侗族医药历史悠久，源远流长。侗族古代神话传说中有关于侗族医药起源的流传，亦有史籍记载。这些口碑资料和史籍记载说明侗族医药同苗族医药、瑶族医药一样，都是从远古神话流传中传承下来的古代原始传统医学。侗族医药的始祖是中华民族人文始祖神农氏炎帝。他的故里在侗族聚居地会同县内，神衣氏炎帝是公认的农业之神，医药之神，太阳之神。他尝百草,始有医药。侗族医药自古以来，就是黔湘桂毗连地带侗族地区的主流医药，为侗乡人民繁衍生息、发展进步，为侗乡人民防病、治病、增强健康发展发挥了极其重要的作用，功不可没，直到现在，侗族医药仍然在侗族主流医药的“宝座”上，占据其他任何医药无可替代的重要地位。侗族医药是我国重要的非物质文化遗产，侗族自治地方有的已经申报成功，如贵州黔东南自治州的“侗族医药”已列入第二批国家级非物质文化遗产保护名录。还有三江侗族自治县申报的侗族医药已入选第二批广西非物质文化遗产名录。

Dong medicine has a long history. In the ancient myths and legends of Dong nationality, there are also historical records about the origin of Dong medicine.（There are historical records about the origin of medicine in the ancient myths and legends of Dong nationality.）These word-of-mouth materials and historical records show that Dong medicine, like Miao medicine and Yao medicine, is an ancient primitive traditional medicine inherited from ancient myths. The ancestor of Dong medicine is Shennong Yandi. His hometown is located in Tongtong County, where Dong people live. Emperor Shenyi is recognized as the God of agriculture, medicine and the sun. He tasted herbs before he had medicine.

Since ancient times, Dong medicine is the mainstream medicine in Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi contiguous zone Dong Area.It plays an extremely important role in reproducing for the Dong people，developing and progressing, preventing the disease,curing the disease and strengthening the heath for the Dong people, whose contributions cannot go unnoticed.（Dong medicine has played an extremely important role in preventing diseases, treating diseases and enhancing healthy development ofDong people since ancient times.）Until now, Dong medicine is still on the throne of mainstream Dong medicine. Any other medicine couldn't replace it or can’t knock it off its throne. Dong medicine is an important intangible cultural heritage in China, and some of the Dong Autonomous Areas have been successfully declared.For example, the "Dong medicine" of Guizhou Qiandongnan autonomous region has been included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list.In addition, the Dong medicine declared by Sanjiang Dong Autonomous Region has been included in the second batch of Guangxi intangible cultural heritage list.