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.
Hello again! I’m back and no not pregnant sadly. I was away for 3 weeks on a …less than relaxing vacation. Anyway i was off of the ZXT for about 3 weeks and didn’t gain anything back. My appetite increased a little but didn’t come around full circle to the point I was over eating like before.
I’m back on one pill a day and besides one episode of painful cramping before having to use the rest room i haven’t had any of the side effects i had while taking 2 pills..such as cotton mouth,head aches,dizziness.
I haven’t weighed myself since i was back on it but my 16’s are loose already! have a great weekend!
Hi Maria, I must apologize but I don’t think I saw your original comment. I checked the spam folder also and it is not there. I have no explanation for this but I am glad you reposed your experiences with ZXT -and I’m equally glad you have not had any negative side effects.
I feel unfortunate to have not have my comment posted… I spent quite some time doing my research and commenting on what everyone else had been experiencing compared to mine.
I am a real person, who attends a real college, who is looking for real weight loss and feel my opinion is just as worthy as any other on this website.
I will reiterate what I had said previously, just in a shorter version.
1 – Yes, it can cause headaches, but I feel that it’s due to the caffeine content. If you are sensitive to caffeine, then perhaps that’s the problem. I initially started to have a few headaches when I started my Zi Xiu Tang regimen, but that was because I hadn’t been having caffeine on a regular basis. After about a week (having a headache every other day, which was normal for me, as I get regular migraines) they started going away. Since then (I’m now on my fourth week of Zi Xiu Tang), I’ve experienced fewer MIGRAINES, yet still get headaches from time to time.
2 – I noticed a significant decrease in my appetite in the beginning – I had to force myself to eat almost ANYTHING.
After getting more used to the pills, I’m now able to eat regularly, just not as much, and I fill up much faster. Also with this decrease, I’ve found myself not craving sweets as much as I used to, which is an added bonus.
3- I have not had as much ‘water cravings’ as I did in the first few weeks, but perhaps it’s because with the continued usage, I regularly have a water bottle with me at all times (of course always a good thing, but after a few dehydration headaches / dizziness, I figured it’d be best.). They say a habit takes three weeks to form, and I feel that Zi Xiu Tang has helped me form that habit. Yes, water is good in all aspects, but many forget to drink it / choose to drink different liquids with high caloric counts.
4 – I noticed a significant ‘slimming’ effect in the first few weeks, I’m not sure what my weight is, I refuse to get a scale, but I know I’m smaller than I was previously before Zi Xiu Tang usage. My clothes fit better, and my skin has definitely cleared up.
5 – I’ve noticed a definite increase in energy – I’m now able to stay up for longer amounts of time without feeling drowsy. I have only had two cases where I was unable to sleep, and feel that was due to taking the second pill later in the day.
Overall I’ve experienced almost no negative side effects (except for headaches in the beginning, as well as frequent trips to the bathroom) since the beginning of my experiment on taking these pills.
I know for a fact I am lucky in that I haven’t had any bad side effects, and am VERY grateful that my migraines have been suppressed while on this pill regiment (it could be that my migraines have been induced by food allergies, yet that hasn’t been able to have been proven by any tests done by my doctors). With the fewer ‘unhealthy’ and less processed foods in my diet, the better I feel over-all, and while Zi Xiu Tang could be a placebo for all we know, it’s helped me eat / feel / be a better me.
In closing, I would like to receive feedback from YOU (Joe) as to why I was previously denied commenting on the board with my experiences, and if you deny this one as well, why that is.
The headaches that people who take ZXT often report may be the result of drinking too much water. This is called water intoxication (also called hyponatremia).
Basically too much water dilutes the salts (electrolytes) in the blood. One of the side effects of water intoxication is headaches.
Other signs include difficultly breathing, muscle weakness, confusion, being overly tired, uncontrolled muscle twitching, nausea/vomiting and irritability.
Hyponatremia can kill you. Remember the woman who died while trying to win a radio contest a few years ago? She was drinking so much water that it killed her. it was hyponatremia that killed her.
I wanted to bring this up because the Zi Xiu Tang distributors love to say keep drinking water – how many of them ever mention that you can drink too much water?
Healthy kidneys can only excrete about 1 quart of water per hour. So people who drink much more than this are increasing the risk of water intoxication.
I really must apologize to everybody that this did not occur to me sooner. Some of the zxt side effects people have been reporting could be the result of drinking too much water. I am not sure but I thought it was important to mention this.
I’m going to post this in my other zxt review also so you may see this in duplicate.
Epiphany, in America supplement companies do not have to get approval from the FDA before they market their product if the ingredients have been in our food supply for over 50 years. The ingredients in ZXT have been around for more than 50 years so they don’t have to test it for safety and purity before selling it. See the page at the top (“supplement questions”) for more info on this.
Why do you need to detox? At 20 years old you are still under “warranty” and I doubt there are any problems with your digestive system if you are healthy.
Remember detox means laxative. if you are pooping (hate to use that word) you are OK. Eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise – those are better at detoxing the body than zi xiu tang. Epiphany, I dont meant to preach but I want to steer you in the right direction. I have to say this because the detox people usually dont say it.
Epiphany remember this rule of science: when you have 2 answers to a question, its usually the simple answer that is the correct answer. I dont think you need zxt. I would rather you just exercise and eat better. In the long term this will help you more than zxt. Hope that helps 🙂
Thanks Bart. some people report yes and some say they lose less and some say it plateaus. Read through the zxt comments for all the details.
Oh and one more question, is this product FDA approved? Sorry! I forgot to add it with my previous one. Thanks again.
Hey, I’m considering using this on top of exercising and eating better. I really need some sort of detox to help clean out my system. Yes, I am also trying to lose weight but I don’t want to do it the shortcut way. I am just really reserved about using this product. Does it have any permanent effects that I can’t bounce back from? I’m a 20 year old female, so I wasn’t sure if that was too young to use the product. As anyone ever gotten seriously sick off of the product? Do you gain the weight back once you stop taking it? Are you expected to take it for a long period of time? I’m asking because I just want to take it for a month or two tops. I just have a lot of reservations. I would appreciate any answers you could give me.
BMs have been business as usual. Has reported weight loss remained consistent since the removal of senna?
T. very interesting thanks for letting me know. Several people report ZXT works pretty fast. Your words make me wonder if I am write, that people can’t always trust “authentic” zxt. See my post “10 Opinions about ZXT” for more about this.
Hi, I have been taking ZXT for only about 5 day, and have seen no weight loss, and I have no symptoms from the ZXT no excessive thirst no laxative effects, and it really hasn’t effected my appetite. I know that I have a the authentic one because I checked the label, does anybody know if it takes a few days or weeks to see any effect?
Hi Bart, if you read through the comments you’ll see that it looks like Senna was removed from ZXT a few months ago. how are your bowel movements? More so or the same as usual?
I got mine from Floyd Nutrition but I don’t see Senna listed ANYWHERE on the box or bottle. Did they change the formula?
I started taking these as a suggestion from a friend after we were discussing my irregular bowel movements (once every 5 days). She said they made her go every time she ate. I am disappointed to say, these have not increased my bowel movements at all. I actually think it may be harder for me to go (this may because I am concentrating on it so much). However, the appetite suppressant is amazing. I hardly eat anything at all and after 3 weeks have lost 7 pounds. I am thrilled because I was at a standstill in my weight loss before taking these. I definitely can notice a difference in the appearance of my body as well. I do have very dry mouth, which leads me to drink an very large amount of water daily. At first I had difficulty sleeping, but it went away after a few days. I rarely crave sweets or diet soda (which I lived on). On the weekends that I went out and ate/drank, I did gain a pound or two, but quickly lost it when I behaved during the week. I just ordered my second bottle today.
Wendy, I wouldn’t recommend taking colon cleanse if you are taking ZXT. Both will make you go to the bathroom. I don’t think you would be very happy if you took them together. Acai berry has some fiber also but Acai berry will not help weight loss. Did you see my reviews on Acai berry?
Mia, ZXT has caffeine so that’s probably why they say to not go overboard with caffeine.
In response to:
“mia February 3, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Personally I feel that the 2 a day requirement, may be a tactic to run out faster therefore you have to purchase more. I only take 1 and still experience an appetite suppressant, however I am able to eat.”
~~~~~~~~~
I absolutely agree with you on the whole 2 day requirement. I took 1 pill a day and have lost 24 pounds in 3 months. (I am not taking them now due to them not working as well, but am going to start again and see what happens..)
A friend of the family is a distributor of the pills and she and her family take them. She told me and my mother that they only take 1 pill a day also and believe that the “2 a day” is just a tactic to make you go through them faster so you buy more.
Just thought I would second your comment! 🙂
Good luck with everything!
Hi, I am looking to lose just about 10lbs, I recently purchased a set of Acai berry pills and colon cleanse before I found out about this. Do you think it is safe to take all three together at the same time?
i have a problem with depression. I am currently on lexapro. However I have been on zxt in the past with out lexapro. I’m pretty sure zxt do not cause depression, however it does cause irritability and crankiness. Also I have heard that if you mix too much caffeine with zxt then you can have those symptoms. many distributors warn to limit caffeine or coffee while taking this. I exercise so I am naturally making myself feel good. I do have to warn, if you are not doing anything and sitting around,do not expect amazing results.
Hi Angela, if you scroll through the comments you will see one left by Susan who said that Zi Xiu Tang did cause
“slight depression, feeling melancholic and no energy whatsoever for anything, no desire to go out with friends, dinners etc.” She went on to say other things as well.
I have not heard much about zxt and depression but I’d stop taking it for a week or so and see if things get better. That will be the best proof. Increased anxiety with ZXT is something else I think others have said as well.
I’m very pleased with all the comments about ZXT being left by others. My ZXT review really only scratched the surface compared with all the great information that has been left by people who actually are taking zi xiu tang.