Miao doctors believe that their ancestors were Obaga (meaning the king of public medicine or the grandfather of the king of medicine), who could fly between valleys and taste herbs, similar to "Shennong tasted herbs as medicine" and also consistent with the "Ten Witches" recorded in Shan Hai Jing. Liu Xiang said in the Western Han Dynasty that "ancient doctors called Miao father" and "practicing medicine" refers to people who practice medicine as their main occupation. Miao father refers to the old Miao people with high medical academic level, such as Gong, Grandpa, Wu Peng and Ten Witches. The "Miao father" is by no means a single person, but a general term for many old Miao doctors.
When Chiyou was the leader of Jiuli tribe, the social economy dominated by agriculture began to take shape. Especially from Shandong to Henan, it presents a bustling scene of ancient city style. Therefore, the tribes of Yan Di and Huangdi in the Shaanxi-Gansu Loess Plateau in the upper reaches of the Yellow River moved eastward, which led to many protracted wars between Jiuli and Yanhuang tribes. In these wars, early Miao medicine not only played a certain therapeutic role, but also developed rapidly. Shuowen said, "Wu Pengchu became a doctor in ancient times". "Shan Hai Jing Ye Xi Jing" said: "In the wild ... there is Lingshan. Wu Xian, Wu Yi, Wu Pan, Wu Peng, Gu Wu, Zhen Wu, Wu Li, Wu Di, Wu Xie, Wu Luo and Shi Wu have since risen and fallen, and all the medicines are here. " "Shan Hai Jing Overseas West Jing" says: "Wu Xianguo is in the north of the ugly girl, with a green snake in his right hand and a red snake in his left hand. Witches are everywhere in Deng Baoshan. " Shan Hai Jing Hai Nei Xi Jing also said: "There are bodies of Wu Peng, Wu Di, Wu Yang, Lu Wu, Wu Fan, Wu Xiang and Jia XX (qǐ yǔ) in the east of Ming Kai, all of which are medicines that refuse to die." "Shan Hai Jing Tu Zan" says: "Ten witches in the group are governed by witchcraft and salt, and the skills of searching classics and XX cover all aspects. They collect medicines in Lingshan and can climb the peak at any time." "Shiben" cloud: "Wu Peng is a doctor"; Lu Chunqiu Biegong also said: "Wu Peng is a doctor"; Shuowen said: "The ancients, I became a witch first"; In the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Xiangdui said, "I heard that ancient doctors called Miao's father. Miao's father is also a doctor, taking camp as the seat, grass as the dog, looking north and standing in the cross. Come to help, come to flattering, calm as ever "; Liezi said, "When the Yellow Emperor was there, there were witches, and they were in the same place, and they were in Zheng, so they were salty"; Volume 79 of "Peaceful Magnolia" quoted the cloud of "Returning to Tibet": "The Yellow God and the Inflammation God fought for the wild of Zhuolu, and they must fight, which was destroyed by Wu Xian. My sage said,' If there is any fruit, there will be some blame'. " From these historical documents, on the one hand, it is enough to show that Wu Peng, Wu Xian and other Miao fathers are the ancestors of Jiuli tribe Miao medicine; On the other hand, it also reflects the touching scene that they dare to fight against natural enemies such as green snakes and red snakes, lift and collect medicines between dangerous mountains and mountains, and carefully treat all kinds of patients; It also reflects that their medical quality has reached a wonderful level, which can make patients with severe and mild diseases "as calm as ever". This is basically the same as the Miao folklore "Oh Babaga flew over bad mountains and steep waters for many years, tasted thousands of insects and herbs, carefully developed drugs, and cured 108,000 sick stars" (Miao Yu Sun).
During the "Three Miao" period, Miao medicine showed a momentum of innovation. According to the Collection of Seminar on Miao History in Xiangxi and Exploration of Miao Origin in Chengbu, Hunan, Aputong and Huandu were the first innovative figures to develop cinnabar for dyeing clothes and medicine.
During the Warring States period, Miao medicine developed to a certain height in Chu State. According to Qu Yuan's writings in Miao Di, Hunan, Guizhou and China, not only more than 50 kinds of Miao medicines such as Shenjiao, Nvluo, Sanxiu, Yu Ying, Shi Lan, deer, beef tendon, nectar, bee, moth and Agkistrodon were recorded, but also the principle of "three births" and "three combinations of yin and yang" was produced according to things in Xitong. In addition, it also records the Miao doctor's hanging medicine therapy, swallowing natural medicine juice, dispersing powder, bathing therapy, psychotherapy and so on. He also pointed out that supplementing qi is the energy to resist the plague. In Priestess of Death, it is said that "flying high and flat, conquering Yin and Yang by clearing the air ... worrying about the people but helpless, willing to forget the past and the present, the old man's life is heavy, so there is nothing to do", which fully reveals Miao doctors' medical thought of breaking the balance and fearless view of non-destiny, and laid the foundation for the development of Miao medicine later.
After the Qing Dynasty, Miao medicine was influenced by China culture, so it had a new improvement in theory or medical technology. For example, "A Brief History of Miao Nationality" records: "At the end of 19, Miao Yilong in Songtaotang could perform caesarean section for pregnant women, and after one month of treatment, the pregnant women recovered"; Miao doctors in Leigongshan can be described as handy in treating snake wounds, and can cure boils, carbuncles, gangrene and toxic sores that can kill people in a short time. Guangxu's Record of Phoenix Hall records: "Miao medicine Miao medicine ... is the most effective if swallowed or applied", and "Miao is highly skilled in treating leprosy". Notes on "Customs" in Volume II of Yunnan Maguan County Records: "Miao people ... have good medicine, which can strengthen bones and tendons, and its effect is as good as god". Liao Tiandeng, the master of Miao medicine dragon, was a medical officer of Fenghuang Daotai in Xiangxi in Qing Dynasty. He is best at using the pulse of deer and horses to diagnose diseases, and is proficient in human anatomy.
After liberation, Miao medicine has also developed accordingly, especially since 1985, when the Central Committee issued the call to rescue the national medical heritage, Miao medicine has been carefully excavated and sorted out in various places, and gratifying achievements have been made. This has also inspired many people with lofty ideals who love their own nation. They are proud of the outstanding achievements of this country. They are all enthusiastic, close and United, and strive to bring Miao medicine to a new level as soon as possible.