Apart from this, he is known for the text "On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians," often called "the Chinese Hippocratic Oath," which comes from the first chapter of the first of the above mentioned two books. This portion of the book is still a required reading for Chinese physicians. The following is an excerpt of the text:

"A Great Physician should not pay attention to status, wealth or age; neither should he question whether the particular person is attractive or unattractive, whether he is an enemy or friend, whether he is a Chinese or a foreigner, or finally, whether he is uneducated or educated. He should meet everyone on equal grounds. He should always act as if he were thinking of his close relatives."

Sun refused at least three official court positions offered to him: by the Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty and by the Emperors Taizong and Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. He preferred to provide treatment for ordinary people in the rural setting, though he accompanied Emperor Gaozong for a time. His medical orientation was described in an official history of the Tang Dynasty, as relayed by Paul Unschuld (3): "His biography describes him as an extraordinarily talented man, who devoted himself to the teachings of the Yi Jing [I-Ching], of Lao Zi [Lao-tzu; author of the Dao De Jing], and of the yin-yang philosophers, and he also took an interest in the magical calculation of numbers." His work emphasized the five elements and yin-yang systems of influences that are based on correspondences between features of the external environment and the internal structures and workings of the body. He is considered the first to have presented issues related to ethics of medical treatment, depicting the characteristics of a great physician and cautioning physicians about behavior that was inappropriate to their profession. He was especially concerned, as emphasized in Taoist philosophy, about physicians being influenced by a desire for rewards, including financial rewards, fame, or favors granted to them: they should not have these as their goal. Patients should be treated equally, regardless of rank, wealth, age, or beauty.

Sun Simiao is probably best known for his intense interest in the identification and preparation of herbs and his definitive work with formulation principles. He emphasized the importance of gathering herbs at the right time, saying: "If you do not know the proper seasons when they should be placed in the shade or in the sun to dry, the result will be that you know their names but do not obtain their intended effects. If you gather them at an improper time, they will be good for nothing just like rotten wood, and you will have made a futile effort." Further, he insisted that the herbs must be from the genuine source, saying: "Without knowing where the medicines are from, and whether or not they are genuine and fresh, they cannot cure five or six patients out of ten." He described 519 different genuine medicinal materials that could be found in 133 counties (prefectures). The formulas he collected came from both famous physicians of the past and from numerous contemporary physicians, including those of minority groups and even foreigners. He paired down formulas to get rid of extraneous ingredients, with most of his published formulas having only 4-12 ingredients.

Sun Simiao recorded his experience with herb formulas and his knowledge of medicine in his famous 30 volume work, printed in 652 A.D.: Prescriptions for Emergencies Worth a Thousand Gold (Beiji Qianjin Yaofang), the title usually shortened to Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold (Qianjin Yaofang). The book presented life saving remedies, hence the title reflecting their great value (i.e., a life is worth more than a thousand gold coins). A mystical origin was attributed to some of the formulas, as with this story from the Song Dynasty (660-1279 A.D.): Sun Simiao once saved the dragon of the Kunming Lake (in Yunnan Province) and, as a reward, got 30 magical recipes from the Dragon Palace.

A second book by Sun Simiao is a supplement to his early one: it is called Qianjin Yifang. The content is based on 30 years of subsequent experience with special attention to folk remedies; it was printed at the end of his life in 682 A.D. This work of 30 volumes also serves as a Materia Medica with 800 medicinal materials, providing details about the collection and preparation of 200 of them. He presented some new herbs, especially ones from foreign countries, notably from India (the source of the Buddhist tradition that he pursued), from whence came Terminalia chebula (hezi). Two volumes were devoted to study of the formulas and treatment strategies of the Shanghan Lun (ca. 220 A.D.). In addition, the supplement presented about 2000 more formulas, though these have not been studied and retained by future generations to the extent of the formulas from the earlier text. Sun#39;s second book also included considerable reference to mystical and magical practices, such as exorcisms. He mentioned 32 drugs that were said to be effective against demons, and he carefully described the 13 acupuncture points that were known as demon-releasing points. The last two volumes included talismans, amulets, and incantations. Both of Sun's books are still reprinted today, compiled as one: the Qianjin Fang.