Introduction
Retention of urine is marked by difficulty in urination or anuria, distension and pain in lower abdomen. It is either acute or chronic according to the pathological conditions. The location of this disease is in the kidney and bladder, but also involves the liver and spleen. It is usually caused by accumulation of damp-heat, obstruction by stagnation, failure of the liver to disperse and convey, asthenia of kidney qi or asthenia of gastrosplenic qi that lead to dysfunction of the bladder in transforming qi due to various factors.

Syndrome Differentiation

1. Sthenia Syndrome
Obstruction of urine, contraction and pain in lower abdomen, restlessness and hoarse voice, red tongue with yellow and greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse.

2. Asthenia Syndrome
Dripping and weak urination, even discharge several drops of urine or no urine, bulging of lower abdomen, low spirit and deficiency of qi, aching and weakness of loins and knees, dragging sensation in the anus, light-colored tongue with slight greasy fur, thin and weak pulse.

Treatment

1. Body Acupuncture
Prescription: Zhongji (CV 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Weiyang (BL 39) and Pangguangshu (BL 28).

Modification: For accumulation of damp-heat, Quchi (LI 11) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) are added; for liver depression and qi stagnation, Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Dadun (LR 1) are added; for obstruction of urinary tract, Qugu (CV 2), Jingmen (GB 25), Ciliao (BL 32) and Zhibian (BL 54) are added; for insufficiency of gastrosplenic qi, Qihai (CV 6), Pishu (BL 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) are added; for asthenia of kidney qi, Taixi (KI 3), Fuliu (KI 7) and Shenshu (BL 23) are added; for no desire to urinate or weakness in urination, Qihai (CV 6) and Shenshu (BL 23) are added.

Performance: In needling Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6), percussion is made first to examine the distending degree of the bladder for deciding the direction, angle and depth of needling. Or inter-penetrating technique is used to needle all the acupoints so as to direct the needling sensation to the genitalia to contract the lower abdomen. Zhibian (BL 54) is needled 3 cun obliquely toward the genitalia. The needling technique used is mainly for reducing purpose. For the treatment of asthenia syndrome, mild reducing and reinforcing needling technique can be used with the addition of moxibustion.

2. Ear Acupuncture
Prescription: Kidney (CO10), Bladder (CO9), Lung (CO14), Liver (CO12), Spleen (CO13), Triple Energizer (CO17), Sympathetic Nerve (AH6a), Ear Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT4) and Lumbosacral Vertebrae (AH9).

Performance: Each time 3 - 5 acupoints are selected and needled with routine procedure and medium-strong stimulation. The needles are retained for 30 minutes.