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.
Dani, yes its all very odd. Im still waiting to hear from the FDA about what they found when they tested Zi Xiu Tang. If I ever hear anything I will post it here so everyone can check it out.
i used zi xiu tang bee pollen capsules. i started these pills last November i believe. i got 3 bottles, they worked amazing! 9lbs my first week! then it was just 2-3 a week after that. faithful for the first 2 months, bouncy on the third month. lost 25 lbs. stayed off them for a few months til i started gaining back, not eating well granted because while on these pills i ate EVERYTHING and still lost! dream come true.
Definitely makes you wonder whats really in these things? started taking them again and didn’t lose an ounce. sooo many people i knew were on them and some lost up to 70lbs. seemed like we all stopped losing at the same time? i guess it was the removal of the infamous ingredient and when we started up again after taking a break, nothing.
others couldn’t take it due to headaches etc. in my experience, everyone in their 20’s really had great results. 40 and up not so much. weird. a selective few had good results, but that was my personal observation. i knew about 20 people on them. i mean i absolutely loved these pills, the only side effect was bathroom trips! but it was worth it. i was looking into purchasing the new and improved 500mg…..skeptical now. 🙁 sad to hear all of the alleged side effects. hope everyone is well, happy and healthy! thanks for all of the research and testimonies!
Hello I took the bee pollen pills last summer. I took 2 months worth and lost 10 pounds only. However I stopped taking the pills due to dizziness, dry mouth, migraines, and constant loose stools every time i ate.
Sad to say after three months of being Bee pollen free I gained 25lbs….EEK. I eventually started working out and eating better and lost 16 lbs. i strongly suggest if you take these don’t stop because you will gain it all back eventually and some. My mom took them also around the same time and stopped the same that i did and gained more back than she lost also.
In case anyone was wondering about Slim Forte, its been recalled by the FDA because it contains Sibutramine
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/MedicationHealthFraud/ucm262278.htm
I thought I’d post this since someone just asked me about it.
Hi all, I have been taking these pills on and off now. when i first started i took it everyday faithfully and within the first two weeks i already lost a good 5lbs, then a month went by and i lost 20lbs! I was crazy amazed..I recommended the product to all my friends and the same results.
I guess for the ones who it doesn’t work for maybe your not following everything it says. Also, none of us has ever faced any side affects of any sort. The best part is that when you stop, it takes you forever to gain weight back. (well i’m a food lover, I got too happy after all that weight loss LOL!) I’m taking them again but have not been faithful to it, but it really works great when you are faithful!
i wouldn’t go for a 3rd pill. those pills aren’t FDA approved so there’s no saying how much of any given ingredient is in one pill. its not monitored. you could try doing a meal replacement bar or shake.
Hi all, have been following this thread since last year when I first started taking zi xui tang in October (great resource, Joe!). Here’s my story: I had a baby last july and waited until I was done breastfeeding to start taking the pills and lost around 20 pounds from October-March, but things seemed to have plateaued recently… in fact I even gained 5 pounds back!
I checked the reviews of my distributor (loseitfast) and their response to other’s same question was, “you have been using them for a while and have reached a plateau… your weight loss will slow down for a while to give your body time to prepare for more weight loss.
Losing an excessive amount of weight too quickly is unhealthy.” or “depending on how long you have been taking the product, a third capsule may be helpful at bedtime to boost the effect.” – has anyone else heard or experienced this lull with the effectiveness of the pill?
I know senna was taken out of the ingredients shortly after I started taking the pills, but I still had a little success then after. I still have a little baby weight I’d like to shed; can anyone point me in the right direction of a reliable distributor, or if in fact taking a third pill at bedtime will help? I feel like this pill was too good to be true, but then it worked and now has been taken out from under me when I had not reached my goal yet! haha – thanks in advance 🙂
Joe,Mia,Tahisha thank you so much for the condolences. I appreciate that. Mia i cant even fathom bringing a child into this world and then losing them such a short time later. i am so sorry you had to go through that. its the unthinkable.
I should also mention that since getting off the ZXT my blood pressure has gone back to normal and i am not on any medication.
i was going to be started on a pregnancy safe blood pressure medication if it was still an issue AND the med– hydrochlorothiazide i had been taking a few weeks prier to finding out i was expecting is harmful to the baby and i was told to stop immediately so even if the ZXT caused the high blood pressure and it was the meds i was on that contributed to the loss of the baby i still hold ZXT partly at fault..
ZXT seemed like a god send at first..look back at any of my previous posts and you’ll see me gung-ho for it..now? i doubt you could pay me to take it. My gym membership is 40 a month and the pills were 45…ill trade the hard work and sweat for the easy out..i should have known better
Tahisha, thanks for the compliment. I am glad I am able to help in some small way.
Thank you Nikki for that story. I really appreciate your story. Mia as well. For all the people who just pop in here asking about a product that is clearly very risky, you should probably go elsewhere because it is annoying.
Thanks for the advice Joe. This forum has been of the utmost help and interest to me. Thanks for inviting such wonderful conversation to be exchanged.
Mia, so very sorry to hear about your loss as well! I cannot imagine the pain you and Nikki have been through. I will say a prayer for both of you.
nikki, i am soo sorry for your loss. I lost my 15 month old child in 2009, so i know exactly how you feel. whether or not the cause of your misfortune was zxt or not dosent really matter. You did your part and warned people.
Nikki, I gasped when I read your words! Oh my goodness I am SO SORRY to hear about the loss of your baby. I know I can not even imagine what you went through -and still are going through. I wish I had words to help…
Hello All, Its been months since i have been back and i can see some great conversations going on..I would just like to share another story/experience. I stopped coming and checking the site out in April because I found out I was expecting! Blessed with another soul to love in my life.
Last week I went in for a routine U/S and the baby had passed away. I was devastated. To see my child up on a screen with no heartbeat is something ill never forget. Anyway, The Dr said this is normal 30% of women blah blah blah.
Heres the thing…I’m healthy,young,i don’t smoke ,don’t do drugs i exercise every morning at 430am. and my job is no where near anything toxic or bad.
Im not trying to say the ZXT caused this. more of just buyer beware. This is the only difference in this pregnancy than my last. I have had 2 other full term 100% healthy babies.
I know its a freak thing that happens but I had taken the zxt (not the new one) for about 3 weeks before i actually found out i was pregnant. It might be just me needing a solid explanation but i think theres nothing to say it wasn’t a contributing factor.
I know while i was on it my cycle was all out of whack and at one point was late by 3 weeks. I have gained some weight back but i was also 11 weeks pregnant when i lost the baby. I wont be going back on ZXT. My priorities have shifted and I rather be fat then chance losing another baby.
Also, the person i used to get my ZXT is now selling about 5 different “weight loss” pills..one is the new ZXT the blue and green ones and the others are some “slim shape” or something like that. i wont be trying those either.
Sorry to lay my sob story on you all. theres just a lot of women on here and IF the ZXT did have something to do with my losing the baby i rather let you all know to save even just one person the heartache.
Hope you are all well!
Nikki
Tahisha, I have not done any research (yet) on diatomaceous earth. Ive also never seen that the body needs “plenty of silica”. We probably need some but Ive never seen anything on how much. It is in some toothpastes also so you are probably getting some that way also
You have been going to your doctor about your inability to lose weight yes? Just want to make sure. Sometimes unexplained weight gain can be due to bad stuff like cancer. Im sure thats probably a long shot (thank goodness) but wanted to toss it out to you.
Since you say you are feeling tired, I wonder if you may be working out too much? Do you have trouble sleeping? This week I want you to take your heart rate before you get out of bed and write it down. Do it for 5 days preferably on days that your alarm does not go off.
If you are working out, Id expect your heart rate to be 60 beats a minute or less. If its higher than this, that may be a sign of working out too much. Again, just a thought that occurred to me.
Joe,
An update: Ever since using these pills, I have had trouble losing weight, even though I eat an excellent diet and workout at least 5 days a week. I probably have to increase my workout, but I must say that I’ve also felt sluggish, overly fatigued and swelling in my neck region. I am (or was) HEALTHY; I go to the doctor often and physically, people would NOT mind looking like me because I am muscular. I DO have extra weight, though; its the reason I began these so-called miracle pills.
If you recall previously I left a comment asking about the ingredient in this pill that helped my skin and since I’ve been using Diatomaceous Earth, the food grade, of course.
I’ve tried to read everything there is on Diatomaceous Earth, and I’m yet to find anything negative about the main element, silica. In fact, I’ve read that the body needs plenty of silca. It makes my skin look AMAZING and it’s supposed to be great for humans, animals AND plants!!
It’s supposed to be “all natural” (again with this dangerous and misleading phrase). Is this too good to be true? Do you have thoughts about Diatomaceous earth?
Has anyone tried the new 500mg version?
Im looking for a ZXT Gold label so I can see the ingredients. Does anyone know where I can get this or can email me a label?
I will have to take a look at ZXT. Ive heard mixed reviews online about it. Glad you got checked out by your doctor first. Sorry no email.
I offer the same challenge to the zxt gold distributors as I did for the Zi Xiu Tang distributors
http://supplementclarity.com/zi-xiu-tang-distributer-challange/
Joe ,
To answer your questions yes, I was checked out by my doctor before I started because technically as a woman you should be checked out at least 1-2 times per year normally.
And I also need to correct my statement I DO NOT use Zi Xiu Tang in which some refer to it as ZXT……. I use ZXT GOLD bee pollen capsules which is a different product made by a different company but the ingredients are similar. in regards to my email info I don’t care who contacts me I have no problem answering anyone questions in regards to both products because I have used both. So feel free to attach my contact info as I do give you permission.