According to the Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica and New Compendium of the Materia Medica, the fungus is mainly used to fortify the lungs and the kidneys and to treat a lack of yin in the lungs (as manifested in hacking coughs and expectoration of blood), and can also be used to treat impotence and premature ejaculation. Folk remedies frequently use it to treat asthma and sore backs.
根據《本草從新》及《本草綱目拾遺》記載，冬蟲夏草的功能主要是保肺、益腎，主治肺陰虛，癆嗽咳血；腎陽虛，遺精早洩，民間常用來治療氣喘、腰骨酸痛及補腎。