A gentle, warming formula designed to relieve constipation in people whose bowel difficulty stems from weakness of the Kidneys rather than from excess heat. Instead of using harsh laxatives, it works by warming the Kidneys, nourishing the body's vital fluids, and moistening the intestines so that bowel movements can pass naturally. It is especially suited for older adults, or people recovering from childbirth, who experience constipation along with lower back soreness, dizziness, and frequent clear urination.

Ji Chuan Jian addresses a specific type of constipation that arises not from excess Heat or food stagnation, but from internal deficiency. The core problem is that the Kidneys have become too weak to perform one of their most important jobs: governing body fluids and controlling the two lower orifices (bowel and bladder). When Kidney Yang is insufficient, Qi transformation falters. Fluids that should moisten and lubricate the intestines are not properly distributed, leaving the Large Intestine dry. At the same time, the weakened Kidneys lose their grip on fluid regulation, allowing dilute urine to pass freely while the bowels become parched. This is why the classic presentation pairs constipation with copious, clear urination.

The deficiency also extends to Essence and Blood. When Kidney Essence is depleted and Blood is insufficient, the intestines lack nourishment to maintain healthy peristaltic movement. Stools become hard not because of Heat baking the fluids away, but because there simply are not enough fluids and vital substances to keep things moving. Accompanying signs like lower back and knee soreness, dizziness, a pale tongue with white coating, and a deep, slow pulse all point to this root deficiency rather than to any excess condition.

Zhang Jing-Yue designed this formula with the insight that drastic purgatives would only further injure the already depleted body. Instead, the strategy is to restore what is lacking at the root (Kidney function, Essence, and Blood) while gently facilitating bowel movement. This is the meaning of his phrase "achieving free flow through supplementation" (用通于补).