早期道教內部對於使用醫藥治病之事，至少有三種不同的態度。第一種是反對或不主張使用世俗的醫藥（針灸和藥方）。第二種是有條件的接受以醫藥做為治病的方法，也就是在使用醫藥時，加入宗教儀式，使鬼神之力透過藥物或針灸使人癒病。他們雖然不完全排斥，但也不太仰賴或重視世俗的醫藥。第三種是接受並肯定世俗的醫藥，認為醫藥是重要而有效的治病方法，也是道士必修的道術、方技之一。不過，他們也認為，醫藥並不是唯一的療病方法，而且，醫藥只是仙道的初階而已。至於造成他們態度紛歧的原因，應該和各個道派或個人對於造成疾病的原因，影嚮壽命長短的因素，以及成仙之道的看法有密切的關係。不過，道派中主要人物的生長環境、生活經驗和家世背景，應該也會發揮一定的影響力。

Early Taoist texts express three different attitudes towards medical treatment in medieval China. Some Taoists rejected ordinary medical treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion and drugs. Some partially accepted ordinary medical treatment, but maintained that in addition to taking medicine, one should practice Taoist ritual. In treating illness, these Taoists neither relied solely upon ordinary medical treatment nor paid much attention to it. Some religious Taoists, however, wholly approved of ordinary medical treatment. Although they agreed that medicine was neither the only solution to illness nor the best way to immortality, they proposed that all religious Taoists should learn and practice mainstream therapeutic techniques. In general, within early religious Taoism attitudes toward ordinary medical treatment varied from sect to sect, and closely interacted with divergent concepts of illness, health and immortality. Social background, education, and career also seem to have played an important role in determining the attitudes of religious Taoists.