Scanty and dark urine 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.
Scanty and dark urine 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 scanty and dark urine 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 scanty and dark urine is often associated with dizziness, irritability and insomnia in the pattern “Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record five patterns that can cause scanty and dark urine.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of scanty and dark urine 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 scanty and dark urine.
The five "patterns of disharmony" that can cause scanty and dark urine
In Chinese Medicine scanty and dark urine 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.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yin Deficiency
Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is short in the cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. Yin becomes Deficient by over-working, lack of sleep, over-exercising, overindulgence in sex, long-term chronic diseases, internal injury due to the seven emotions, and the over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods.
In addition to scanty and dark urine, other symptoms associated with Yin Deficiency include dizziness, irritability and insomnia.
Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu 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: "Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Kidney Yin Deficiency causes false Heat symptoms, such as night sweats, thirst and five palm heat. These signs are from a depletion of Body Fluids and Essence. It can be caused by prolonged overwork, excessive sexual activity, chronic long term illnesses, consumption of Body Fluids by Heat, prolonged blood loss, overdosage of Kidney Yang tonics herbs, smoking and Kidney depleting foods such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, and fruit juices.
In addition to scanty and dark urine, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and irritability.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Menopausal Syndrome, Prolonged Periods or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu 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: "Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys".
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to scanty and dark urine, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder include dizziness, tinnitus and fever.
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder is often treated with Yin Chen Hao Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Virgate Wormwood - Yin Chen - as a key herb). Yin Chen Hao Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears heat".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to scanty and dark urine, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat invading the Spleen include bitter taste in the mouth, feeling of heat and feeling of heaviness.
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen is often treated with Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Lian Po Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Weak (Ruo), Floating (Fu)
In addition to scanty and dark urine, other symptoms associated with Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized include dizziness, tinnitus and insomnia.
Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized is often treated with Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, a herbal formula made of 14 herbs (including Unprepared Rehmannia - Di Huang - as a key herb). Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish the heart and calm the mind", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Enriches the Yin".
Five herbal formulas that might help with scanty and dark urine
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Why might Liu Wei Di Huang Wan help with scanty and dark urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Deficiency' of which scanty dark urination is a symptom.
Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan
Why might Zhi Bo Di Huang Wan help with scanty and dark urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yin Deficiency' of which scanty dark urination is a symptom.
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Resolves dampness. Reduces jaundice.
Why might Yin Chen Hao Tang help with scanty and dark urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder' of which scanty and dark urine is a symptom.
Lian Po Yin
Source date: 1862 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Why might Lian Po Yin help with scanty and dark urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat invading the Spleen' of which scanty and dark urine is a symptom.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the Yin. Nourishes the Blood. Clears Heat. Calms the Mind.
Why might Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan help with scanty and dark urine?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidneys And Heart Not Harmonized' of which scanty and dark urine is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for scanty and dark urine
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat scanty and dark urine
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with scanty and dark urine?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat scanty and dark urine as a symptom, like Dao Chi San or Ge Geng Huang Qin Huang Lian 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 Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with scanty and dark urine?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat scanty and dark urine as a symptom, like Suan Zao Ren Tang or Xiao Yao 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 Cape Jasmine Fruit (Zhi Zi) help with scanty and dark urine?
Because Cape Jasmine Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat scanty and dark urine as a symptom, like Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San or Ke Xie Fang for instance.
Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with scanty and dark urine?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat scanty and dark urine as a symptom, like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan or Zuo Gui Wan for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with scanty and dark urine?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat scanty and dark urine as a symptom, like Xiao Yao San or Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Other symptoms often associated with scanty and dark urine
Dizziness Tinnitus Fever Irritability Insomnia Night sweats Bitter taste in the mouth Feeling of heat Constipation Dry stools