Polyhydramnios is a condition of pregnancy in which a woman develops excessive amniotic fluid. Though this condition may be associated with maternal diabetes, Rh incompatibility, or congenital malformations, in 60% of cases, the cause is unknown from a western perspective. It is also unclear to what extent the polyhydramnios causes fetal abnormalities. It occurs in 1 out of every 150-280 pregnancies. Polyhydramnios predisposes a woman to abnormal fetal presentation, pre-term labor, dysfunctional labor, postpartum hemorrhage and cord prolapse upon rupture of the membranes. There is no western treatment for this condition other than resting. In exteme cases fluid may be drained via amniocentesis but the fluid may return quickly.
In regard to polyhydramnios, my teacher, Dr. Qiu Xiao Mei writes "The category of the disorder in the traditional Chinese medical texts is "fetal water swelling and distention". The cause and dynamic of this illness is most often Spleen and Kidney vacuity weakness, with water Qi not transforming. This results in the water pooling in the uterus. In my experience it is appropriate to adopt the principle of fortifying the Spleen, supplementing the Kidneys, disinhibiting water and dissipating swelling". She offers effective measures for treating this condition. Below is a case from my own practice in which I utilized her methods. Of course, Dr. Qiu would be the first to say that the practitioner must not give herbal formulas symptomatically or by rote. Rather one must always base treatment on the differential diagnosis of the individual patient.

Main Complaint: C came to see me when she was 34 weeks pregnant. She had just been diagnosed by ultrasound with polyhydramnios. Much to her dismay, her midwife contraindicated her for home birth because of the risk factors associated with her condition. At the time of her first visit, C was 32 years old. This was her third pregnancy.

History: 2 years before this pregnancy, while traveling, C's digestion became very irregular. At that time she experienced severe bloating, gas and loose stool. She described her energy at that time as low and "muzzy" and worse in the morning. She was diagnosed by a variety of practitioners with the following conditions:
Candida, for which she went on a yeast free diet and then a macrobiotic diet.
Irritable bowel syndrome, for which she was given a homeopathic remedy.
Parasites for which she took Flagyl
She also tried grapefruit seed extract, ginger and garlic.
In spite of the treatments, her symptoms continued to varying degrees to the present time. In the second month of her pregnancy she said her "system crashed". In addition to the above symptoms, she also experienced stomach pain and soreness, increased intensity of bloating with the sensation that her belly was distended and large like a water bed, frequent urination constant nasal congestion and a phlegmy cough. Emotionally she felt depressed, vulnerable and felt that she'd "lost her connection with herself". Her previous pregnancies she described as wonderful and she was very distressed to feel so lost with this one. C had a history of heavy menstruation with clots. She bled profusely for 5 hours like a hemorrhage.
Other than this she had been very healthy her whole life. As a dancer, she enjoyed her body's strength.

Pulse exam showed strong, slippery radial pulses
Tongue exam showed a reddish tongue body with red dots. The tongue shape was puffy with scalloped edges. The tongue moss was thick and greasy toward the rear of the tongue.

Differential Diagnosis: Spleen Qi deficiency with an accumulation of dampness in the middle warmer. Qi depression due to dampness leading to depressive heat.
Diagnosis Explanation: I knew that C had Spleen Qi deficiency because of her scalloped tongue. This helped explain her propensity for digestive disturbance and loose stool. I also knew she had damp accumulation because her fatigue was worse in the morning, accompanied by a "muzzy feeling", she had water swelling and her tongue body was puffy with greasy moss in the rear section. The damp in her middle warmer was being transmitted to her Lungs causing her nasal congestion and phlegmy cough. The damp accumulation most likely came from both the Spleen Qi deficiency and eating a damp pathogen while traveling. Damp easily obstructs the Qi mechanism. I knew C's Qi mechanism was disrupted because of the distention, pain and bloating she experienced. The depressive heat in her body was evidenced by her red tongue with the red spots.
Treatment Principle: Strengthen the Spleen Qi, transform dampness, regulate the Qi of the middle warmer and clear depressive heat. All the while I had to support the pregnancy and protect the baby.
Treatment: For treatment I recommended my teacher's experiential prescription Carp and Radish Soup, Li Yu Luo Bo Tang.

Carp and Radish Drink Li Yu Luo Bo Yin Herbal Constituents: Li Yu Caro Carpionis, Carp One fish (weighing about one Jin or one Pound, remove entrails and scales) Luo Bo Radix Raphani, Daikon 120 gm. Method: Place the herbs in enough clear water to boil. Simmer until done. Drink the liquid as tea and eat the fish and radish. One dose is for one day. Take successively for one week and then use your discretion as to when to stop. Function: Fortify the Spleen, disinhibit dampness, scatter swelling Principle Use: Excessive amniotic swelling and swelling in pregnancy. Formulas Explanation: If during pregnancy the Spleen and Kidney are both vacuous, the Spleen vacuity leads to water damp failing to move and the Kidney vacuity leads to water Qi not transforming. Water damp accumulates internally. This is called "Fetal Water". Carp and Radish Soup Li Yu Luo Bo Tang contains Radix Raphani Luo which disinhibits water and seeps out dampness. Caro Carpionis, Li Yu fortifies the Spleen and boosts the Kidney, disinhibits damp and scatters swelling. This prescription is simple yet has great effectiveness. Furthermore it is a marvelous food. It is worthwhile as a medicine because it doesn't obstruct the fetal source and it reaches all the way to treat the pathogen.