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 saw someone mention Slym Magic and it sounded like they were claiming the same thing as ZXT, well the canadian equivalent of the FDA seized it because of it containing sibutramine, I have a feeling that those previous comments about it containing it prior to Oct were correct. Heres a link to the story: http://archive.blisstree.com/feel/canadian-warning-slim-magic-herbal-product/
Are there any known drug interactions with ZXT Gold? I started taking ZXT Gold 2 weeks ago. I am also on a daily dose of Prozac (10mg). In addition to having difficulty sleeping, I have had 2 episodes of waking up with extreme dizziness (room-spinning) nausea, ringing in the ears, and a low-grade headache (the headache and general head “fullness” lasted all day). Today’s episode was worse than the first one, therefore I am discontinuing the ZXT. Hoping I don’t suffer any long-term effects from it.
Dee, I dont think anybody knows all the side effects but a lot of people are reporting similar things.
Being a cosmotologist we sell most all these products. People love them.. This reminds me of the Chromium Picolinate out break. My friend sells these in her shop. Needless to say I tried the ZXT Beepollen 250 MG. I was amazed too. I however noticed that I was being dehydrated. If you dont drink the water you would die of dehydration..lol This is my opinion. I weighed 140 lbs. I lost 10 lbs. Never lost anymore. Thats a good example of how much body fluid I had. That was in a mnth.
So I purchased another mnth supply. Seen no weight change. I decided to soup it up with the Infinity Which has 500 mg per capsule. This didn’t make any difference either. All these came from the same provider. Floyd nutrition. I think its the same as the Zi Xiu Tang. Thats why they put the ZXT on it. I also believe that I lost nothing but body fluid. Just like a laxative would do. I think that’s why people are noticing no more loss after their body has lost all the fluid it has. But if you quit taking it for a week or so your fluid builds back up and thats why you think its working again. I say if its not FDA approved. You better be take heed. Especially if you have any illnesses. Being dehydrated can cause a lot of problems. If you think you gotta use them please take vitamins.
Hi Elizabeth
Where did you buy your pills
Thanks
Does anybody know about Bnew? I ordered a bottle from healthybeepollendiet.com. I’m going to assume it’s similar to this ZXT stuff. If anybody has any experiences to share that would be great.
Glad I came across this blog to confirm I’m not crazy! My coworker and I started taking these 5 days ago. In 5 days I’ve lost 5 lbs. Day 1 I felt fine. Days 2-5 I had to basically force myself to eat because I just wasn’t hungry. I’ve been doing weight watchers but have been at a plateau because my motivation has been lacking and I wanted a jump start. I will say that with the side effects I’ve experienced, I’d rather have a little cushion for the pushin this summer and lose weight in a healthy way.
These are like anorexia pills! Nit only do I not want to eat, but I’m dehydrated from pooping, so I’ve been drinking a ton of water. I get dizzy from either not realizing I haven’t eaten all day or because of the ingredients. My chest has felt tight anlood my heart has been racing (like high blood pressure from stress) and I just feel super lethargic. After 5 days and feeling like this for the past 2 days, there is no way I’m finishing these pills!
so i was taking these pills for a year on and off and lost 25 lbs.. but now that im reading some of these reviews im getting nervous.. i gained 10 lbs back and thought id try them again but im scared ..help..?
I just started taking these pills about a week ago because they were recommended by a close friend.. the first 3 days i took them everything was fine but the other day i woke up with my heart racing, my chest felt stuck – my arm was hurting and i was dizzy… i was rushed to the ER and my doctor said those pills are no good 🙁
( i did lose like 3 lbs though)
Well, here is my story…I actually had tried Xi Ziu Tang before and had no results at all. No side effects but also, no weight loss. I suppose that is when they removed whatever was in it that actually worked. A couple of weeks ago the friend who I got the pills that did not work from told me that they had brought back the old pills that initally worked for her and said that she tried them and they worked again.
I started taking them and I admit that I did lose 4 pounds in a week. I was not hungry at all. Which was a good thing because I wanted something to suppress my appetite. The bad part is that in addition to feeling jittery and anxious I started to have some kind of bad stomach issues. As I said, I was really not hungry at all. However, when I did eat…it did not stay there long…if you know what I mean. Everything I ate came back out soon thereafter.
At one point I was thinking I might as well just throw the food in the toilet and cut out the middle man. I liked that I was losing weight so I tried to just stick it out. The second week I tried just taking 1 pill instead of two but I still had the same issues. I started feeling like my stomach was burning and unsettled. In the middle of the night I would wake up with stomach pains. Today was the first day in over 2 weeks that I actually felt normal again…and that is because I did not take a pill this morning.
As much as I really want to suppress my appetite and lose weight I think I am done with Xi Ziu Tang. After feeling the way I did and after reading all the posts here I have to think there is something not quite right about this pill.
I lost 40lbs in 2 months using Zi Xiu Tang. I bought mine on Ebay for $10 a bottle and when I checked the code to see if it was authentic, the site said that it was. I had to stop taking it due to the side effects though. I began having nightmarish Hallucinations. I wasn’t sleeping more than an hour a night and I became a zombie. I was slow at everything and couldn’t concentrate on what I was doing. The side effects were horrible for me, so I had to stop taking it.
i m taking the pill now but is still not in comparison to the first one. this one makes my stomach to growl all day long. most of the time i m bloated with gas. is any one having this experience ?
Hi guys, I heard about the magical pill at work. Five of us decided to jump on board and bought some Zi Xiu. No one else has had troubles as bad as me. Not only do I have dry mouth, unquenchable thirst, pressure behind my eyes, trouble focusing on my computer screen, mild sensitivity to light, neck pain, constipation mixed with hard stools then followed up with constant bm’s – even blood in my stool (sorry for being so graphic) – dry eyes, insomnia, lethargy, and trouble concentrating – I also had a very severe headache that latest over three days! I have been taking the pills now for 19 days. I lost 6 pounds in the first week, and picked up two since then.
But… my body feels like its tightens up. My clothes fit better, my belly is shrinking, my assets are being accentuated… I will take a day off tomorrow, but I am struggling with quitting them for good. No one else at work is having the problems I am. I have even thought that maybe I should try one of the other bottles (I bought 5 to save a few bucks on each).
I know it’s sad. Having all these problems, but finding it hard to quit the pill. I almost feel as though I can research enough to fix the problem. I have always been in perfect health, no ailments, prescriptions, etc. I exercised regularly for a year up until this past August when school started back. I just don’t have the time. And it has been so hard for me to eat right.
I am very glad to have a current forum to express my concerns and will keep checking in and make sure to update you.
Thanks.
Recently many of my old school friends started taking a popular form of bee pollen. I believe it was zi xiu tang. They all lost weight. I mean, a lot of weight! I was hesitant about taking this because I take meds for high blood pressure, high cholesterol. I had followed this group of friends for 4 months and they were all losing weight!!!! I finally asked for a sample because I did not want to pay the full price (which by the way, was a lot!) I took one pill and that would be the last pill I would ever take!! It seemed fine the first 2 hours but after that it was horrible!!!
I got the worst headache (which by the way did not go away for 3 days). I got so tired and dizzy that I had to lay down. This product says it give you energy??? I tried another pill the second day, same thing…I think there is too much crap in this pill and people should really research it before they take it!
I used the ultimate formula from 12/15/11 – 2/15/12 which is 2 months and I lost 17 lbs. I went from 144 lbs to 127 lbs. I would wake up go to the bathroom, weigh myself in the nude, write down my weight and take 2 pills with a big glass of water. 1 hour later I would eat breakfast – it suppressed my appetite, some days i had dry mouth, some days I would have more bowl movements than others, my energy increased and I just felt great. Some days I could feel it working, some days I couldn’t. I do drink more water now than I used to. I just started a new bottle 3 days ago and I have already lost 3 lbs. I am now selling the product because I believe in it completely. After this bottle is finished I will move on to the maintenance pill -for a while, which I have not tried yet.
How is the Ultimate Formula different then Zi Xiu Tang? I was told that is not made by them, but the ingredients are identical?
I was taking the Zi Xiu Tang in late 2010 and lost about 15 pounds in a short period of time for a vacation but noticed an increase in my BP which was a bit frightening. It’s been over a year and I have now gained it all back and my BP was pretty normal, LITTLE on the high side. I decided to order another 3 month supply which was the “new and improved” version and took one a day for 4 days and was totally sick.
My BP was high (145-160 over 85-105), my mouth was a desert, and I felt fuzzy and anxious…Wholly cow!! Scared me! I can’t imagine if I would have taken 2 pills which is the recommended dosage! I thought it might be in my head to I gave a dose to husband…he felt a decrease in appetite but very dry mouth; I will add that he is a foot taller than me and weighs about 110 pounds more than me.
Bottom line, I will NEVER take them again. I chatted with a lawyer friend that informed me medication is not regulated that comes out of China or Hong Kong.
Good luck to you all…Remember, there is no MIRACLE pill, shot, or drop!
“newfashionsense.com/ZiXiuTang.html ”
Has anyone purchased from this site before?
They have Zi Xiu Tang listed for $24 (60 Capsules), which isn’t the $59.95 price sated above. Does this mean they’re not authentic? Any guidance toward finding the right distributor would be awesome!
Kevin, I tried to look up who owned that website but I was not able to. For what its worth, for me, that’s a red flag.
Julie, be careful! I still say many of these supplements are laced with Sibutramine or something similar. You can google what Sibutramine is and see if you have similar side effects. If you experience any weird symptoms, specially with the heart, stop immediately! Your health is not worth it!
I’m pretty sure there has to be some sort of speed in this pill. Every symptom I had while using the pill reminded me of my drug using days, tingling head, goose bumps, no appetite, no sleep, etc… I almost went into cardiac arrest with these stupid pills
Does/did anyone else taking this get dry mouth? I’ve been taking them for less than a week, but for the past couple days my mouth has been so dry, it’s irritating!
Julie, yes many people are reporting dry mouth with zi xiu tang. I’m not sure what in the product is causing it though.