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.
Inertia, Ive never heard of Beautiful Slim Body. Ill take a look at it for you and see what I can dig up.
Wonder why Floyd nutrition isn’t getting back to you about zxt?
Joe – have you ever heard of or researched “Beautiful Slim Body” weight loss pills? Could you? There seems to be a lot of similarity to what people are saying about the product to ZXT. “Topix” has one forum on them but there’s others.
Floyd is not getting back on questions on why new product is not working.
I’ve been taking these pills for almost 3 weeks. I’ve lost 7 pounds and have almost no appetite. I also have noticed some health improvements. But in the last few days, my toes have become swollen, numb, red and painful, like a pins and needles feeling. I can’t help but wonder if these pills are causing this since there is nothing else I can think of that would. I’m not on any other vitamins or medications. Has anyone had this happen or heard of this? I can’t find anything on it.
Cassandra, I hear what you are saying but remember that in the US, ANYTHING can be labeled as “natural”. Many times “natural supplements” have been found to contain synthetic ingredients.
People who have never seen a homeopathic doctor will have issues believing in all natural ingredients. These ingredients have been around for thousands of years and not only did native Americans use then so did the pilgrims who were up a creak when it came to sickness in the “new land”. Keep an open mind just because the FDA does not approve something does not mean it is “bad”. The FDA has approved PLENTY of medications that have cause kidney failure, liver failure and death. Use your own mind.
Hello All, I started my Zi Xiu Tang in January. The first batch I would assume worked because I was loosing and feeling all the symptoms everyone else had; bm, dry mouth, etc. Also received the authentic code.
However, I purchased a second batch from the same distributor and tried using the authentic code and received something quite different: If It is necessary, please report to Mr. Tang/Zhu at tangliang99@126.com….At this point I contacted the distributor who assured me this was authentic.
Now can anyone tell me what this message means? Also, I have a few symptoms, not as much as the first batch, have stopped loosing, and sugar (candy) cravings are through the roof. Please advise.
Mia thanks for getting back so fast. I have so many questions about ZXT. If you ever find any good research on it do let me know 🙂
well Joe, i think zxt isn’t working for some because they believe the hype about eating what you want. Or either they are not eating enough. I dont believe in weight loss secrets. Its a fact that weight loss comes from calories in vs calories out. Some people feel the need to use a supplement to help curve appetite, but honestly we could all lose weight on our own if we had the mentality to do so. However, if it was that easy, there would not be such a high rate of obesity. I think people are thinking they can pop a zxt and lose weight easy. I know from my experience, the dry mouth caused me to drink more water, the appetite suppressant caused me to eat less or ignore cravings. I cant speak on energy because I dont remember that much of an energy increase.
However, I know I did not have amazing results because I didn’t drink enough water, and I stopped eating.
I know someone that used zxt and low carb and had amazing results. I think this came from low carb and the zxt just helped her stay on it. Now she is struggling to remain low carb.
I am taking a psych class and I think alot of this is mental thing.
Joe you asked
“You said zxt has been a well known secret for many years. Can you tell me how many years zxt has been around?”
this came from the website, this didn’t come from me lol. You make good points Im in the dark about all of this too so I cant answer your ?
I do think sellers aren’t joining your challenge because they dont even know what they are selling. Honestly I can sign up to be a seller right now, I know I do not have the finances to have the pill investigated; so I only know what my potential customers would know.
My point is zxt may have something in it that isn’t listed on the bottle, however if there are black market pills out there… there is no telling what may be in them. zxt may have Sibutramine in it, which is horrible. But the black market may have a form of cocaine in it. Either way its good that the FDA has it, but how do they know if they have the black market or the actual zxt? Soo many ?’s so little answers.
Also this is my though…………. the manufacturer of zxt changed the formula to eliminate senna and cassia. My ?’s to the sellers where, ” why change something that is working so well?” the only answer I got was ” the senna and cassia didn’t make much of a difference.” However, it has changed the weight loss results.
anyway back to my theory… I think that the manufacturer may have found harmful ingredients in the previous version. (maybe the cassia or senna, or something else) so they changed the formula. However, the black market version still contain the old ingredients.
I dont know whats going on, but the more I learn, the more ?’s I have
Mia, Im not sure how anyone can research a zxt distributor and know they are getting the real stuff or not.
Ive noticed lately that a few people have been saying that they have authentic zxt and yet its not working. This makes me wonder if even the authentic stuff can be trusted.
You know my thoughts about zxt – I think there is a drug in zxt (besides senna) that is causing weight loss. There is no logical reason why zxt can work. The zxt sellers can yell all day long that its the bee pollen but that’s just not true. There is ZERO proof that bee pollen causes weight loss. If bee pollen caused weight loss I would have found the evidence.
My zi xiu tang challenge http://supplementclarity.com/zi-xiu-tang-distributer-challange/ has been up for a few weeks and not one zxt distributor has tried to prove me wrong.
You said zxt has been a well known secret for many years. Can you tell me how many years zxt has been around?
I dont get the “weight loss secret” part either. If the goal of a company was to make money then why would a company try to keep it a secret? If this stuff really was the all natural weight loss breakthrough then why would only a few people know about it until know?
let me add I do know of an zxt distributor that is selling zxt and she sells the black market version ( no red markings)under another name version with no red writing. These pills made me constipated. The easiest way to tell is that real zxt does not come in the 48 capsule bottles anymore. so if you see this, you know its fake.
Joe I do know that some distributors say to not drink or drink coffee while taking zxt, but that was do to headaches and dehydration.. However I have ordered from distributors that says coffee does not interfere with the affects.
Heather,
There is only one version of zxt, and that is the ones with the red marking manufactured from Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotechnology Co., Ltd zxt is now created without senna or cassia.
The other kind from hong kong is not zxt. they may have purchased the old formula of zxt with senna, not sure about that. But it is not zxt.
http://vipslimming03.en.ec21.com/offer_detail/Sell_Zi_Xiu_Tang_Beauty–8916964.html?gubun=S
this site is selling fake zxt. notice the pills and the box.
this was taken from this website http://zixiu4u.com/2010/04/beware-black-market-zi-xiu-tang/
The Truth About Black Market Zi Xiu Tang Counterfeit Pills
Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen capsules have been a well-known secret in the weight loss industry for several years. Crafted from carefully blended, 100% natural ingredients, Zi Xiu Tang is the green option for men and women who want to lose weight and keep it off effortlessly.
Unfortunately, as with all extremely popular products, someone will always try to undercut the competition. Now, please don’t get us wrong, competition is a great thing when done right. It leads to improved quality of goods and services and gives consumers the best prices possible. However, in this instance, the competition for Zi Xiu Tang customers is not only completely unethical, but potentially life-threatening.
As in any other market, Zi Xiu Tang consumers want the best price possible, but have been taken for a dangerous ride in the process. The desire to save money, especially in these tough economic times, has driven them to purchase counterfeit Zi Xiu Tang pills for as low as $16.99 from places such as eBay. Black market Zi Xiu Tang manufacturers aren’t interested in the overall health of the consumer; they’re simply hustling cheap merchandise in large volumes in order to turn a quick profit.
Will Knockoff Counterfeit Zi Xiu Tang Pills Hurt Me?
Now, I’m highly aware some people will argue that the black market version may be a cheaper generic version of ZXT/BP. These same individuals will still have a belief that these ripoffs will work the same as ZXT/BP and save them money in the long run. I strongly disagree.
Let’s be honest. It’s one thing if the company had a completely different set of packaging, and compared their product as similar to Zi Xiu Tang. Yet they haven’t. They’ve instead created a completely different product that supposedly is supposed to pass off as Zi Xiu Tang itself. Legally speaking, it’s bad enough the company pushing fake Zi Xiu Tang has been able to make a close enough dupe to fool consumer, but nobody knows what they’re really putting into these pills they’re pushing. Regardless of how effective counterfeit ZXT/BP works, anyone who needs to falsify information to make a profit, especially in the health market, is untrustworthy to me. If they were truly ethical and cared, they’d market themselves as a similar product in direct competition with Zi Xiu Tang instead of wasting precious time impersonating the brand.
These scammers can’t be trusted to tell the truth, so how can you trust that what’s within the bottle is safe, natural and effective?
You just can’t. Don’t take chances with your health.
Is Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen the cheapest herbal weight loss product on the market? Nope, it isn’t, but it’s definitely not so expensive that it’s worth risking your health on a mystery product made with every intention to deceive you. Even if the knockoff product operates with comparable efficiency, ethically speaking, no honest company would ever clone their competitor’s image to produce sales, especially in such high volumes.
There’s no bargain worth your health – or your life. Research your Zi Xiu Tang distributors to determine their trustworthiness. Determine their business practices and if anything on your Zi Xiu Tang package seems inauthentic, contact them immediately for a replacement or refund. Do NOT take chances with your life or health to save a couple of dollars.
Anti-Counterfeit
Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotechnology Company, the manufacturer of Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen Capsules, has created a new online system for customers to verify the authenticity of their Zi Xiu Tang purchases. This verification system will help to identify the counterfeit products in circulation and will allow customers to quickly identify these products prior to using them.
The new box design displays more information on the product in English, a “supplemental facts” section, and an anti-counterfeiting code. Not only will each box/bottle feature its own scratch off carbon layer directly on the box/bottle, but you will find a holographic security seal on the outside of the box as well.
Inside each box, you will find a small leaflet that contains more information on the product, including a “Frequently Asked Questions” section translated into English. To verify your ZI XIU TANG BOX:
1. Go to http://www.61131115.com/default.aspx
2. Scratch off the carbon layer off of the Zi Xiu Tang label on the back of the bottle to obtain the Anti-Counterfeit Code.
3. Input the Anti-Counterfeit Code and the Validation Code
4. Submit information.
5. If a valid code is entered,
you will see the following message:
Security code you entered is correct. This product is the production of health products supervised by Guangzhou Zi Xiu Tang Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
New Security Packaging for Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen Pills
Posted on April 6, 2010 by Lais Chai – Pollen
IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING THE HOLOGRAMS ON THE BOX, THE SCRATCH OFF SEAL ON THE SAMPLE BOX AND ON THE BOTTLE, OR THE HOLOGRAM TAPE SEALING THE BOX, CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE OLD OR COUNTERFEIT PRODUCT. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR PRODUCT BEFORE USING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE BUYING 100% AUTHENTIC ZI XIU TANG BEE POLLEN CAPSULES.
hopefully this can clear up some stuff for some people.
I used ZXT for about three weeks, and I had absolutely no weight loss at all, in fact I actually gained weight!! I had no symptoms, and it made me not have BMs at all, I exercise every day for about 1 and a half hrs.
I stopped taking it and the weight started to come off again, it was the authentic stuff but didn’t work at all!!
Katrina, I dont see why coffee would interfere with ZXT. ZXT has caffeine itself so caffeine in coffee should not have an effects. As far as I can remember nobody who commented here has ever said that coffee interferes with weight loss with Zi Xiu Tang. Does anyone else have any idea about this?
I have been reading up on Zxt and trying to find as much information possible. Can you drink coffee while taking this pill? I am normally an occasional coffee drinker but I am in school work full time and am a full time mother so I have been drinking coffee more (like a half a pot to even function) so I need my coffee right now. I read many coffee drinkers have not lost weight, is there a reason why. Thank you
Tara, I don’t know. A while back SherryC wrote commented that she was taking zxt and was about to also get a drug test for work. I have not heard back about the results of the drug test. I’ll assume everything was OK. The FDA has taken some zxt to test. We all should have a better idea of whats in it in a few months.
Do you know if this will make you positive on a drug screening? there might be something in these that isn’t listed….
There are 2 versions of the pills, American and Asian. The only way to tell if “authentic” is through the security labs website. Even the Asian version has authentic and fakes to contend with I have seen fakes with the red markings so that is not a way to tell difference. My previous comment posted explains the website.
I am speculating but I wonder if some people are not losing weight with zxt because the company is removing whatever it was in zxt that was causing weight loss to begin with.
Amanda,
I am in the SAME boat at you 2 weeks no change what so ever!
Wow! I found everyone’s comment is very interesting…
I have been on ZXT for almost a year comes June of 2011 and I must say I’m glad I went on them… I started last summer of 2010 weighting at 215 pounds which I hated myself because I was always skinny (115 lbs) I know as we age our weight changes etc…etc… but my came due to medical reason and I have done it before without the help of any sort of diet pills however; at 35 it have gotten so hard so lucky me some lady came to my yard sale and we got to talking about weight lose and that’s when she told me about ZXT….
I would say less than a month my brother notice the weight lose before I did when my butt didn’t fit my pants on my son’s high school graduation day. Since being on ZXT I was able to eat less and leaving the sugar out… For those who would like a jump start on losing weight I would highly recommend it because now I’m 160 lbs wearing a size 4… I been off them say about a month now & still maintain my weight and my eating habits…. I’m trying to shoot to losing about 40-50 lbs before summer so I can get my tattoo in time for the summer…. =)