Update 3/9/24. If you have not heard of Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen capsules (also called Zi Xiu Tang Beauty Face and Figure Capsules), this is a natural weight loss supplement where some websites actually encourage people to eat what they want! Even the educational pamphlet that accompanies Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen say: “No Diet Restrictions” and that people can achieve “excellent results” even while eating “high fat and high-calorie foods”. The power of Zi Xiu Tang is said to be due to bee pollen and the other ingredients in the supplement. But, things are more complicated than that. This is the second review I've written about the Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen. For more insights on the ingredients, see the original review of Zi Xiu Tang bee pollen. Also, read almost 1000 comments on this review and hundreds of comments on the other Zi Xiu Tang Reviews.
Read The Updates First
I posted these updates above the rest of the content so you would see them first. As you will see below, I originally felt Zi Xiu Tang was a laxative, that still did not fully explain the crazy amounts of weight people were experiencing with this product. I wondered if there might be something else behind these effects.
Unfortunately, the FDA proved my suspicions correct when they found a drug called sibutramine (also known as Meridia) in Zi Xiu Tang -as well as other bee pollen weight loss supplements. Sibutramine has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, so it was banned in the US many years ago.
Update 4/8/14. The FDA warns people to immediately stop taking Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen's 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 alerted the public that Zi Xiu Tang contains the illegal weight loss drug called sibutramine. They advise people to not take Zi Xiu tang. Click the link to see the FDA Public Notification on Zi Xiu Tang. It took the FDA 2 years to prove what I knew from the first day I reviewed Zi Xiu Tang. There was no way this stuff worked the way it did – if it only had the ingredients listed…
Update 6/26/12. I have written a review of ZXT Gold
Update 7/25/12. : ZXT Gold has been found to contain 2 drugs, see the ZXT Gold review for more information.
6/18/13 Update. Here is the review of Slim Trim U for more information.
At first, I could not explain the weight loss people were seeing with this supplement. One person who commented on my first Zi Xiu Tang review said he lost 13 pounds in 1 month!
Now I know why…
How Does Zi Xiu Tang Work?
Thanks to a friend who sent me a bottle of these so-called slimming capsules I can tell you that bee pollen is NOT the active ingredient in Zi Xiu Tang.
If Zi Xiu Tang works, it's because it's a laxative!
I know this is true because several of the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang have laxative effects. I suspected this because many websites selling Zi Xiu Tang use the word “cleanse.” Cleanse is the alternative medicine term for laxatives.
Probably, the most famous ingredient in Zi Xiu Tang is senna. Senna is not a weight loss supplement; it is a laxative. The FDA also classified it as a non-prescription, over-the-counter laxative drug.
Several other ingredients as you will see also act as laxatives.
The problem with laxatives is the only weight they help us expel feces (poop) and water.
What Does Zi Xiu Tang Mean?
The supplement's name doesn't seem to refer to anything specific. When translated from traditional Chinese to English, the name means “self-show soup.” However, when translated from Literary Chinese, the word means “be.” Could this be a reference to bee pollen, the alleged key ingredient?
Zi Xiu Tang Ingredients Label
Even if you wear eyeglasses, you will find it very difficult to read the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang. The bottle and box abound with decorative Chinese art and characters, making reading the ingredients very difficult.
The red lettering of the ingredients makes it doubly hard to read. I had trouble even when I held the bottle up to a lamp! So, to save you the trouble, I've listed the ingredients here.
Zi Xiu Tang Full Ingredients List
Here is the entire list of ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang.
- Bee Pollen
- Chinese Yam
- Barbary Wolfberry Fruit
- Lotus Seed
- Dietary Fiber
- Green tea
- Rhubarb
- Aloe
- Cassia
- Astrigillis
- Polygonum multiflorum
- Lotus leaf
- Gynostemme
- Radish seed
- Malt
- Mulberry
- Hawthorn,
- “Vitamins”
Tthe first 4 ingredients are not weight loss herbs. I've already covered these ingredients in my first Zi Xiu Tang review. Let’s now talk about all the other ingredients.
Zi Xiu Tang Ingredients and Side Effects
Senna. Senna is a laxative. Because Zi Xiu Tang contains senna, it’s possible that the same side effects from using too much senna may be seen in those who take Zi Xiu Tang. The side effects can include,
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping gas/bloating
- Flatulence
- Dizziness
Because of diarrhea, products like Zi Xiu Tang that contain senna may in extreme cases cause excessive loss of electrolytes. This can lead to muscle weakness and maybe heart problems. This is because electrolytes are needed for muscle contraction and the heart is a muscle.
People using heart/blood pressure medications should not use senna-containing supplements or products that have similar laxative effects.
To highlight what can happen with senna overdose, there is a case report of a woman who developed liver failure after long-term use of senna tea.
In this report, the woman was drinking a liter of senna tea that contained 70 grams (2.5 oz) of senna fruit. Even with this amount, it took 3 years before liver failure presented itself. This is worth mentioning because everybody is different, and people often think “more is better,” which isn’t always true.
Unlike the laxative effect of fiber, senna is a non-fiber laxative. It works differently to relieve constipation. One of the ingredients in Senna is a class of compounds called anthranoids, which exert laxative effects by damaging the cells of the colon. Because of this, some have speculated that long-term use of senna, may increase the risk of cancer
Because senna supplements have not been studied for long-term use, it is hard to say if this is true or not.
Senna products should be avoided in people who have
- Hemorrhoids
- Heart disease / Blood pressure issues
- Abdominal pain
- Bowel obstructions
- Pregnant or nursing mothers (for obvious reasons)
- Diabetics
In theory, long-term use of senna supplements may make it harder to defecate as the person becomes dependent on the product.
People who take Zi Xiu Tang may notice that the color of their urine looks pink or rust-colored. This is probably due to the senna (and polygonum multiflorum, discussed below) and is not dangerous.
Update: In 2010 Senna was apparently removed from Zi Xiu Tang. Some people report that their bowel movements are less while others report no change. See the comments for more information.
Cassia. Zi Xiu Tang also contains Cassia. While the word cassia is sometimes used to describe the spice, cinnamon, I don’t think this is how they are using the word because cassia can also be another name for senna.
Both of cassia and senna are listed separately on the Zi Xiu Tang label; cassia appears first, followed by senna. Both words are sometimes used together (“cassia senna”). Other names for cassia senna are Cassia acutifola, and Cassia angustifolia.
If cassia on the Zi Xiu Tang label refers to cassia senna, then this, too, is a laxative and likely works synergistically with senna to promote a greater laxative effect.
Green Tea. Zi Xiu Tang also contains green tea. Because green tea contains caffeine, it’s theoretically possible that the caffeine may slightly raise metabolism. This is likely why the Zi Xiu Tang says “increase metabolism” and “increase energy” on the front of the display box. The box does not say how much caffeine is in Zi Xiu Tang.
Rhubarb. Zi Xiu Tang contains Rhubarb which also has laxative effects. It may also have estrogen-like effects. Rhubarb may act synergistically with senna and cassia to cause a greater laxative effect.
Aloe. Zi Xiu Tang contains aloe as well. Aloe juice also has a laxative effect however the bottle does not say if Zi Xiu Tang contains aloe juice or not.
Astragalus. Like all herbs, there are many types of Astragalus. Often used to treat the common cold, this herb does not seem to have any laxative effect. As for astragalus side effects, in large amounts (about 1 ounce, which is likely more than is in Zi Xiu Tang) this herb may increase the immune system which, while good for some can also be bad for others like those with some immune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Polygonum multiflorum. This is an herb also known as Fo-Ti and Ho Shu Wu. Some research notes Polygonum multiflorum has a mild laxative effect. At least 7 case reports have noted liver problems including hepatitis resulting from use/misuse of this herb.
Other reports hint that Polygonum multiflorum might alter blood sugar levels (that may be bad for diabetics).
On a side note, Polygonum multiflorum may also be found in supplements designed to lower cholesterol; research suggests that extracts may lower cholesterol and increase HDL. More research is needed to confirm this.
Gynostemma. Some websites say this herb can both cause both weight loss and weight gain. In this respect, Gynostemma might be classified as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a non-medical term used in some circles to describe how a supplement “adapts” to your needs. Websites also claim that gynostemma has laxative effects.
Radish Seed. I could not locate any weight loss effects of this ingredient.
Malt: I could not locate any weight loss effects of this ingredient.
Mulberry. This contains fiber which acts as a laxative.
Hawthorn. People who take medications for high blood pressure or a heart condition should not use hawthorn or supplements containing Hawthorn. Hawthorn does influence the way the heart pumps. This means hawthorn can interact with your heart or blood pressure medications.
Vitamins. Zi Xiu Tang lists “vitamins” but does not indicate which vitamins it contains.
Ingredients that are Laxatives
To recap, here are the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang that are laxatives
- Senna
- Cassia
- Rhubarb
- Aloe (if it contains Aloe juice)
- Polygonum multiflorum
- Gynostemma
- Mulberry
For more info see my review of Zi Xiu Tang Side Effects
Who makes Zi Xiu Tang?
The company that makes zi xiu tang is said to be the Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotechnology located in China. The strange thing is that I've never been able to find a picture of what this company looks like. Google searches turn up no pictures of the company. Even the website for the company – cn-zixiutang.com – does not show a picture of the company (the website no longer exists).
For more info on the company, see my review of the bee pollen weight loss supplement Slim Trim U.
Zi Xiu Tang Warning Label
If you read the label of Zi Xiu Tang you see this warning of who should not use the product (I'm quoting them verbatim):
“Not Suitable For:
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. People who suffer from either liver, kidney, Heart Disease, or High Blood Pressure. Adolescents, Elderly, Depressed people, or Anyone with bee or pollen allergies.”
Does Zi Xiu Tang Work?
There is little clinical evidence of weight loss effects for most of the ingredients in Zi Xiu Tang. If it really works, it may be due to laxative effects. Some websites that sell Zi Xiu Tang say the product does not contain sibutramine (weight loss drug), or other drugs like Rimonabant (weight loss drug), Phenytoin (anti-seizure drug) or Phenolphthalein (has laxative effects). This is perhaps a response to previous FDA action against bee pollen-containing weight loss supplements. Does it work as well without pharmaceutical enhancement? You tell me.
I started Zi Xiu Tang in early Sept. I noticed increased energy after one day & it has increased daily. One of my daughters is among other teachers & groups and she knew about it long before it was sold in Wood Co. WV. She bought it from the internet & supplied her bulk purchases to her two grown daughters. She lost 20 lbs in a short time. I have wondered what she & her 2 daughters were doing to have so much energy & lose weight.
I started on it when my grand-daughter-in-law started helping a local distributor sell it. She would not let me start it until I checked with my physician, since I was on other medication. My doctor said it would be fine. In the 6 weeks I have been taking it I have lost 9lbs and 5″ around my waist.
I am a diabetic, but at my last appt. my dr. took me off all medications for lowering Blood Sugar. I stay at about 6-7.
I also have high blood pressure and test it every day.It has been lowering it each day.
I have more energy than I have had in so many years. I seem to lose weight much less than many people; all other products I have tried did nothing for me. I do not lose the 2 lbs. a day that many are losing on this product, but just to see the scale going down instead of up is good enough for me.
It is not the weight loss products that make you lose weight. It is the increased metabolism that makes you active; that is why you don’t need exercise. You get plenty just from everything you start doing.
As for not having to diet, it makes you want healthy foods. you lose your cravings for unhealthy foods. I have always thrived on bakery products, candy, cake, etc. At one time I had the energy to stay thin eating this. One day my husband held up 2 boxed pies; asked me if I wanted the apple or peach. I said, “I don’t like sweets.” He really took notice of what it was doing for me at that point.
When my daughter heard that I was going to start it, she said, “Just be close to the bathroom for the 1st two wks. The folder that tells you what to expect says that you may have constipation or loose stools. I have always been prone to the loose stools & was pretty sure that was what I would experience. I did during the 1st week or so & then I had perfectly formed movement.
Both my daughters & their husbands, my 4 grandchildren, and so many of my friends are now taking it & have had great results.
The tri-fold-pamplet that comes before you buy it tells you what to expect so you won’t worry if you have any of those symptoms. You must expect to drink many, many glasses of water. I have never drank so much water in my life.
I was in a bad auto accident in 1993 & could do very little until recently. I had prolotherapy that took away the pain in my SI joint and rt. foot. I had been sedentary for so many years that I still had no energy to do my former activities. I now have that boost of energy & am cleaning up messes that haven’t been taken care of all those years.
For me the prolotherapy and the Zi Xiu have been miracles!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me about your symptoms! I know you have helped others by writing this. Do write back and let us know what your holistic doctor says about Zi Xiu Tang.
I was taking these for about 6 weeks . I lost 10 pounds and had a ton of energy.I pretty much ate the same as I always did which isn’t bad at all. About the 3rd week I noticed That I had not had a solid bowel movement for the entire time knowing that this is not normal I started to get a little concerned.I was drinking 11-16 cups of water a day because of mouth dryness. Around the 4th week I started to feel sick all the time. I thought I might have to be hospitilized. I am healthy but I started to feel dizzy all the time and dazed and tired. I felt like I had to lay down all day.I thought I was experiencing high blood pressure or hypertension. It was very scary.I stayed with it for another week and a half and I had to give it up. After I stopped taking it I instantly felt better. I have been on all kind of herbs. Controlled. I have been working with a nutritionist. I have never felt any affects like this from anything natural. I thought that the wolfberry’s(goji) that is supposed to be in this stuff was what was contributing to my extra energy. I am having a holistic doctor look into these pills and I do appreciate the info on this site.
I started taking them 3 months ago.. and I have only lost about 15 pounds but I am not very heavy to begin with. But i have to say the dry mouth happens a lot. I think its due to the laxative which is causing dehydrate so drinking water will fix that. Sometimes I can take the pill and go the whole day without eating (not purposely) Then i feel sick to my stomach, dizzy, and irritable. It horrible,nothing is appealing and i feel sluggish. I recommend to try to eat on the healthier side. I noticed I do not crave fast food as much. At times, i do eat it but I get grossed out. I dont know what ingredients make you curve your appetite and not want greasy food but it works. I am a sucker for fast food and I can honestly say i ate it 4 times in 3 months. My friends are losing a lot more weight but are much heavier than I am. This product does work but I am afraid of what the long term outcome is based on this article.
Thank you for your comments Liliana. Several others have said Zi Xiu Tang causes them to have dry mouth. Let me know how your friends blood pressure has changed since she has been on Zi Xiu Tang.
I appreciate your review on this product. I have been taking Zi Xiu Tang for about 6 weeks now, and lost 21 pounds. I have not had the laxative effect that others speak of. The only side effect I have is dry mouth. This product really curves my appetite, therefore, there must be something in it besides laxatives to cause this, unless its a placebo effect? My weight loss from this product seems to be from my butt and stomach…I still got the boobs. I will take my chances and continue taking this product because out of all the diet supplements I have taken over the years, this one is the absolute best despite any hidden dangers. I personally work out 5 days a week and eat healthy, therefore, I don’t expect any diet pill to do it all for me, nor should anyone else. I will have to let one of my friends read this because she is taking high blood pressure meds and has been on Zhi Xiu Tang for 3 weeks now.
Hi All,
I just started using this product and today makes only day 3. I have used other weight loss products in the past such as Xenedrine with ephedrine (wish they bring it back). The results from that product was excellent. As for this product, I noticed it makes you eat smaller portions because it makes you feel full. I do have the cramping but I do not use the bathroom like some are saying they do. Certain foods I use to eat, I don’t like (mainly salty nuts). I really don’t know if this product is for me and maybe others have lost a lot of weight. Everyones body is different and we respond to things different. I will continue using this product until my samples I purchased are completed. I will keep everyone posted on my results. By the way, I know of the counterfeits, so I am curious on where people are purchasing their product.
I am just finishing my first bottle. I have been working out at least 5 days a week for several years and have always been thin… however, I gained quite a bit of weight while pregnant with my daughter. During my pregnancy and while I was nursing I watched while many (literally like 10+) of my closest friends and family lost a significant amount of weight taking these pills. I am a skeptic and a health nut so I was very very weary about them. About six months after my daughter was born I had stopped losing weight with my workouts and dieting… I had just stopped nursing and decided to take the pills… lost 10 lbs in about 3 weeks. Side effects I’ve noticed: Thirsty like crazy!, sweat more at the gym, more energy, sometimes light headed (although I do have low iron and low blood sugar issues… and these pills do decrease your appetite so it could be an indirect side effect). 99% if the time I eat a very clean diet (veggies, grilled chicken, fruit) but if I do eat something heavy like a dessert or something greasy or cheesy I pay for it with stomach crapping and a trip to the bathroom. So, my general idea is: so far so good. I’ll keep taking them… BUT if I know I’m going to be eating unhealthy on a certain day I’ll skip the pills. Other negative… in my mind there is a reason they aren’t FDA approved… take at your own risk, you never know if three years from know they’ll be linking some disease to the use of these pills. Just sayin.
I have been using this product for 9 days and have only lost 2-3 pounds. I feel like I have increased anxiety and I tend to be having hot flashes worse in the morning after taking the pills. I have had no diarrhea. In fact, bowel movements tend to be less. I was waiting for the cleansing effects. I’m not sure I want to continue this.
I’ve been taking Zi Xiu Tang for 5 days and the only thing I’m experience is going to the bathroom after I eat. No dizziness, not much dry mouth since I drink plenty of water, walking for 30 minutes, not hungry, a bit of energy. I love sweets but ever since I started the pills, I don’t crave them anymore and when I eat, I get full fast. I don’t have a weight scale so I can’t say how much I lost but I feel a lot better.
I have to agree with BTK about a medicated feeling, although mine was more on the uncomfortable side. I had started taking the capsules 11 days ago. Yes, I did lose 6 pounds. But, day 10, I experienced bad stomach cramps for about 3 hours in the afternoon, and in the evening noticed my heart beating rapidly, and a sensation of burning when breathing. Day 11, I woke up with a headache, and felt as BTK stated, “medicated”. I also felt “dazed” and “dizzy” with heart palpations, and very dry mouth all day long into the night, and I had not taken any capsules for the 11th day. I’m now reading BTK’s comment. I had been somewhat suspicous of the poor English when I read the label and package insert. In addition, you were given the ability to reveal a code under a scratch-off to check a website to be sure the product was genuine. For me, it’s back to good old exercise! Thanks BTK for your posting.
Brenda. 7 lbs in a month is good and I know the fact you are eating well and exercising a little has helped this. Don’t lose hope. The important thing is that you are losing weight. Ask your doctor about symptoms you are having with Zi Xiu Tang. Print this review up and show it to your doctor if they are not familiar with it. This will help your doctor help you.
I find this all really interesting! I been taking this product for a month and only loss about 7 pounds. I never once experienced extra bowl movements (which I was hoping to be come more regular with taking this) My energy level has not changed much. Only thing I experienced is a drier mouth, and my nasal’s very dry to where it actually hurts. Other wise no bloating, or any other symptoms. I am continuing to keep using too hoping lose 50 pounds. Right now very very slow.
I have several friends…very dear friends that I love and respect…that have gotten a group together promoting Zi Xiu Tang. They are blogging their weight loss, body changes…the whole shabang. I was skeptical to try the product because I’ve lived healthy enough and have studied nutrition enough to know that anything that tells you that “you can eat whatever you want, with no exercise and still lose weight”, there must be some consequences. I’m very concerned for them all. I will be sharing your review. It’s very informative. I was just about to join the group because I do need to lose some weight but I have high blood pressure and take medication for it, so Zi Xiu Tang is NOT for me! I’ll just have to do it the old fashioned way!
BTK. Thanks for feedback and for your doctors comments as well. I had similar thoughts about “not trusting the label”. It just didn’t look “right” to me if that makes sense. Regardless I am glad you have lost some weight and hope your success continues.
I used two capsules a day of this product and noticed a feeling of being medicated, neither good nor bad, just different. I also had loose and increased frequency of bowel movements. I was very pleased with the weight I lost, and lack of temptation to overeat though.
After a month I had a regular checkup with my M.D. who happens to be native Chinese (mainland). He was pleased with my weight loss. I showed him the bottle and told him I’d been taking it for about a month and asked his opinion. I paraphrase:
“If the ingredients are as it says on this label, then ok. However, I do not trust the label. They may be deliberately misrepresenting the ingredients, hiding something unpleasant, or the capsules may be contaminated due to poor quality control. In general, my Chinese friends and colleagues absolutely will not ingest any manufactured food or drug from China. I suggest you not continue taking these capsules. Look for something similar, if you want, from here in the US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan — but not China.”
I immediately switched to organic bee pollen capsules from the US, and immediately noticed the lack of effects I felt from Zi Xiu Tang. Thank you for this article, which explains why!
B.T.K.
I have been taking this supplement for a month now an I am pleased with the outcome so far. I have lost 19 lbs. so far and dropped 2 inches in my waste. There are many people that have noticed and like the outcome as well. I have cheated the system though by taking more than the suggested amount of 2 capsules daily, I have been taking 3 capsules Monday – Friday giving my body a chance to recover on the weekends. The only side effect so far is running to the bathroom to handle my business several times a day but I have always been regular. I will say that I really have not had a solid bowel movement since starting the program.
I still eat what I want but I believe the supplement has supressed my appetite and I get full really quick so I do not eat near as much as I used to. I really can’t enjoy fast food like I used to because I don’t really feel all that great after I do but any other food I feel great. I think that it it right on point when it stated that it only burns new fat that is introduced to the body.
All in all I am happy with the supplement results so far and I welcome any comments, questions, remarks or any suggestions from other Zi Xiu Tang fans or people that have experienced health problems.
Thanks for your time.
I agree with naturellgirl I lost weight in my butt and breast as well. Initially I did notice weight loss in my stomach but now I feel bloated. I noticed tingling sensations in my hands and feet also.
I stopped using it because it seemed to make me lose weight in the wrong places. I lost my butt and breasts which made my clothes appear loose fitting. However, my stomach was still bloated and my body looked out of proportion. I have started an exercise program to reshape my figure.
Yes, the only side effects of taking this product for over a year is that it made me poop a lot. But the bee pollen was a great factor in keeping away my allergies.