight loss pills and discovered what I suspected from the start… Also, see the review of Slim Trim U for more info.
Hokkaido Pills Ingredients
Hokkaido weight loss pills contain these ingredients.
- Dill Extract
- Chinese rose extract
- Trumpet Creeper extract
- Evening primrose extract
- Lotus
Is there any evidence that these ingredients help people lose weight? Let’s look at the research and see:
Dill Extract
They don’t tell you what “extract” they are talking about, but when I searched for weight loss research on dill, I found nothing. Dill does seem to have a diuretic effect so it may act as a natural water pill. I'm guessing that is why it’s in the ingredients.
Women who may be pregnant should avoid Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills. There is some speculation that dill may cause menstrual bleeding. I cannot find any research or case studies to substantiate this, however, but it is something to consider.
Chinese Rose Extract
Again, they do not tell us what specific extract they are talking about. What is the scientific name of the Chinese rose they are using? If anyone knows, let me know, and I will update this review.
Trumpet Creeper Extract
If you search for research on Trumpet Creeper, online, it can be a little difficult to find because its scientific name is Campsis radicans. Another name –albeit less scientific – is cow itch, which is a reference to how farm animals sometimes get a rash when they rub against it. This makes sense since the name “radicans” is the same classification as poison ivy (Rhus radicans).
That said, I could not locate any weight loss proof that Trumpet Creeper helps weight loss. When I googled Trumpet Creeper and weight loss, many sites that came up had to do with sites that sell weight-loss pills and that was no help. I then checked the National Library of Medicine and also couldn’t find anything. One problem with my search is that we are not told what extract of Trumpet Creeper is in Hokkaido weight loss pills.
Evening Primrose Extract
This is also called GLA, which stands for gamma-linolenic acid. The lack of evening primrose weight loss research makes me very skeptical. One study from the 1980s found evening primrose oil did not help weight loss.
Because evening primrose oil effects blood clotting, people taking blood thinners should avoid this product. There is also some perplexing cancer research hints that evening primrose oil might either reduce breast cancer growth or speed up breast cancer growth, depending on how much is used. The bottom line, if you have a history of cancer, talk to your doctor first.
The product Abdominal Cuts also has evening primrose oil. See that review for more info.
Evening primrose oil is sometimes used for PMS symptoms –with mixed results. Like Dill, women who may be pregnant should not use evening primrose oil.
It may be very dangerous. If you have my book on supplements see the chapter on evening primrose oil for more on its other uses.
Hokkaido FDA Update
In November 2012, The FDA alerted the public that Japanise Hokkaido Slimming Pills contained the weight loss drug called sibutramine, a weight-loss drug that was removed from the US market in 2010 because it posed significant health risks. Here is what the FDA said in their warning about Hokkaido pills:
“Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking.”
This explains the very strange symptoms people have been reporting in the comments.
Lotus
Human weight loss research on lotus cannot be located. I did locate one test-tube study where lotus and L carnitine reduced fat buildup inside fat cells. This is interesting but it’s a study of fat cells in test tubes. You are MUCH more complex than a test tube.
You may recall that lotus is one of the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen weight loss supplements.
On one of the websites that sell Hokkaido Pills, they spelled “primrose” wrong and there is broken English. Nobody is perfect but ingredient typos – and broken English on websites make me wonder about who put this website together.
Do Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills work?
Based on the research I can find, I say no, this stuff cannot possibly work – if these are the only ingredients in the pills. If people are losing weight, I am interested in hearing about it. Since I wrote this review, the FDA has confirmed what I thought all along – that Hokkaido slimming pills contained something not listed in the ingredients, a drug called sibutramine. Because of this, Hokkaido weight loss pills cannot be recommended.
What do you think?
i have recently placed a large order for these pills and US customs is holding my shipment, the shipper put health supplements on the box, i called us customs and i finally got someone who found my box and they said they would have an answer for me tomorrow 8/30/11.
i have called several times since the 14th of august (the day it arrived in customs) with no avail, i think because it is listed as supplements that is a big red flag for customs since that is the real problem with the labeling of restricted supplements, just the word.
We have seen great results with hokkaido and with a few side effects at first, i experienced sleeplessness, sweating while i was starting, within a week i was adjusted to eating differently and i was eating good food and a really good breakfast and dinner Early in the evening, with more energy and with clean intestines (your intestines fill up with a lot of junk when you are fat).
i believe many people are not eating or drinking enough water and juices while taking these pills. i stopped taking the pills because i lost all of the weight i wanted and it has been three days since i took any pills and i feel normal and i am not having any side effects. some other people have had side effects, but who knows what they are ingesting or cannot resist, it is hard to stop eating salty food.
My wife did not have any side effects as well. it takes time for the body to adjust to eating differently and eating less, i had some clean out effects during my first week and if you eat greasy food or junk food hokkaido kicks it out of you really fast, if you eat good healthy food hokkaido responds well in most peoples system from our experience with our customers.
I think most people do not understand that hokkaido makes bad food and sugary stuff want to leave the body and have a bad taste, i lost all cravings for sugar and candy and junk food and really started eating good i lost 20 LBs in a month.
Don
Don, some of the side effects you listed make me really think that Hokkaido pills have some type of weight loss drug. When you said that when you eat fatty foods that it leaves you very fast – that is one of the side effects of fat blocker drugs.
losing 20 lbs in one month is a lot – that’s 5 lbs a week! There is nothing in Hokkaido Pills that will do this. I still stand by my opinion that these pills have an undeclared “mystery” ingredient that is causing weight loss.
When you say “some other people have had side effects, but who knows what they are ingesting”, It might also mean that some Hokkaido pills may contain more or less of some ingredient that is causing problems – or that the pills have interacted with medications. That makes more sense to me than them eating salty foods.
Can you give me a research study that proves “your intestines fill up with a lot of junk when you are fat”. What kind of “junk” are you referring to? I’d like to see proof that the intestines of overweight people have more “junk” in them that those of skinny people.
When you say that “hokkaido makes bad food and sugary stuff want to leave the body” can you be more specific by the word “leave”. To me, it sounds like Hokkaido pills have a laxative effect but even that should not account for the weight loss people are saying occurs with these pills.
Don, these pills should not work given the ingredients that are listed. I believe people should be very cautious of Hokkaido pills.
I have been taking these pills. I had a couple of friends that had taken them and lost weight so I thought I would give them a try as well. I have lost about 25 pounds. But that is in 3 months. My cousin is also taking them, she has been taking them a little longer and has lost 40. I have not had any side effects.
In the beginning-I did go to the bathroom more frequently but not anymore. I had tried other weight loss products and just could not get the weight off from my last baby. But these seemed to work for me. I have noticed that just like every other pill-they have different effects on everyone.
Amber, thanks for letting me know. I just want you and your cousin to be careful. I stand by what I said in my review that there is no possible way that the listed ingredients can cause someone to lose weight. This makes me really suspicious about what is really in them. When different people report different side effects, it makes me wonder about the quality control of these diet pills. In other words, do all boxes of Hokkaido pills have the same ingredients?
Elva, it’s often said that supplements in the US are “not regulated”. Truth is supplements made in the US are regulated. But when it comes to supplements that you have to get “hooked up” to buy, there is zero regulation.
The fact that you had amazing results and then almost none proves it. My big concern of all these types of products is we don’t know what they are putting in them – is it a drug? if so what are the side effects and how much are they using?
Also, what about the impurities and the cleanliness of the facility that makes the supplements. Is it even made in a “facility” -or in somebodies house?
If you ever watch the movie “Bigger Stronger Faster”, you can see how easy it is to make supplements in your own home. I say stay away from any supplement that you have to go “under cover” to get.
Maine, Ive often wondered if zi xiu tang contained an antidepressant. If it did – and I don’t have any proof of that – I wonder if you had a withdrawal from it. hoping the FDA releases its findings of zi xiu tang soon
I visited Manila this year, and these Hokkaido pills have become really popular. I decided to try a bottle. I bought one for about $12. I didn’t take the pills everyday (only when I remembered), nor did I exercise, but I somehow managed to lose 8 pounds in 3 weeks (135lbs to 127lbs).
The Zi Xun Tang side effects are right on, I’ve experience 90% of what is posted, but here is one more thing that I would like add…after finishing a whole bottle and being off the pills for about a month, I experienced mild depression.
These pills DO work, I would agree with people when they say that they are “Magic Pills”. Let’s be honest though, losing so much weight in so little time without putting any effort sounds too good to be true, and when it sounds too good to be true….IT USUALLY IS. I hope these pills are tested a.s.a.p, I’m curious to know the “mystery” ingredients (there has to be one).
I used these pills last year for two months and I dropped thirty pounds. I stopped using the pills because they are not recommended to be used for more than two months straight. The side effects that I got were headache. I’m sure I got the headaches because sometimes I would forget to eat since you don’t get hungry. Be aware once you get off this pills you will gain all your weight back.
It is also true that these pills are very hard to purchase you need to know someone who sells them “under cover”. I tried to re-use them again and for some reason the once I happen to purchase from ebay do not have the same effect that the ones I would purchase from a friend. I am loosing weight but not in a fast way. I remember the first time I used them I dropped 6lb in one week. With the ones I purchased from ebay I have lost 10lbs so far and I’m on my fourth week. Something is wrong because they are not producing the same effect as the ones I would purchase through hook ups.
My friend recommended me this because it worked for her. I tried using it for about 5 days only. My mouth dried and I really didn’t feel hunger, just thirst. However, during the afternoon, I’d have difficulty in breathing and at night I get palpitations and I couldn’t sleep. I’ve read this supplementclarity.com/zi-xun-tang-side-effects/ and I was surprised that within a short time period of taking the pills, I got to experience some similar side effects.
Thanks for your post!
Kasondra, why dont you try to see if you can not eat past 7pm. that will help you cut back on the calories. Also, look at the sizes of your plates. Try to eat off of smaller plates if you can. that will also help.
While you have gained back 4 lbs that doesn’t mean you will regain all 50 back. It’s not inevitable. I have faith in you.
i did ask my dr about the hives and she said that it was something in the pills because that was the only thing i was doing different. Ive been off of them for almost 2 weeks now and Ive gained 4lbs and I have been exercising and watching what I’m eating. its very frustrating! I think your right about a “secret” ingredient.
Kasondra, Im glad you were able to lose 50 pounds! I do hope you are able to maintain it also now that you are off the pills. Sometimes gaining the weight back happens fast when you stop doing the thing that caused the weight loss to begin with. Its probably a good idea if you are mindful of what you are eating (“am I hungry or not”) and watch the portion sizes, just to be safe. Exercise also can help
Im not sure what in the Japanese Hokkaido Weight Loss Pills was causing weight loss. I still believe none of the ingredients in the product can do it which leads me to believe there is a “mystery” ingredient.
I’m not sure if your hives are from the Hokkaido pills or not. I think you are the first person to mention this side effect. If the Hokkaido pills are the only thing that changed with what you were doing, then maybe.
Do let me know what happens after a few weeks of being off of them. Did you ask your doctor about the hives?
hi joe
ive been taking these pills on and off since January and i lost 50lbs. i recently had to stop taking them because i was getting hives. I’m guessing I’m allergic to them. they work really well I’m debating on if I should stop taking them or not what do u think? thanks so much your research has help so much! 🙂
Crissandra, Ive updated the review with Trumpet Creeper thanks for catching my omission.I went back to the product website and discovered that I did miss it! Thanks for helping me 🙂
Crissandra, really I don’t remember seeing Trumpet Creeper Extract mentioned when i wrote the review. Do you see it listed on the box of what you have?
Let me take a look at it and update it in to the review
Hi Joe,
I still have been reading these comments regarding this pill. I noticed that one ingredient was left out: Trumpet Creeper Extract. If you would like to do research on this and see it has any weight loss properties, maybe we have answered that question: Does it really work??
Roxanne, 25 lbs in a month is a lot (were you very overweight?). your dry mouth side effect is very similar to what people reported when they took Zi Xiu Tang. Here is something I wrote on Zi Xiu Tang side effects
http://supplementclarity.com/zi-xun-tang-side-effects/
Thought Id pass it along in case any other side effects were similar. I wonder if there might be something in the pills that they are not listing because I cant see how the listed ingredients are doing anything.
Hi, i been taking these pills for a month now and ive lost 25 pounds, these pills do not make you hungry at all… i seriously forget to eat.. i know that’s bad but there has to be something in them that work… you do get dry mouth and have to use the restroom more often…
Kristen. It’s never TMI here 😉
It’s very interesting about the magic pills causing dry mouth. Dry mouth was one of the side effects of a supplement called Zi Xiu Tang. Here is a list of side effects
http://supplementclarity.com/zi-xun-tang-side-effects/
is anyone else reporting similar side effects as these? You made me wonder if maybe these pills might have similar ingredients to Zi Xiu Tang?
you lost 11 pounds in a week! As I said in my review there is no possible way these magic pills can cause weight loss but yet you and your friends are. It makes me wonder if there is something in the pills not listed on the product label. This was my thought with Zi Xiu Tang as well. Again, I have no proof of this but the ingredients I reviewed should not work.
I would be suspicious of any supplement that you have to go to the back of a nail shop to buy. Just my 2 cents.
I’m taking these. Someone at my work started taking them and he’s lost about 25 pounds in three months. He pitched us these “magic pills” he gets in the back room of a nail shop. He said he eats whatever he wants, does whatever he wants, and the weight just continues to fall off.
He said his wife went down a couple pants sizes as well. Another coworker of mine bought them online after seeing his success. The side effect we’ve all found is it make your mouth extremely dry and you constantly feel thirsty. I rarely feel hungry.
I’m going to discontinue using them. Unlike my coworkers, I have had (this may be TMI) diarrhea from taking these. My coworkers said they make you use the restroom more often, but not on the note they’re effecting me.
I can’t hold down any kind of food taking these and I’ve been drinking Gatorade constantly to make up for all the water I’m losing/dry mouth. I’ve lost 11 pounds in over a week, but I don’t feel comfortable using these anymore.
Crissandra, glad to help. It seems that lately japan, china etc are really targeting America with crappy weight loss supplements. When in doubt if a product even looks like it comes from that part of the world, I say avoid it.
Joe,
Thank-you sooo much for your in depth research on this pill. You have saved me from spending yet again money I do not have to throw away on potions, useless pills, and money making schemes!!
An appreciated reader