A native of Yanling, Xuzhou (present-day Yanling, Henan), Cui was born around the 11th year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era (615) and passed away in the 1st year of the Tang Dynasty's Chuigong era (685), living to the age of 70. Coming from a family of officials, Cui served as the Sima of Luozhou (present-day Henan), the Director of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of the Palace Administration and later served as the Vice Minister of the Secretariat. During the Xianheng era (670-674), he was appointed as the Right Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the 1st year of the Tiaolu era (679), he rose to the position of Minister of Revenue.

Cui had a strong interest in traditional Chinese medicine and enjoyed engaging in medical activities during his spare time from official duties. He was skilled in acupuncture and moxibustion, and his clinical diagnoses and prescriptions were often innovative. His most famous work, Guzhengbing Jiufang, was included in Waitai Miyao under the title "Moxibustion Method for Steaming Bone Fever," which is known as Cui's moxibustion. His major works and documents include Compilation of Essential Prescriptions in ten volumes, Guzhengbing Jiufang in one volume, and Obstetric Charts in one volume, all of which have been lost but can be glimpsed in Waitai Miyao. Additionally, there are Collected Works of Cui Zhi-ti in five volumes and Legal Precedents in two volumes.