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"The gallbladder should be bold, but the heart [mind] should be cautious." This is Sun Simiao (Sun Zhenren)'s most accurate statement regarding medical practice. I hold that in treating mild conditions at their onset, one must be meticulous. One must distinguish whether the pathogen is Wind and use dispersing methods; Cold and use warming methods; Summerheat and using clearing methods; Dampness and using draining/diaphoretic methods for dampness; Dryness and using moistening methods; or Fire and using purging methods. Furthermore, it is crucial to examine the patient's constitution (deficiency or excess) and the duration of the disease (new or old). For women, inquire about the menstrual cycle; for married women, detail pregnancy and childbirth history. By doing so, medication will likely avoid errors. However, if one is careless rather than meticulous, vague and indifferent, failing to distinguish which of the Six Qi (Six Pathogenic Factors) has affected the body, and immediately prescribing Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix); if the family reports phlegm, then administering Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); if there is food stagnation, using Shenqu (Massae Fermentatae Medicinalis) and Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus); when asked about the disease, confusing right and wrong (pointing at a deer and calling it a horse); when asked about severity, claiming it is harmless—this often causes mild, superficial diseases to deepen day by day. Whose fault is this? The Sages said, "Do not neglect the subtle, but be cautious in the minute." Can this be overlooked! As for critical, severe conditions approaching death, one must be bold. If the Pericardium (Xinbao) is invaded by pathogens, one must unblock when appropriate; if Liver Wind is stirring internally, one must pacify when appropriate; if Spleen deficiency leads to Qi sinking, one must tonify when appropriate; if Lung Qi is on the verge of collapse, one must supplement when appropriate; if Kidney fluids are about to dry up, one must nourish when appropriate. In cases of dangerous deficiency syndromes, quickly use herbs like Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma); in excess syndromes, use Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma); in cold syndromes, use Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus); in heat syndromes, use Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu) and Lingyangjiao (Saigae Tataricae Cornu). Do not delay; hastily decoct and administer. By doing so, even deep-seated illnesses may have hope of rescue. However, if one is timid rather than bold, afraid to use necessary treatments, or afraid to use heavy doses, fearing that heavy doses will cause adverse changes, and fearing that adverse changes will lead to blame, one often indulges the disease (tolerating evil), sitting idly by watching defeat. Whose fault is this? The ancients said, "If you do not enter the tiger's lair, how can you get the tiger's cub?" Is there any reason to fear? If a mild condition is treated with excessive boldness in prescription formulation, it is akin to making a mountain out of a molehill; if a severe condition is treated with excessive caution in medication, it is akin to pouring a cup of water onto a cartload of burning firewood. In reality, being bold without being meticulous is like "fighting a tiger bare-handed and crossing a river without a boat" (acting rashly), which leads to failure; being meticulous without being bold is like "being as suspicious as a fox and hesitating like a mouse," which also leads to failure. Indeed, Sun's words are true and serve as an eternal medical maxim!