The reason why Yi doctors are considered as ethnic doctors is that Yi medicine is produced and gradually accumulated in the process of the Yi people's long-term struggle against diseases. Medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases under the guidance of Yi medical theory is the crystallization of Yi people's experience and wisdom, which has made important contributions to the survival, development and social life of Yi people and is an important part of Chinese traditional medicine and excellent national culture.
Yi medicine has its own national language, and the earliest Yi medicine literature that can be collected now was written in the Ming Dynasty. Yi medicine not only attaches importance to treating diseases, but also emphasizes preventing diseases.