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.
Susan. I honestly would recommend you stop taking zxt. The symptoms you are experiencing concern me.
Susan, I have a few questions for you:
1. Do your muscles hurt when you are not moving at all? Relax completely in your chair and don’t move a muscle. Do your muscles hurt then?
2. On a scale from 1-10 (1= nothing; 10= extreme pain) how much do your muscles hurt?
3. What color is your urine? Has it ever looked very dark (like Coke-a-Cola or Pepsi cola)?
4. Do your muscles feel “weak”?
Has anyone else felt depressed, experienced muscle pain or gotten headaches after eating when taking zxt?
I know weight loss is a concern for many people but I’m more concerned with you being healthy (physical and mental). Can I suggest that you make an appointment with your doctor so he/she can rule out anything else that may be causing the symptoms you mentioned.
Do keep us posted on your symptoms and anything else you turn up.
Hi Mia, when it comes to bee pollen, there isn’t as much good health benefits studies as some may want us to believe. Bee pllen contains some sugars, proteins and fats, enzymes and vitamins so that’s good. There is some evidence that it may help some symptoms of PMS but research also appears to show that that bee pollen does not help exercise ability and I can’t find any evidence that it improves energy levels. I also have been unable to find any clinical proof that bee pollen helps weight loss.
Some people have reported dizziness with bee pollen so that may at least be partially responsible (in theory) for the dizziness some people are reporting with Zi Xiu Tang use.
Bee pollen should be avoided by pregnant women because it may induce contractions of the uterus. Here is a case report where bee pollen caused kidney failure
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20438524
I would enjoy reading any studies showing that bee pollen helps weight loss in humans.
Hi, I been taking this product for about 1 1/2 months. it was referred by a friend who lost aprox. 20lbs. in 2 months. I was totally excited about it. I only needed to loose about 7-10 lbs.. Right from the start I started taking 2 pills. Right from the start the obvious happened: loss of appetite, dehydration, (dizziness, only in the first few days) and lots of bathroom runs, damn those laxatives!. I am drinking lots of water. (about 4 -16oz bottles a day). I have lost about 12 lbs. (a little more than I really needed, but I am happy). I haven’t stepped on the scale once, but all-of-the-sudden my size 4 jeans fit like a glove. (they didn’t buttoned a few months ago). However, about 3-4 weeks later I realized that I was getting constant headaches, mostly by the end of the day. At first I attributed this to lack of eating, or going for long periods of time without food (more than 5 hours) or to my sinus, they’re acting up due to the NYC cold weather. But then, I realized that, even a few hours after I ate, the headaches were coming back. I am also having lots of muscle pain, lower back pain. I always had a bit of muscle tension when I am stressed, but I noticed after I started taking this product, it aggravated my muscle tension to a discomfort level. Now, the worse side affect I found so far was: slight depression, feeling melancholic and no energy whatsoever for anything, no desire to go out with friends, dinners etc. At the same time, a good friend of mine was experimenting with this product as well. She also lost about the same weight as I have. Her side affects, however, are: dizziness, feeling nauseous, depression and lack of energy. I’ve been reading all of the reviews and I am surprised that no one has come forward with any major side affects. My concern is that this drug might have some hidden negative health affects besides the ones I mentioned above.
thanks everyone for the information. I love this website. I’m surprised some are still having diarrhea. I guess this can be related to if you easily had bowel movements before zxt. I always had problems in that area, could go days without having one, but with the zxt with no senna I have 1 daily. I have noticed if I eat steak, or a hamburger, I am more likely to go. I can’t remember what ingredients they are, but there are a few that claims they clean out your system. When I see that statement, then I know it has something that makes you go. However its nothing like the senna, which constantly kept some people in the bathroom. Also from what I have heard, the more water you drink, the more you will “go”. I also have experienced if you do not eat enough, you will get a diarrhea effect. I really wish I had access to a lab at school. I have lost a total of 6lbs this week, a friend of mine that is a vendor, says it is suggested to take the pill one week on and one week off. I have seen that bee pollen is sold as a supplement by itself. I guess its claiming to be a b vitamin which increases energy.
Joe, do you think there could be some really good benefits from bee pollen? I know honey has benefits, so I wonder if possibly BP could be as well.
Joe sorry to post another website but this one had more info on the hawthorn including the warning about the blood pressure med.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-527-HAWTHORN.aspx?activeIngredientId=527&activeIngredientName=HAWTHORN
Joe. I did not change my blood pressure medication it was the ZXT I changed. I didn’t want to have to increase my BP med so I stopped taking the 2 ZXT pills a day to 1. I appreciate your concern tho and sorry if my previous comment was confusing! 🙂 I get my BP checked on a regular basis now because of my age/weight/family history and so far so good with only one pill a day.
As far as the Hawthorne I was under the impression it helped BP…and heart problems which I also have. The only warning I have found for Hawthorn is for drug interaction which is way my DR started me on such a low dose and it seems to be doing ok.
@S I wanted to let you know some of the symptoms you mentioned..rash,blurred vision and tremors are all signs of a HAWTHORN allergic reaction.
This is just one website I found some of the info on hawthorn
http://www.health-care-tips.org/herbal-medicines/hawthorn.htm
S. Thanks for sharing that info! So they are still saying diarrhea will occur (is this in the zi xiu tang that does not have senna).
I don’t think bee pollen increases energy levels because I could not find any published clinical evidence when I did my zi xiu tang reviews. I’ve heard that claim before however. S, Thanks for doing that research for everybody!!
Lynn congratulations on losing 60 lbs! Could you share how you lost the 60 lbs?
Hi!
Kristen, my sentiments exactly! I love that I have lost 20 pounds so far….however it has taken me 13 weeks but I am at least losing!!!!!
Losing or not, I do not want to take any synthetic products. I am OK with herbs, not man made drugs.
Here is the response that I got from the distributor that is listed on the Guangzhou ZiXiuTang Biotechnology Co., LTD website
Hello,
Let me first begin by letting you know that some of the side effects you are experiencing are not a health concern. The dry mouth comes from the dehydration your body is experiencing because of the detox stage (diarrhea). The insomnia is coming from the bee pollen, which is a natural energy booster that many Athletes use instead of drinking those harmful energy drinks. Now the the rashes, blurred vision, tremors at night, increased heart rate and blood pressure is absolutely not normal at all, and I advise that you either lower your dose to 1 capsule a day, or stop taking the product completely. This product is 100% natural and we have yet to hear of anyone becoming physically ill. Have you thought of asking your primary physician regarding your concern?
Thank you,
Julie
http://www.zixiutangbeepollen.com
My goal is to keep searching until we find out the exact ingredients!!!
Thanks to any and all who are trying to do the same.
S
today’s my first day taking these pills, I’m taking them because i have lost 60 lb in less than a year and this month i gained 10lb back but i am happy with today’s results so far because I have no appetite, I can eat but i dont have that weird hunger i had before when i wanted to anything and everything in the kitchen, i hope i lose my weight and reach my goal 130lb, or 135lb…I’m5’5” 150lb
Kristen thanks for writing and Im glad its working for you. I’d be interested if anybody at school wants to run a mass spec.
I started taking zi xiu tang in June. i work with a woman who had been taking them for about a month, and she had heard about them from a few nurses she is friends with (i figured if nurses were taking them, they couldn’t be that bad?) So far, I’ve lost 26 pounds (I’ve also changed my eating habits and have been exercising regularly. i started out at 155 and my goal was a to reach a healthy 130). So far, i haven’t really experienced too many side effects aside from occasional dizziness and loss of appetite, but i am definitely concerned about the long term effects. I have stopped taking the pills regularly though. I only taken them once or twice a week, just enough to keep my weight steady. It seems like there are absolutely no websites that give the facts about these. This is the first I’ve found that gives honest opinions, which really does concern me. I love what these pills have done for me, but I don’t want to keep taking them if they are jeopardizing my health.
I had never really thought about running a mass spec to find out whats really in these. I go to school for forensic science, and I have access to one. I am going to talk to one of my professors on Monday about getting this done asap, and hopefully I can let you guys know what I find out very soon.
Nikki, Does your doctor know you changed your BP meds? They do call high blood pressure the silent killer for a reason (it often has no side effects until its too late). Just wanted to mention that to you because I care.
I also found it interesting that the doctor didn’t see anything bad about zi xiu tang given that it contains Hawthorn. Hawthorn can have significant side effects as I mentioned in my review. Hope you have fun in Brazil!
@DenLee…
I take my BP meds about half hour before i take my ZXT. I went from 2 pills a day to 1 because I didn’t want to up my does of the BP medication. Yesterday I tried to go back to 2 pills because I’m getting ready for a 3 week vacation in Brazil. Unfortunately it made me feel weird,Im not sure if this is because i was on one pill for so long or if im getting sick (both my kids had a cold) but today i only took one and im fine just a headache from my kids yelling..haha.
I would talk to your DR first if you are concerned about the ZXT tho. Mine didn’t see or find anything listed in it that would have adverse effects to the medication but I made sure I let him know only a very serious reason would be enough for me to stop. my results have just been too good.
I hope everything works out well with you!
..side note.. my medication is hydrochlorothiazide and my dose is 12.5 the very lowest dose you can get.
hi S and Joe, thanks for the information. However, Floyd Nutrition is a distributor. I am not convinced they know everything about the product. There were a lot of vendors that sell for Floyd and other distributors that didn’t even know that the ingredients had changed. My sources told me that some distributors told their vendors that they didn’t have to say anything to their customers. I am good friends with some vendors and thankfully they tell me when something changes with zxt. As far as finding out what exactly is in zxt, I feel the only way to do that is to get it tested or to directly contact the manufacturer in China. I wonder if Floyd is willing to share some of those reports she get from the testing.
Thanks S. Are they the people I emailed recently about the “study” on zi xiu tang? I forget. I did email some company but still have not heard back from them (whoever they were). Don’t suppose I will by now.
Thanks for contacting them!
Hi Joe,
Here is the response I got from Floyd Nutrition when I asked them about possible questionable substances in the product but not listed:
Hi S,
I apologize for the delay in responding to you. I was under the weather for a while and then went right into 2 days of meetings.
The product we sell, Zi Xiu Tang, does not have any drugs or questionable ingredients. Each ingredient is all natural and is tested prior to production. When I receive the product from the manufacturer, I have the capsules tested again here in the US to make sure the product is safe for consumption. I do not and would not sell any product that could potentially cause harm to anyone.
Our company is the largest Zi Xiu Tang distributor in the US and Canada. We buy 20,000 bottles per month directly from the manufacturer. Yes, we are running a business but our integrity, reputation, and our word are of the utmost importance to us. I stand behind my products and I hope that you also view Floyd Nutrition as a reputable Zi Xiu Tang supplier.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me again. Thank you so much for your business. Take care!
Cheryl Floyd
Chief Operating Officer
Floyd Nutrition LLC
717-343-0539
http://www.floydnutrition.com
http://www.zixiutangshop.com
I also contacted the company out of Virginia that is stated on the Zi Xiu Tang manufacturers site in China. I asked them the same questions and have not heard back yet.
So far I have not been able to locate a company to assay the capsule but I will keep searching.
Thanks!!!
S
Looking at everyone’s comments, I find I am truly interested. However, I do take BP medicine. Nikki, I see you also take BP medicine? At what time of day do you take BP and Zi Xiu Tang? Also, which is the best side to purchase the real deal?
S, yes if you are able to get zxt tested I’d be interested in knowing about those outcomes. Given the popularity of zi xiu tang, I’m surprised nobody at Dateline, 60 minutes etc. have done any stories on it.
Hi Joe,
I never thought of having the product analyzed! I might be able to get it done. I have access to different ways and means and never considered having the actual capsule checked out. I will work on it and let you know.
Yes, one of my employees told me after I infected a computer searching, that if I had to look so hard maybe nothing bad is out there. I agree yet……I can’t stop looking.
The new FDA drug was just posted today on MSNBC.com
Thanks again,
S