Shui Ethnic Minority

　　-- Shui Therapy

　　The Shui people believe in the deities and think that the deities control everything. Therefore the origin of Shui medicine and iatrology was unavoidably affected by the character of witch doctor. However, the Shui people came to know diseases and how to cure it in practice.

　　Diagnosis:

　　Interrogation: The Shui doctors inquire the patient mainly for the important symptoms, time of affection, cause of disease and the affected parts. Then they treat the patient according to the main symptoms.

　　Observation: Doctors diagnose the disease according to the affected appearance.

　　Palpation

　　-- Shui Medicine

　　With fertile soil, warm climate and plentiful rain, the Shui area in Guizhou Province is suitable for growing of plants. So the Shui medicine has a rich resource and is widely distributed. There are over 1000 kinds of herbal medicines in the Shui habitation. It accounts for one-fourth of total medicine resource in Guizhou Province (about 4,024 kinds) or one-fifth of the total in the whole country (about 4,656 kinds).

　　The Shui medicine contributes greatly to the prosperity of the Shui ethnic minority. The Guizhou Provincial People's Government has regarded the development and production of medicines as the pillar industry. The development and utilization of the Shui medicine enjoys good prospects.