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 haven’t felt right since taking those pills vision is blurred an my side of face feels numb,its been a couple of months since I took them,I feel for the people that got bad reactions to them ,I’m going to the doctor.
Just in the past week I started taking Xi Ziu Tang. My sister had purchased three bottles and was telling me about them and how well they were working for her and gave me a bottle. She said that she was barely hungry, sometimes having to force herself to eat, thirsty, had more energy, and was going to the bathroom a lot more. I remember her making comments about how her bowels were messed up. She has lost 14 lbs in three weeks.
I on the other hand have not been as fortunate. I have taken it for 6 days now and have not felt right since day one. I kept bugging my sister asking her if she felt weird. The best way to describe it is foggy. I felt the heaviness of being high but jittery at the same time. I have felt anxious and have had rapid heart beat almost like I going to have a panic attack. I have been drinking more water but I feel hungry most of the time too. My bowels have become irregular meaning I am not going nearly as much as I did prior to taking these pills. I have pretty much been a moody zombie with anxiety the last few days. I thought that maybe my body was adjusting and that is why I was feeling off. I decided to do some research and stumbled upon this site. I am very thankful that I have found this site.
I just wanted to write in and share my story about my sister and my experience. I just wanted to prove that no two bottles are the same. We are both in our twenties and I am actually a much more health conscious person than she is. I exercise regularly and eat a lot healthier than she does. I suggest to stop taking these pills because its not worth it or if people do have side effects not to ignore them. Listen to your body. To have something have the complete opposite effect on us really makes me nervous and think that whatever formula they use is not consistent. I can’t wait to feel normal again.
Sorry this is lengthy ..I just wanted to share.
Hello I have purchase the Zi Xiu Tang the beauty face and figure capsule. I have seen some result of the pills that I have purchase. I have lost 4.01 lbs by me taken it for almost an week The side effects that I have had is dry mouth, neuase, decrease in eating habits, and have to force my self to eat.
After reading the complaints I don’t think that I will be taken them anymore. The only reason why is I have an heart conditions and blood pressure. My results are great but not taken them again until I speak with my doctor. This is my first time taking the pills because my friend had taken them and told me that I should try some. I wonder if I could get my refund back still have a lot of them left from the bottle that I taken pulse I have another pack that never been used. The only ting that I don’t like about the bottle is everything writing in Chines exception one side of the package that tells you how to take them and the ingredients.
If someone know What the original package look like can you please send me a pic of it. This is so that I can know which brand that I have. One more side effect that I had was that I couldn’t sleep. Stay up until 3am or 4am. Also if anyone knows of their return policy please let me know. My friend also stated that she believe that have taken something out and put a new ingredient in just to get it to work faster. Please let me know what I can do for a refund.
I’m still up at 2:48am eastern time fram
A friend told me about these pills that had lost 36 lbs so checked into them to make sure they where the right ones and not the fake. I have taken the new Zi Xiu Tang and it does work. I got them from beeathinneryou.com and they are the original ones. They are 59.95…if you are getting the original cheaper, then I would say they are fakes. And I read about how you should be worried about them saying drink water water water….they told me to drink my 8 glasses which is what the doctor has always told me anyway!
I also agree with you have to be smart with what you are eating…I don’t think there is a miracle pill out there that lets you just eat eat eat and take a pill and you won’t gain anything, maybe in the “Jetson” years but not as of this age! I’m happy with them and get regular check ups and have had no problem.
These pills made my mouth dry all day I felt dizziness, and restless I would be so tired but could not fall a sleep my head and eyes all ways feel funny it made me moody some days tha pills would work and other days tha pill did nothing for tha first day or so I did not get hungry but about tha 3rd day I would find my self eating all day on this pill then a day or so later I would not be hungry its just crazy and I hate tha way it makes me feel will not be taking this pill
I too just bought a bottle of ZXT from zixiutangpollencapsules.com. I have only started taking them – I have had 2 doses. I just read this thread and I have found that my pills do not have the red letters. Should I be concerned they are “fakes”. I had thought the above company was a real dealer.
I just bought a bottle of Zi Xiu. They were bought at a well known Vitamin shop. After looking online, apparently the ones I bought are counterfeit. They are 250mg and was sold in a bottle of 48 pills for 25.00. I went to the official website, zixiutangbeepollen.com and contacted an authorized dealer of the pills. From what I found out, the authentic ones only come in a pill bottle of 60 pills at 500mg. T
he pills are green/white, with little red Chinese lettering on the white part of pills. My pills that I bought don’t have the red lettering. The price of the authentic pills is 59.95, which from what I am told, is going to be the standard price sold directly by the company and the authorized dealers. Further, though the box and labeling looked good, but it was in Chinese. Only one side of the box was in English.
Further, the pamphlet inside was all Chinese. From what I am told, if it was legit, it would all be in English. There was the scratch-off code on the back of the bottle which you can authenticate, but when I did it, again, the results were in Chinese. Oh, by the way, I don’t read, write or understand Chinese!!
So, according to the authorized dealer, I have fakes. Could the fakes be made with the same ingredients and are just manufactured by a different company, but are safe to take (like generics)?
Dina,
I had serious high BP problems a few months after i was taking the pills. but of course being blinded by the weightloss success i said oh no its not the pills. Once i stopped taking them i came off my BP meds – Hydrochlorothiazide – i sleep better, less palpatations and no more BP and even being pregnant my BP has been perfect every time.
I hope all things go back to normal for you and you dont have any more yucky side effects!
I have been taking these pills for 10 days – at first, it was wonderful. I had more energy and did not feel as hungry as I normally do. I lost 4 lbs. the first week and then everything started to change. I got dry mouth, headaches and gained back the 4 lbs. Very upsetting. I have stopped taking the pills. I guess there is no easy way to lose weight.
Nikki and Joe
I too thought that the zi xiu tang was the absolute cure for weight loss! I was taking it for about nine months and after that time it just stopped working. While taking it I did lose a ridiculous amount of weight without doing anything but taking the pill.
I experienced all the same side effects that everyone is talking about. Dry mouth, insomnia at night, sometimes I would feel my heart beating, and my stomach would make the craziest noises. I was always going to the bathroom after anything i would eat. At the time I didn’t mind those side effects because I was getting so thin no matter what I would eat. Granted sometimes I had to remind myself to eat but I was able to eat anything I wanted.
When i started questioning why all of a sudden the pills stopped working and came upon this site, i realized that something had to be in them that shouldn’t be. I am a very fit petite woman. I have never had any health issues whatsoever. After taking the zi xiu tang and now being off of them, just at my normal physical exams I am coming to find that my blood pressure is now high for me. My pressure has always been on the very low side and now I truly believe because of these pills my pressure is high.
I hope with time being off of them, it comes back to normal. I do not want to be put on any blood pressure medicine. My advice to everyone…. stay away from these pills no matter how tempting they are!!!
can someone tell me where to get the new Zi Xiu Tang formula? I also was on the old Zi Xiu Tang for a while and yes, it worked well, loosing more than 10 pounds in a month.. (more than I actually needed, frankly) However, about a year ago the formula changed and nothing happened.. I’ve since moved on to another appetite suppressant but i am afraid it isn’t as good as ZXT.. Now, someone (Jennifer) I think, in a previous post said the old formula is back.. Can someone tell me where to get it? who’s the supplier? I’ve already spent so much money on the phony non-working formula that I would appreciate if I can get a reliable source. Thanks
Hello Joe, Its been awhile. I wanted to give you some more info on the ZXT that I have recently received. They have forgone the old formula and come out with about 4 different new ones. One not even being under the title ZXT or ZXT gold. I will never take ZXT again as i am 1) finally having a successful pregnancy and 2) i seem to have a developed a heart murmur. But a friend of mine has resumed taking it after almost a year and she is dropping weight. Same as before her appetite is gone and she is..”pooping like a duck” haha sorry but that’s what we call it. The effects of the ZXT gold seem to be the same as the original formula which did in fact contain Senna. I’m nervous for her but its not in my power to tell her yes or no.
The cassia and senna in the original i think are in the new formula. 6 total laxatives i researched months ago to be key ingredients in the pills. and one ingredient actually aggravated blood pressure in certain studies. Sorry this comment is all over the place. Just wanted to get it out there.
Did i lose 80lbs on ZXT? Yes
Did i get high blood pressure and a heart murmur? YES
Did i have 2 miscarriages (which obviously i can not directly blame on this pill) Yes.
So buyer beware. Sometimes if it seems to be too good to be true..it is.
Nikki, good to hear from you again and thanks for the update I didn’t know about the new formulas. I know you have been through a lot and I have wondered how you were doing. I’m really glad to hear about your pregnancy! Excellent!!! 🙂
I guess what I was saying it seems people are posting here about problems with zi xiu tang but not ZXT and ZXT Gold from Floyd nutrition specifically just wondering were they are getting there zi xiu tang from, if that even matters
Joe, Did you find anything more about ZXT and ZXT Gold from floyd nutrition from I am seeing zixiutang from ?? china?? is what people are complaining about bad effects etc..
Floyd Nutrition is saying ZXT Gold is the same as the old zixiutang (same ingredients?) but they are saying it not from the zixiutang manufacturer Guangzhou Zixiutang Biotechnology Company, they have a new manufacturers for ZXT and ZXT Gold and/or all there products, what have you found out?
Michelle, based on what I have heard in the past from others my opinion is I dont trust anything Floyd says about this product. If we dont know what was in the original zi xiu tang, how did Floyd find out? I’ve heard zi xiu tang has senna (a laxative) but other than that I have not heard a lot about it.
The pills I was taking really messed up my head and eyes.still trying to get over the effects,won’t take any more of your pills sorry
I feel like those who experienced adverse health issues had something else going on with their body and that it was not a direct result of the product. I took the original product for over a year and a half without any side effect whatsoever, aside from losing weight, and then being able to easily maintain that weight loss.
I have been taking Hokkaido for about 4 or 5 months, and while it works, I have severe headaches and trouble sleeping. I would love to go back to zi xiu tang if it is the formula from 2 years ago…
Amy thats possible that health problems might exacerbate issues with zi xiu tang but its also true that many people who are overweight also have health issues that should be considered.
@Jennifer, can you share you supplier? I took a break from the pills for about a year now, ever since they stopped working. I started using another supplement I found through these threads, and it works, but the side effects are worse than when I was taking the original version of the zi xiu tang.
Anyway, if the original formula is back, I would really like to get my hands on it from a reliable dealer. Thanks!
Because I have everybody’s best interest at heart, I just want to point out some of the crazy/scary symptoms people have been reporting about this product recently. If you have not seem them check out some of the recent comments on my “zi xiu tang side effects” post http://supplementclarity.com/zi-xin-tang-side-effects/
It does seem like something has changed with this product recently but I would be cautious of flocking back to a company that added something that seemed to work and then abruptly took it out (why?) and then seemed to add it back in again. I’m not sure what’s happening but I do advise caution especially if you have ANY health conditions. Also be leary of any zi xiu tang associate who says to ‘drink, drink, drink water” and does not mention anything about hyponatremia (water overload disease).
I too want to start the zi xiu tang pills, i have seen so many results from my friends and even my spouse, i just want to shed a few pounds, but now i am skeptical…where do i order the originals from if i decide to proceed?
I bought the original bee pollen pills from a distributor at my mother’s job. I had amazing results. I went from a size 16 to an 8 in about 3 months. I had no appetite, I was hyper, when I worked out I would, almost magically, sprint on the treadmill for a half hour and it barely winded me. That’s what really made me believe in those pills, I went from struggling just to walk 10 minutes on the treadmill to sprinting for an entire 30 minutes.
Once my first bottle was done, I got a second and it was like I was taking placebo pills…nothing happened. I stopped losing and I gained back like 20 pounds. I think the lesson here is don’t try to substitute hard work and a healthy diet for a pill. Am I sad that I’m not waking up every morning 2 lbs lighter? Yea…but I don’t know what was in that first bottle, and maybe it’s better I don’t have it anymore.
I Do NOT recommend zixiutang capsulse to anyone. I’ve tried myself and end up going to the hospital for a chest & back pain and blurry vision. 2 of my friends tried also, one experienced liver pain and vomits every night oily stuff. And my other friend chest and back pain. There is a big results for weight loss, but very dangerous to your health.