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’ve been taking the pills for 3 days now and the only “side effect” I would say that I have is probably more gas than normal. Other than that, it hasn’t felt like I’ve taken a laxative or experience any of the other side effects that the other women have talked about.
I’m 25 years old and my starting weight is 144lbs at 5’5″. I’m hoping to lose at least 10 lbs. I’m very active and I go to the gym at least 3 times a week. The reason I started taking this supplement was to stop my food cravings and over eating. I have a serious binging problem when it comes to food. So far the pills haven’t really effected my appetite, yesterday I had ice cream, nachos and some girl scout cookies. eek!!
Dieting, for me, just plain sucks! So I’m hoping these pills will help control my unhealthy eating so I can lose some weight!
I’m wondering what color is the powder inside these capsules. The first time it was like an olive green, then my next box was brown powder in the capsules, and now my third bottle the powder is tan inside the capsule. Can someone please clarify for me. I need to know why the difference in color???
Destinyi, this is unfortunately the case with many weight loss supplements. I would say that the important thing is to not stop trying. Think about being healthy and not thin; I know that’s hard to do when the media constantly hits with air brushed models etc who are a size 2. I but as you say cutting corners never works. Focus on improving health and let the weight take care of itself and you will be ok 🙂
Oh FYI …easy and quick way to check hydration level ….take your nail and lightly scratch your arm. if white line goes away VERY quick, your fine. if it seems chalky or delayed, your not in taking enough fluids. just be careful to keep track of how much water / soda / tea etc you do drink …you can dehydrate further with coffee, or “flood” your cells with too much fluid.
http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-More-Water-Every-Day
this is a reference site that is a GUIDE (only) on how to figure out what your body needs daily…be sure to check warnings at end of it that explain damage TOO much water can cause
Your body is dehydrating…its what mine did around day 3….up your fluid level slightly….there is something in this that will dehydrate you if you dont drink enough to begin with….one of my girl friends ended up at the hospital on iv drip over it. the cramping in arms / legs is symptom of that too. and trick we found…if your able to drink coffee…drink a cup or 2 …will ease the constipation you initially deal with. but do not o.d on it as coffee will not help the dehydration…only with the constipation
Hi Joe,
I wrote a while back maybe in October or November. When I first started taking ZXT I lost a total of 10lbs in the first month. I had the same symptoms every is talking about. After that the weight loss stopped, I continue for a total of three months. I stopped taking ZXT because I was starting to hungry and it was truly a waste of time.
Once I stopped I gained all the weight back almost immediately. The person I bought the pills from insist it is a miracle drug and although I know people who had great results in the beginning, they all have stopped taking it and gained the weight back.
I know we all want to cut corners with weight loss but ZXT definitely removed whatever is in there so people can lose weight.
i am pretty sure the muscles hurting is from work …i have been trying to eat but its like i dont want anything bc of feeling nauseous …i woke up with a headache and my eyes hurt like when you have a sinus infection…i am going to stop taking them and see how things go today and i will update you later
Kathryn, I dont like those symptoms, stop taking Zi Xiu Tang now and if you dont feel any better go to your doctor. Sit down and do not move any muscles. Are your muscles hurting now? Or do your muscles only hurt when you are moving them? Do all of your muscles hurt or is it only some muscles?
The 2 pounds you lost is mostly water weight – not fat. Not eating has caused your body to burn significant amounts of glycogen (stored carbs). when you do this you release lots of water. You may have noticed frequent urination. that’s the water you’re losing.
i have been taken the bee pollen for 4 days now i lost 2 lbs already…i have no apatite at all …i feel very nauseous and i am also very constipated …my body does not feel the same either my muscles are sore i do not know if that is from work or the pills but my arms and legs feel different …also i have noticed dry mouth and dry eyes
could you tell what was the product from china name ? it was before zu xui tang , it was stronger and it was before that product, and then thay made zu xui tang? so does anyone know the name it was in a yellow bottle.
okay forgive me…lol i am in research mode 😉
Library of congress has research studies listed about bees. nothing about bee pollen relating to weight loss.
research databases yielded loads about bee pollen but the only 2 articles i found that were scholarly and peer reviewed journals (i love ebsco) are these listed…
Eraslan, G., Kanbur, M., Silici, S., Cem Liman, B., Altınordulu, Ş., & Soyer Sarıca, Z. (2009). Evaluation of protective effect of bee pollen against propoxur toxicity in rat. Ecotoxicology; Environmental Safety, 72(3), 931-937. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.06.008
Concentration of Chosen Trace Elements of Toxic Properties in Bee Pollen Loads.Detail Only Available
By: Roman, A.. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2009, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p265-272, 8p, 4 Charts
Here is the breakdown to what is in bee pollen. amounts will vary based on age / source of intake per bee hive…. this might be where people make the claims on it having rejuvenating / weight loss effects…however….the amounts in a dose appear too low to do much…hmmmm from everything i found you would have to take in a lot more then whats found in a supplement…whether this one or any other one.
Main Ingredients: Protein 21.2 %, Carbohydrates 48.5 %, Fatty acids 9.9 %, Ash 3.5 %, Fiber 14.2 %
Thiamine (vitamin B1) – Indicated for the treatment of the toxic effects of alcohol and certain medicine, the curing the edemas, the treatment of shingles, and heart conditions myocarditis and tachycardia, and in regimen for diabetes.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) – In ophthalmology, necessary to cure conjunctivitis, disorders of retinal adaption, some skin diseases and alleviate migraines.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) – Required for the formation of hemoglobin and used to combat nervousness, fatigue, muscular weakness, brain tumors, anemia, Parkinson’s disease, arteriosclerosis of the brain, and radiation sickness.
Nicotinic Acid (Nicotinamide) – Acts on the formation of blood, is used in the treatment of toxic overload, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal problems, asthma, neuralgia, fights migraine and tinnitus, and lower cholesterol.
Pantothenic Acid (Part of B-complex) – Effectively speeds the cure of wounds, gangrene, various ulcers, herpes, bedsores, inflammatory infections of the mouth, colds, bronchitis, infectious hepatitis and minor skin problems.
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) – Stimulating antitoxic effects. Beneficial against colds, respiratory distress, and is useful in metabolizing calcium.
Retinol (vitamin A) – Effective against infections, dry eyes, and night blindness.
Tocopherol (vitamin E) – Assists oxygenation of the cellular level and fights sterility. Has anticoagulant properties and improves blood circulation. (courtesy of Draper’s Super Bee Apiaries, Inc.,2011 )
Inertia, I did some digging and Ive posted something on beautiful slim body. its on the home page now. 🙂
sorry Joe, i really can’t help you. i’m just researching the whole thing myself…haven’t seen label or packaging but if i remember correctly on that topix forum someone took a picture of the packaging and it was in a link, … i just didn’t click on it.
would be nice to understand it though, perhaps the collective information like we’ve gathered here would help by posting it’s own thread/research.
Joe…
zxt. …in my original post i stated security lab website is only way to know on zxt…that is only way to know. if you do not enter code and get the message that code is correct, then it is not “authentic”.
mia repeated same thing i said initially, either she didn’t read my post fully or just chose to argue it. I called the security lab personally. +86 20-61131029 this is the number of the lab who makes the anti-counterfeiting seals. yes it is in china. located in guangzhou province. yes you will need someone who speaks Chinese / English to call for you …i had my aunt call and do the translations..
Yung was great to do this for me and it confirmed that the ONLY way to know if authentic is through the serial number each bottle is assigned. the person at lab said you can also check this by trying to enter same number multiple times and you will get error message informing you that code was entered before and if new bottle, may not be authentic. the lab makes the security features for many products, they are NOT the manufacturer of the pills.
the manufacturer of zxt telephone number is +86 20 87538873.
again…if you wish to call, have some one able to translate do it for you as i did.
China FDA Licensing Number: qiong tian wei shi zhun zi[2003]No.016
China Product Approval Number:Q/ZXT01-2004
Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotech Co.,Ltd. Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotech Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotech Co.,Ltd.(Haikiu Branch) Joint manufacture Guagzhou Zixiutang Biotech Co., Ltd. (Haikiu Branch) Joint manufacture
[Manufacturer]:Tianya Pharmaceutical of Hainan
No.100,Longkun South Road,Haikou City,Hainan Province.
yes there are 2 versions. American and Chinese. the Chinese also carries the security codes and authentication process and nothing on the bottle / box / info sheet inside is in English…strictly Chinese writing.
—————————————–
BSB is Vietnamese company that has “opened” labs in usa
http://hoadaherbs.com/ is the “pharmacy” i found associated with it….and nhathuochoada is name of distributor i found associated with it…excerpt from “lab” site below…
To a e d i m i
UNITED Pharmacy was established in 1994, headquartered at No. 11210 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 126B, City of Houston, Texas, United States, TX Zip code 77072.
Attention sir i L E
UNITED Pharmacy has 11 major dealers scattered throughout the United States, Canada and Australia, the majority located in the Radio “TNT” (TNT Radio) include: TNT Sacramento, San Jose TNT, TNT San Diego, TNT Arizona, Kansas City, TNT, TNT Atlanta, Boston TNT, TNT Austin, .., Melbourne TNT, TNT Brisbaine, TNT Adelaide (Australia), smaller and more agents in a busy commercial area.
L i ch S atom
UNITED Pharmacy at newly formed DA is quite small, only Si Landscape Natural Medicine and four workers to the trade in Eastern medicine, in a room with an area of 2.000 SQ. HOA DA Pharmacy today has grown, transformed into a company with a total of 14 official workers who have qualified high technology, facilities occupying over 4,000 SQ.
Karen,
I had the same problem as you. I almost had to have my 5k engagement ring and wedding band cut off of me because my fingers were purple. I do not trust these pills at all and am hoping I did not damage any of my organs in the 2 months that I was taking them.
Inertia has anybody seen a product label for beautiful slim body? Different websites list totally different ingredients. Im investigating this now and hope to have an answer soon.
Inertia, Ive been thinking about Beautiful Slim Body since you told me about it. Ill try to write something on it this week. At first glance I’m skeptical that it is even made in America since I cant find a website or company name.
No I haven’t’ been able to find a manufacturer’s website for Beautiful Slim Body … just the distributor’s. It was the forum on Topix that I was going thru – don’t know much about them…. just thought there were a lot of similarities to ZXT. Mind you, I never had any laxative effects with ZXT, ever and was losing weight (20lbs in fact) on the first three bottles. The owner at Floyd did send me a note with her phone number saying to call her anytime to clear up any questions I may have.
Would be interesting to know if anyone on here has tried the BSB pills …
Inertia, just looked up beautiful slim body for you. It looks like a laxative supplement like zxt is. I say that because it has cassia seed extract just like zxt does.
Most websites the sell beautiful slim body say its made in America but I cant find the name of the American company. I dont even see a website for beautiful slim body. this makes me wonder if it really is made in America.. have you found a website for the company that makes it?
Karen sounds like an allergic reaction. are you allergic to bee pollen? Has anybody else experienced this?
Karen, I would stop using zxt. I think you may be the only person to list these side effects.