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.
Ann, based on what you said I think it was a smart decision to stop taking zi xiu tang. Thanks for telling everybody about your experiences.
Nikki thanks for your comments much appreciated! When I reviewed zxt I could not find any ingredient that inhibited the absorption of fat.
Based on the listed ingredients and leaving out senna and the laxative effect (which not everybody gets), I’m perplexed at what is causing weight loss.
@S no problem! I hope your doing better and those side effects have subsided!…
@Lyn B..I have been on ZXT since August 15th and am over the 70lbs weight loss mark and i have NEVER lost that much in one week. My highest was 9,but at the same time you have to take in account what you have been putting in your body. if you are eating all salty foods you are going to retain a ton of water the ZXT may have only helped get rid of that it might not be actual “fat” That’s a big part of how the ZXT works. It dehydrates you then helps keep your body from absorbing fat a lot like ALI and the new drug the FDA just approved.
I wanted to let you all know that a friend of mine who is also taking ZXT is going on about a month or so less then me and is at the 30 pound mark. With the new formula they have (no senna or cassia) she is finding she is losing MUCH slower and the scale will say she has gained a pound here or there but then she will have a larger drop say 4 or 5 pounds. The “detox” in this seemed to be purely the effect of laxatives. I’ve never taken ALI before so im wondering if this is how that works because of the warnings on the ALI site about needing to wear dark clothes and such.
I am still on one pill a day and actually today 12/15/10 have taken it without my blood pressure med because I ran out and am waiting for the script to be filled. I haven’t had any heart racing or dizziness so I made an appt with my doctor to see if i really had high blood pressure or if its from taking the 2 pills a day. if i go tomorrow and there’s no high blood pressure then for me at least we know it was the 2 ZXT a day. one seems to be fine and I’m still not hungry and have not gained any weight back in fact i lost another 10lbs in about a month making it 70 down. I’m definitely ok with slower weight loss I just hope that the distributors are being true to whats in the pill..
Hello Joe
I took ZXT for about 10 months combined with Weight Watchers I did lose close to 40 pounds and have managed to keep this weight off. I finally had to stop taking this supplement because I was having a lot of the side effects and it scared me. I have chosen to lose my last 20 pounds the healthy way I have changed my life style with my eating with the help of weight watchers and I exercise several days a week. It may take me a long time to lose the rest but it’s okay. ZXT was keeping me awake at night, it was making my mouth severely dry even though I drank a lot of water, I also had back and foot pain, frequent loose bowels and dizziness. I do have arthritis in my back and a heal spur but for whatever reason I believe ZXT aggravated that condition. I stopped taking the ZXT about 3 weeks ago and my back and foot pain is gone, I am sleeping like a baby again but my dry mouth still remains although it’s not at extreme as it was. I hope the dry mouth goes away soon too it’s very scary that I still have a dry mouth.
I am convinced that there is something in those pills that is just not good for people and I imagine at some point we will find out what it is. What I took was an authentic and from a trusted vendor.
Mia thanks for the update. Personally I would not recommend becoming an zi xiu tang distributor. You all know from my comments I’m suspicious of it’s ingredients… I would not recommend buying the product in bulk and storing it until you sell it. that’s usually a sign of a bad MLM network.
let me see what I can dig up on Hawthorn and write a review on that hopefully sometime next week.
Hi,
Thanks Nikki for the sites to view side effects or allergic reactions to hawthorn. You are right! Alot of the symptoms I’m having seems to be from hawthorn. I still plan on searching and keeping an eye on all side effects and reactions and keep looking for any negative mentions about ZXT. I love that I have now lost 20 pounds (taking a lot longer than many of you……3 and 1/2 months) but at the same time I have changed nothing except eating less and less sweets.
I asked both Floyd and the distributor in VA for any reports on testing they have done and no one has gotten back to me so I will keep trying.
Thanks again Nikki, seeing that Hawthorn causes similar side effects to the Naltrexone drug that was just released by FDA for weight loss, relieves me. I know it may sound weird but I would rather take an herb that is grown and still in a more natural state than take a drug that has been produced synthetically and altered greatly.
Have a great day!
lyn B- honestly 11 lbs in 1 week do not seem healthy. I have been using zxt since april on and off and I never had results or heard of anyone getting those results. But nevertheless, keep an eye out for any red flags.
MJ- I agree, herbs affect people different, some people that are sensitive to medications probably has a difficult time with zxt. Also you shouldn’t be running to the bathroom a lot, the product does not contain senna or cassia anymore. Do you still have one of the old formula bottles?
Tina, since starting the new bottle of zxt, I havnt noticed insomnia anymore. It could be that my body adjusted to it, or maybe cassia affected that part, I do not know.
Joe, I know with Julie at zixiutangbeepollen, does not require you to sign a contract like Floyd. I think she has different packages, depending on how much you want. you do have the option of just purchasing a bulk order too. But I guess to be classified as an official distributor, you would probably have to sell under her. I think one of my friends told me its starts at like 100.
I wish i had time for it, and we can get some concrete information. I do not want to get sued.
Ok Tina just thought I’d mention it. I have a degree in biochemistry myself so I know what those all night study sessions are like 😉
Thanks for the advice Joe, but that was actually my goal in taking it tonight. I have a huge biology final on Friday, and this was my substitute for downing double shots of expresso. I’m gonna be up most of the night studying…gotta love college…
Tina, since many people say they cant sleep when they take zxt, you may want to not take it at night.
I just received ZXT today in the mail. The verification code checks out, there’s red markings, everything seems legit so far. There’s no senna listed on the bottle. I paid full price for it, but I don’t care–I’d rather get the real deal than a cheap, dangerous knockoff. I’m going to take one pill tonight, and I’ll let you know how it goes!
My sister-in-law lost 40lbs in 3 months taking ZXT. She recommended it to my husband, and we started taking the pills on the same day. Because I am allergic to insect bites, I was very hesitant to take the recommended dosage of 2 pills per day, not knowing if I would have an allergic reaction. I took 1 pill per day for 7 days. I started at 166lbs, 5’6″. By day 5, I lost 10lbs. By day 7, I decided to stop taking the pills to let my body relax.
I did not take the pills now for 2 weeks, but still maintained weight loss of 8lbs…with no change of diet and no exercise.
I just started taking the pill again yesterday morning, and this morning, I had lost 2lbs again…bringing me back to the original 10lbs I had lost in 7 days.
So I’m not sure what exactly this pill does besides give you energy, make you go to the bathroom more often, and make you thirsty, but it does seem to be working for me. Friends and family have been asking me what I’m doing, and I’m hesitantly recommending this product because I haven’t used it long enough to fully endorse it. I did read reviews online and took some folks up on their ‘tips’…such as taking the pill AS SOON as you wake up…keeping it near your bedside with a bottle of water…that way it can start working on your metabolism before you even really get moving. And the only side effect I noticed was that on day 3, I was nauseous like I had never ever been before in my life. I couldn’t keep ANYthing down (not even water). So…I still don’t know what triggered that, but I went on as usual with day 4 (Thanksgiving Day), and I was fine.
By the way, my husband kept taking the pills from day 1 through now (day 23) and has lost 8lbs. The first week he gained 2lbs. The second week, there was no change. Then at the end of last week, he lost 5lbs. And by yesterday, he lost 3 more…so I’ve just been telling everyone that its hit or miss…either your body will respond to these herbs or it won’t. But just be attentive to how you feel and go to the doctor if anything seems “off”.
All the best to everyone trying to make it work!
ive been takin zi xiu for a week and a day. i have lost 11lbs and my appetite has decreased my energy has increase! i havent had any bad side effects. i feel good
Mia thanks for that info. I wonder how much zxt distributors make when they sell zxt? Does anyone know how much it costs to start up a zi xiu tang business?
Many people who take zxt drink lots of water. There is some research that drinking water can help weight loss. I wonder if this could be at least partially responsible some of the weight loss.
Joe, it doesn’t take much, you just need to find a supplier like Floyd or Julie, pay a certain type of money and sell your product. i know with Floyd you have to sign a contract, but with Julie you do not. I know they require that you sell the pills for a minimum of a certain price. Also there has to be certain information you have to have on your website. I know this information because I entertained the thought of selling locally. But I have a soft heart, i will not be able to take it if something happened to someone I sold to. Plus with school and family life, my plate is full.
Susan, i felt the same way you did, but it was due to the hormones in my mirena iud. I know it wasn’t zxt because i had the symptoms before taking zxt. however, it is possible that zxt enhanced those side effects.
I want to warn everyone that if your bottle or pack does not have a verifiable code, then it is fake, if your bottle is a 48ct bottle and not 60ct. it is fake. the manufacturer stopped making 48ct early this summer. if you capsule does not have red markings around the capsule, it is fake.
if the place selling zxt is selling for a low price, its fake. I only say this because there is only one place that sell for 30.00, I’m not sure how they are able to get away with selling for less than 40.00. I heard the manufacturer require that you charge a certain price.
These pills gave me constipation. I took them for about 3 weeks and had hard time going to the bathroom. Got them from the company in Virginia. Has anyone else had this problem. I drink tons of water 3 liters or more a day and stopped eating sweets and sugar. My appetite also came back while taking it. It did not seem to work for me. I would like to know who is a good distributor of this product.
Rose thanks for writing. Im glad you didnt have a heart attack. Given that some people are reporting some very strange side effects, I have a suspicion that there may be some variation in the ingredients (stated on the label and not stated) in zxt.
I am still trying to find a scientist who has the ability to put zxt in a mass spectrometer.
What does it take to be a zi xiu tang distributor? What’s the process? Is there a multi level marketing aspect to being a zxt distributor?
I work in a high school and a friend of mine is a distributor. She was raving about her clients who were losing lots of weight and she herself lost 25 pounds over three months. When I heard a few nurses and the entire sheriffs department were on the product, I assumed it must be safe. After the first week I had lost 12 pounds, but began to feel a heaviness in my chest and at night my heart was racing. I kept waiting for the feeling to pass. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to the school nurse and I called my physician, both advised me to go to the ER. I put that off until my doctor squeezed me in the following week when I called again. By then I stopped taking the pills. After being off the pills for two weeks I began to feel like my old self. I went back on them for only two days and the symptoms came back. As an educator, I am mad at myself for not doing my research to see if this was a safe product. I should of known that the lack of information on the product meant something. I guess we are all looking for that quick fix, but we need to remember we didn’t put this weight on overnight.
Nikki, thanks for letting everybody know. yes Hawthorn can be scary and that’s why I put “warning” in red letters in the review. I think Hawthorn should be taken out of zxt because many people who take it are taking meds for high blood pressure and/or heart disease.
Thanks Mia for letting me know about the BP. I will let my doctor know when I start taking this. I am waiting for my delivery. Thank You Joe for being the moderator, this site is
excellent with information. I will keep you guys informed when I start.