Update 1/20/20. Several people have asked me about the weight loss supplement called Zi Xiu Tang. Let’s now review Zi Xiu Tang, its ingredients and see if its right for you. What you are reading now is the first review of Zi Ziu Tang. There is also an updated review of Zi Xiu Tang. Read this review first which covers the basic ingredients. Then, read the updated review which covers all the other ingredients and how it really works.
Update 4/8/14. The FDA warns people to immediately stop taking Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen weight loss supplements. It tested several Zi Xiu Tang products – including those that were said to be “genuine” and not counterfeit. The FDA found that some products contained not only sibutramine, an illegal weight loss drug but some also contained Phenolphthalein, a chemical that may increase the risk of cancer. See the FDA alert for more information.
Update. 10/24/12. The FDA has determined that Zi Xiu Tang contains an illegal weight loss drug called sibutramine. Do not take Zi Xiu Tang as it can lead to heart problems.
Update 6/26/12. I have written a review of ZXT Gold.
Update 6/18/13. I have written a review of Slim Trim U bee pollen weight loss supplement.
Update 7/25/12. Canadian health authorities have identified 2 drugs in ZXT Gold. See the ZXT Gold review for more information.
Zi Xiu Tang Ingredients
Zi Xiu Tang is composed of:
Bee pollen. One of the websites that sell Zi Xiu Tang says bee pollen is “known to stimulate metabolism” , “eliminate cravings” and “reduce appetite” but when I searched the National Library of Medicine for “bee pollen and metabolism” and “bee pollen and weight loss” no studies showed up. I wasn’t surprised because I've never seen any study showing that bee pollen raises the metabolic rate or promotes weight loss. Bee pollen appears to be the main ingredient in Zi Xiu Tang.
I did uncover a case report of kidney failure in somebody who was using a bee pollen supplement. Bee pollen may also cause severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Be sure you are not allergic to bee pollen before you try Zi Xiu Tang.
Chinese yam. This name is a little confusing because it also goes by the name “wild yam”. Other names include Rhizoma dioscoreae Dioscorea opposite. when I searched for whether this ingredient might help weight loss, I actually did find something. A study does show that Rhizoma dioscoreae might help weight loss – in mice. Specifically, mice that were fed a high-fat diet.
No study in humans showing a similar effect could be located.
Barbary wolfberry fruit. A more scientific name for this is Lycium barbarum. Many people also know it by its other names, Goji Berry. In a small study titled, Lycium barbarum increases caloric expenditure and decreases waist circumference in healthy overweight men and women: a pilot study, this herb was noted to reduce waist circumference and boost metabolism (by about 10%) more than those who received a placebo. The amount that seemed to garner these effects was 120 ml per day. This study lasted 2 weeks and involved a small number of people (about 15 in each group).
How much Barbary Wolfberry fruit is in Zi Xiu Tang? They don't tell us.
Lotus seed. There is not enough published proof one or another to say what this stuff does.
Dietary fiber. Dietary fiber – like all fiber helps slow digestion and makes people feel full. Fiber also has no calories. These are the reasons why dietitians are always telling people to eat more fruits and vegetables (which have fiber). The problem is how much fiber does Zi Xiu Tang contain? I was unable to find the answer on any of the Zi Xiu Tang websites I looked at.
Some Zi Xiu Tang websites claim that the product can detoxify the body. Detoxify is the new-age word for “laxative” Since Zi Xiu Tang has fiber, it makes sense that it would have a laxative effect. Since the supplement is said to contain no stimulants like caffeine, fiber may be the mystery ingredient behind those who say Zi Xiu Tang promotes weight loss.
Many websites say that no diet is needed when using Zi Xiu Tang. Still, other Zi Xiu Tang websites say that people only need to take Zi Xiu Tang for a month after they reach their goal weight to maintain their weight loss. I'm skeptical of these statements also.
Zi Xiu Tang side effects
Here is a list of potential ZXT side effects.
Does Zi Xiu Tang Work?
People have told me that they have lost weight within Zi Xiu Tang. But based on the ingredients listed, I don’t see how it’s possible. Honestly, I'm skeptical.
- I'm skeptical because of the websites I see selling it. Some websites seem designed to get you to hurry up and buy it now before the price goes up.
- I'm skeptical because some websites say things that are not based in fact (e.g. bee pollen stimulating metabolism).
- I'm skeptical because I can’t discern any scientific reason why any of the ingredients (except fiber) would help weight loss.
- I'm skeptical because I don’t see any peer-reviewed proof on Zi Xiu Tang.
- I'm skeptical because many websites say people don't need to exercise while taking Zi Xiu Tang. This is unhealthy. Any diet that does not incorporate exercise runs the risk of promoting muscle loss. Some websites do advocate eating some extra protein (which can help preserve muscle during dieting) which I like, but leaving out exercise is disturbing.
While I think that fiber may be responsible for any weight loss seen with Zi Xiu Tang supplements, I would like to see an independent laboratory test the product to see if it contains any additional ingredients that are not listed.
If you choose to try Zi Xiu Tang and buy over the internet be certain to ask about any “autoship” programs and see if you can opt-out of this.
Here is my second Zi Xiu Tang review
Read also my review of SlimQuick weight loss supplement.
After reading more reviews I have more to say. 🙂 I am going to continue taking the pills for a while and monitor my weight loss and body fat loss (I need a new scale anyway and I am concerned about the muscle/water loss issue).
I also don’t feel like taking these pills is doing nothing. I am a chronic over eater and it helps me curb those bad habits to some degree, but I have also been making healthier choices.
I was a thin and healthy person until I had 3 children and stayed home full-time with them. I started having really bad eating patterns. I was so busy with the kids during the day that I didn’t make time for myself to eat the healthier homemade food I would prefer. I would grab a quick handful of fishy crackers here and there and not take time to sit and eat a meal until late in the evening and by that point I would eat too much because I was ravenous and eating far too fast. This has helped with modifying my behavior, but I don’t think it would work if I just ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I have a friend who takes it as well and initially she lost weight, but now it has stopped because she is still eating crap. I think it is a tool to help modify your behavior, but not a magic pill. It seems to me like a nudge in the right direction. If I overeat I feel unpleasantly full, but I think I felt that way before when I ate too fast.
I will admit that it in the first day or so I felt like I had a bit of nervous energy. I actually felt like getting out and using my body and exercising then rather than sitting on my bum inside. I don’t think that nervous feeling lasted for more than a day or two.
I have been to a doctor many times since starting the capsules and I have never had high blood pressure or heart rate (both of those are issues for my parents). I would never recommend that someone else take them because I can’t tell them they are absolutely safe. I am just sharing my experience not saying yours will be the same.
I will try and re-post in a month with some info on the body fat issue.
Bettina
hard to say. how long did you stop taking zxt? If zxt was causing your headaches then it may take several days or a week before you felt better. Hawthorn can affect the way the heart pumps and that may be related to the headaches but I am guessing on this.
Anyone else have ideas?
I have been on these capsules for 4 months and in that time lost 25 pounds. I haven’t had any change in bowel movements, but it definitely works as an appetite suppressant. I think that I actually crave sweet things more, but I don’t eat as much of anything. I was wondering if anyone else has had trouble with headaches though. I have always had trouble with migraines, but I feel like they have increased and intensified since I have been using this, but I also have added some stress to my life around the same time so it is hard to tell what is making them worse. I also have tension headaches more often. I have taken breaks to see if I felt any different off the capsules, but I didn’t notice changes in my headaches. Thoughts?
Kay. Thanks for your comment. I wonder if one zxt pill may differ from others in terms of what is inside. that’s the only thing I can think of as to why some days it works better than others.
I am currently on these pills and I will definitely say they work. I have lost 10 pounds in about 2 weeks. A friend of mine lost 40 pounds in 3 months. Only thing is, some days they seem to work better than other days.
Several people have asked me if I would write a review of hawthorn which is one of the ingredients in zi xiu tang. Here is the link:
http://supplementclarity.com/hawthorn-review/
I hope it helps 🙂
After reading many reviews on Zi Xiu Tang I decided to give it a try because I was pretty desperate to shed off some pounds and inches. I’ve gained about 10-15 pounds since this time last year and my clothes were getting tighter. So I ordered a bottle to try out. I came back from Thanksgiving to find the package in the mail. When I got the package I started worrying that it may be fake, but after watching a you tube video on the difference between authentic and fake packaging, smelling, and entering the code, I’m pretty certain its the real deal.
This is only my 4th day, but I thought I would share some of my experience and progress. I have always drank lots of water, but the first day the dry mouth and thirst kicked in and I’ve been drinking LOTS of water. I knew about the appetite suppressant and I have never taken anything that suppresses hunger so all I can say about these is I never feel hungry. It’s both a good thing and bad because I use to eat so much crap just because I had nothing to do or felt like it, but now I have to make sure I eat so I don’t feel nauseous and I’ve been eating a lot less. I’ve been keeping track of everything I eat. At first I was intimidated about bathroom issues I was worried it was going to be horrible runs. I have very regular bowel movements, once a day around the same time, but since taking these pills the effects on me were almost instant. It is very loose now and I use the bathroom about 2 times a day now. Since starting these pills, I had the most restless sleep. Last night I didn’t sleep until 6:30 and got up at 10 but I don’t feel tired. The other two nights I slept around 3 but woke up every 2 hours or so. This morning I was feeling pretty nauseous, and I’m pretty sure its because I wasn’t eating enough and I felt better after getting some food in.
I also take these with a multivitamin. I don’t have a scale or anything to measure myself in right now. The last time I checked my weight was at home over Thanksgiving break, I’ll keep that number private but will update with total weight lost if any the next time I have a chance to weigh myself. For now I’m relying on the fitting of my clothes and overall if I felt I lost inches. It has only been 4 days so I’ll check back in a week or so and see how it goes.
I started my first pills on 10/27/10. I lost 10lbs in the first 10days but after that I only lost another 3-4lbs in the next 3+ weeks. So now I’ve lost 13-14lbs in total. I didn’t measure my waist before I started but I can tell I lost at least 1 size by wearing my old pants/shirts. Compared with others I am kind of disappointed…even though I know it is not bad.
On my first day I felt a little bit jittery about 1hr after I took the pills and it lasted for about 20mins and never happened again. I never had diarrhea. There were several days that I had #2 twice a day, though. The first 3 weeks I felt very thirsty but it is getting better recently. It definitely curbs my appetite but sometimes I still want sweets. To my surprise that it didn’t impact my daily activities especially my work out. I was on diet several times before and every time I felt weak when I went swimming. However, when I take Zi Xiu Tang, I still have enough energy to swim same distance, if not longer, as if I were not on diet.
Now I am on the 2nd bottle and will see how things go.
I’ve been taking the pills for a little over a month and have lost 12 pounds, 2 inches on my waist, and about a half inch practically everywhere else. The best thing about them for me is the fact that it not only suppresses my appetite, it takes away the desire to eat unhealthy foods. I used to over-eat. I loved eating just because the food tasted good and never had the willpower to stay on a diet because I missed my favorites. Now, I rarely crave those fatty foods and when I do, I’m not hungry enough to eat a large amount.
These pills have amazed me. I was skeptical going into it like everyone else, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I understand that we can’t know for sure what’s in it, but the blessing of finally having control over what I eat overshadows the doubts. Call it irresponsible and reckless if you want, but I’m finally losing weight and I’m happy about that.
It definitely does NOT work for everyone. My mother and I started the pills at the same time, and her results were much smaller than my own. I don’t want people to swear off even trying them because they’re scared of the side effects. The occasional digestional upsets are worth it in the end.
I’m continuing my use for a while longer to reach my goal. I’ll update if anything goes wrong or keeps going right 🙂
Hi Nicole, you mean your doctor said your pulse should have been 80bpm (instead of 8). normal resting heart rate for healthy people can range from 60 beats per min to 100 beats per min. I don’t see many healthy people who have resting heart rates close to 100 so what you said would concern me also.
I took Zi Xui Tang for one week after feeling a lot of pressure from friends who were taking it and doing really well. I have been eating healthy and working out and had lost ten pounds in a month before the pill and was upset that girls who were doing nothing were losing more than me. The entire week I took it I had increased heart rate, dizziness and NO appetite. People think this is good but its not. Your body needs fuels and these pills make your body reject all food you take in. I ended up in the hospital because my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. The doctor told me that my pulse was 110 at resting when it should be more like 8 for 22 year old. I am in great physical health and only have like 10lbs more to lose. The doctor said people taking these pills are basically self inducing a heart attack or stroke. So I immediately stopped taking them, my life is worth more to me than 10lbs. Please everyone be careful. These are not FDA approved so no one truly knows what is in these pills. If you have something to live for then put in the hard work and do it naturally.
Bird I just wrote back to Cathy who left a message on my other zi xiu tang review that she felt “addicted” to the pill. even after 6 weeks of not taking it, she feels like she still has a need for it. Have you or anyone else reading this felt this?
As for the science of zi xiu tang, nothing in the ingredients appears to have any weight loss effect. Honestly I would like to get this stuff in a mass spectrometer to see if anything else is in it.
I have taken ZXT for 6 wks and lost 17 lbs. I also walk on treadmill 2-3 times a wk. The pills have really helped curb my appitite! Before I would overeat and now I have had days when I had to force myself to eat, the desiree just wasnt there. I have had very dry mouth and sweat very easy. Also had laxative effect for 1st 2 wks. It is working for me and 3 other people I know that are taking it. I am a nurse and I am still curious to know the science behind it. I do plan to take it one more month. Keep us updated on what you find Joe.
M&M yes some have said they had headaches with Zi Xiu Tang. if you read through the comments here and my other review “Zi Xiu Tang Revealed” you will see what they said. if they are intense and frequent stop taking Zi Xiu Tang and see your doctor today.
I just want to know if anyone taking the pill has had any headaches while taking this pill.
Not the for nothing but the FDA is NOT the holy grail of what is or what is not best for us. The FDA discourages herbs but promotes medicine..aka chemicals, so they are not a fan of herbs or anything healthy. Also, look at the hormone induced meats we are allowed to eat and other various harmful things that are allowed. I say do what you please but at your own risk, as there are risks involved in everything. I mean when it comes down to lettuce being recalled because of bacteria, who is really to say what is or what is not safe for us…I mean really. If these pills give people energy then great, use it to your advance to start an exercise regime and ween yourself off of the pill aka laxative as some call it. If it stops your craving for fast food or anything unhealthy, good, adopt a new style of eating and ween yourself off the pill. Use it to jump start a new lifestyle perhaps only take the pills for a month or too just in case there are hidden ingredients that may be harmful later in life.
Thanks for your comments Michelle and I am glad I was able to help you 🙂
Hi Joe – I am glad that I found this website before I place my order. I gained almost 20lbs this summer due to some medical related reason. I cannot wait to get rid of the fat! I need Zi Xiu Tang to curb my appetite. My co-worker told me about this and she has been taking it over 6(?) months. It works great on her and her sister. I also know some other people at work recently started to take it and they look in better shape as I can see.
However, I do have some concerns. As you said, losing a lot of weight in a short period sounds fishy. It might be very easy for people to gain it back once they stop taking it. When I had lunch with my co-worker, she only ate very tiny food. She said the supplements made her feel full. It was scary to watch an adult only has so little food to maintain her daily activities(don’t even think about exercises)! Also, I am not sure if, like most weight losing pills, it works better on those who had a big base, i.e., really over-weighted. I don’t know how it will work on people like me that are slightly over-weighted.
Thanks for the update Michelle. The good news is that you are taking steps to improve your health. The research finds that weight loss is a personal thing and if they (along with drinking more water and other healthy habits) works for you, then that is what is most important 🙂
Hello Joe, i started my pills today 10/21/10 and it has already curbed my appetite and it has also given me a dry mouth but its okay because it is a motivator for me to drink water which is something i rarely do. I’ve never been the one to get thirsty even after eating which is something that has bothered me for some time but i always contributed that factor to my mother always telling me at dinner time ” Nothing to drink till you are done with your meal”.. Anyways i am grateful for your web-site.. a quick description I’m 38 a mother of a 22 14 & 12 year old.. I’m not conceited but i feel that i look good for my age with the exception of my big gut and the tire looking thing on my sides i don’t like how it looks nor how it feels 🙁 I weigh in at 167 lbs and it is all in my stomach and i have the side rolls aka “love handles”. I am by nature very energetic and out-going but lately I’ve been hiding under over-sized t-shirts.. I hope that with these pills i can achieve some weight loss in my mid-section.. to everyone who is taking these pills “I wish you luck and Success”. I will check back in next week with an update on my weight..