Normal urine is pale yellow or straw-colored.

One of the most basic considerations is that

scanty dark-colored urine is associated with
Heat. This may be Excess Heat or Yin
Deficiency (aka Deficiency Heat). Cloudy urine
points to Damp Heat. (Note: If the person is
taking a multi-B vitamin, this will cause the
urine to be a bright yellow. This is not Heat.)

Large amounts of clear urine often is

associated with Cold. If Kidney Yang
Deficiency is present, everything the person
drinks may go right through him/her.

Large amounts of urine also can be associated

with diabetes. Diabetes usually is associated
primarily with Yin Deficiency. If the person
producing great amounts of urine also
complains of feeling thirsty all the time and
wanting cold liquids and complains of
cravings for sweets, suspect Yin Deficiency
and diabetes. Refer clients with possible
diabetes to a MD or DO for confirmation.
Diabetes is something which is best treated
by using both allopathic medicine and TCM as
in some cases insulin will be required even if
TCM imbalances are identified and corrected.

The fluid intake is going to match the

increased urination in most cases of diabetes.
The person usually is drinking a lot of water
and other liquids. Not so in copious urination
with a Root of Yang Deficiency. Yang Deficient
(aka Deficiency Cold) people usually do not
feel thirsty, drink little, may have to force
themselves to drink, and prefer hot liquids,
especially soups when they do drink. Also, in
Yang Deficiency the tongue and complexion
usually are pale; in Yin Deficiency the tongue
and complexion usually are red.

Note: It's normal for urine to be more

concentrated in the summer as people tend to
sweat and have less fluid in their bodies. It's
normal for people to urinate more in the
winter and for urine to be clearer at this time
because fluid is not being lost through
perspiration.

Note: Attack by either Exterior Wind Cold or

Exterior Wind Heat can trigger increased
urination. Once the Wind Heat penetrates to
the Interior, the urine will be dark. But as long
as the Wind Heat Evil is in the Exterior, the
urine will be clear. (Maciocia, The Foundations
of Chinese Medicine, p. 158)