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, feeling of cold and poor appetite in the pattern “Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record five 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 five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause clear urination
In Chinese Medicine clear urination is a symptom for 5 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys 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".
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the king ingredient for Ma Huang Tang, a formula used for Exterior-Cold
Exterior-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Exterior-Cold include loose stools, fever and aversion to cold.
Exterior-Cold is often treated with Ma Huang Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Ephedra - Ma Huang - as a key herb). Ma Huang Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases exterior cold".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys failing to receive Qi
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Tight (Jin), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Kidneys failing to receive Qi include cold limbs, listlessness and dizziness.
Kidneys failing to receive Qi is often treated with You Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). You Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm yang and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang".
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)".
Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) is the king ingredient for Si Ni Tang, a formula used for Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to clear urination, other symptoms associated with Lesser Yin Cold Transformation include cold limbs, feeling of cold and listlessness.
Lesser Yin Cold Transformation is often treated with Si Ni Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Si Ni Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that rescue devastated yang", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Rescues devastated Yang".
Five herbal formulas that might help with clear urination
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney And Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, feeling of cold and poor appetite.
Ma Huang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Releases exterior cold. Treats wheezing.
Why might Ma Huang Tang help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Exterior-Cold' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Exterior-Cold include loose stools, fever and aversion to cold.
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 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidneys Failing To Receive Qi include cold limbs, listlessness and dizziness.
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Empty-Cold include loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold.
Si Ni Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Rescues devastated Yang. Warms the Middle Burner. Stops diarrhea.
Why might Si Ni Tang help with clear urination?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lesser Yin Cold Transformation' of which clear urination is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Lesser Yin Cold Transformation include cold limbs, feeling of cold and listlessness.
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 Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 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 Gui Zhi Tang or Ma Huang Tang for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
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.
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 Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
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 Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) help with clear urination?
Because Cornelian Cherry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat clear urination as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or You Gui Wan for instance.
Cornelian Cherries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Preserves and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Essence. Stops sweating and benefits the Yang and Qi. Assists menstruation and stops bleeding.
Conditions associated with clear urination
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