Clear urination according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
pale urine and scanty clear urination redirect here
Clear urination can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like clear urination here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here clear urination is often associated with loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold in the pattern “Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause clear urination.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of clear urination we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat clear urination.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause clear urination
In Chinese Medicine clear urination is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Empty (Xu), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Yang Deficiency is an Empty-Cold condition characterized by Coldness and Deficiency. It can cause a general hypoactivity of Organ functions and Oedema. Qi and Blood is more likely to stagnate. Yang Deficiency is mostly related to Spleen Yang, Kidney Yang, Heart Yang or Lung Qi. It is a result of lack of activity or exercise, excessive sex, over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang include loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold.
Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Yin Excess
Yin Excess
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Excess Yin is a Full Yin state pattern. Its symptoms are like those of the Cold and Damp Heat Pernicious Influences such as Edema. It is a result of over-exposure to cold environments and bad diet.
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Yin Excess include loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold.
Yin Excess is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) is the king ingredient for Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang, a formula used for Empty-Cold
Empty-Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Empty-Cold include loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold.
Empty-Cold is often treated with Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Milkvetch Roots - Huang Qi - as a key herb). Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach)".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, feeling of cold and poor appetite.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
Five herbal formulas that might help with clear urination
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang' of which pale urine is a symptom.
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Excess' of which pale urine is a symptom.
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach). Tonifies Qi. Relieves spasmodic pain.
Why might Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Cold' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Da Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Middle Burner Deficiency. Directs rebellious Qi downward. Relieves pain.
Why might Da Jian Zhong Tang help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Empty-Cold' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for clear urination
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat clear urination
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with clear urination?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like Li Zhong Wan or Ma Huang Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) help with clear urination?
Because Dried Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like Li Zhong Wan or Tao Hua Tang for instance.
Dried Ginger is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold.
Why might Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) help with clear urination?
Because Cinnamon Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang for instance.
Cinnamon Bark is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys and tonifies the Yang. Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood and relieves pain. Used with tonics to assist in the generation of Qi and Blood.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with clear urination?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Wu Ling San for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with clear urination?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like Xiao Qing Long Tang or Wu Ling San for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Other symptoms often associated with clear urination
Loose stools Cold limbs Feeling of cold Fever Listlessness Poor appetite Frequent urination Aversion to cold Breast pain Breast distention