From The Origin and Indicators of Disease (诸病源候论 zhū bìng yuán hòu lùn). Difficult voiding of scant urine during pregnancy. Inhibited urination in pregnancy is attributed to accumulated heat in the small intestine and heat binding in the bladder, obstructing qì transformation. It may also be due to spleen-lung qì vacuity and impaired regulation of the waterways, preventing normal downward transportation to the bladder.
Patterns
Accumulated heat in the small intestine (小肠积热 xiǎo cháng jī rè) causes inhibited urination with thirst, heart vexation, and reddish urine.
Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and move water. Use Eight Corrections Powder (八正散bā zhèng sǎn).
Spleen-lung qì vacuity (脾肺气虚 pí fèi qì xū) is characterized by heart palpitation, shortness of breath, and lassitude of spirit and lack of strength.
Medicinal therapy: Supplement the spleen and lung with variations of Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng).