Its actions cover four broad areas, all of which are related to Kidney deficiency. The first is Kidney Qi deficiency: because the formula warm-tonifies the Kidney Yang and nourishes the Kidney Yin, it facilitates the production of Kidney Qi (which is generated by the action of the Kidney Yang on the Kidney Yin). Secondly, this formula addresses deficiency of the Kidney Yang with insufficiency of its warming and activating functions. The third covers disturbances of fluid metabolism: deficiency of the Kidney Yang and the Kidney Essence lead to insufficiency of the original Qi (yuan qi), which normally ascends through the Triple Jiao to drive the metabolism of fluids (as well as the digestion of food).

Finally, this formula is effective in conditions due to disturbance of the ministerial Fire (the Fire of the Kidney, an aspect of the Kidney Yang). One of the functions of the original Qi is to keep the ministerial Fire subdued and confined to the lower Jiao. When the original Qi becomes deficient, the Kidney Fire is unrestrained and rises upwards, manifesting signs of Heat in the upper body (accompanied by signs of Cold in the lower body). This syndrome pattern is often referred to as ‘false Heat with true Cold’.