清代民間秘密宗教盛行於底層社會，教內師父經常以治病為傳教手段，藉此吸引平民百姓拜師入教。教內運用的醫療方法頗多，諸如針灸按摩之類的中醫術，以及茶葉治病、誦念經卷、畫符念咒、燒香祈禱、坐功運氣等民俗醫療法。這些行醫師父各具不同身份，包括熟悉中醫術的醫者，卜卦算命者、賣藥人士、走方醫生、江湖郎中、技師工匠、小本經商者、務農傭工，乃至僧侶道士等，另包括若干女性醫者。 基本上秘密教派醫者使用的民俗療法較為簡易，毋須歷經繁複的學習過程，其醫術大多經由教內師父或家中習教成員傳授，另有少數醫者係自創療法。他們在治病過程中，藉機宣揚教義，勸誘患者或其家屬入教。探究這些醫者如此積極吸收患者入教綠由，無非是為了擴展教勢以及著眼於經濟利益，因其在行醫傳教過程中，可獲得患者酬謝錢文及拜師禮金，故益形驅使秘密教派人士以醫療為憑介招人為徒，使其組識更具規模。

The development of folk secret religious sects flourished in Ch'ing period. The sects were widely prevalent among the lower strata society. According to the record of official files, many masters of the sects preached their sects by means of medicine, because it was easier to attract common people to joint their religious activities. The medical methods of the sects included Chinese medical science (such as massage, acupuncture), treatment by tea eaves, reciting scripture and incantation, drawing charms, drinking charm water, burning joss sticks, meditation, circulation of breath, etc. These masters of sects who cured disease of the patients included many kinds of status, such as healers of Chinese medical science, diviners, fortunetellers, medicine-sellers, strolling doctors, quacks, craftsmen, traders with a small capital, farmers, laborers, monks, taoists, and some female. Bacically, because the folk medical treatment of these healers was simpler and easier, they learned medical methods from masters of the sects or members of their family. There were few healers utilized medical methods by their own creation. The masters of the sects preached religious doctrine during the process of medical treatment, in order to attract the patients or their household to attend the sects. The aims of these healers who persuaded positively the patients to become the belivers were for expansion of the sects and economical benefits. For these healers could gain money for medical trearment and offering from the patients, it could urge them to preach the sects by medicine.