Disease is the outcome of the struggle between body resistance and pathogenic factors. Therefore, factors and conditions should be considered in the treatment of a disease, they are time (seasonal and climatic conditions), place (geographical location and environment), and personal characteristics (living customs, age, sex, working circumstances and body constitution,etc). In the clinical application of herbal formulas, these factors are very important. This is an important therapeutic principle guiding clinical practice in TCM. Examples follow:
In summer, the surface pores on the body are open or loose, while in winter they are closed and tight. If the body is affected by the same exogenous pathogenic wind and cold both in summer and winter, the pungent drugs having a warming property of relieving exterior syndromes should not be administrated in summer, but should be used in large dosage in winter. Because summer is humid, the pathogenic factors which cause diseases in this season always mix with damp.
The weather in mountainous regions and on plateaus is dry and cold, herbs having cold, cool, bitter, or dry properties should not be prescribed in large doses. While the climate in low-lying area is warm and humid, so herbs having cool and damp dissolving properties can also be used in large dosages.
Children have a body constitution of young and tendering, because qi and blood are not yet abundant. The vitality of senior, however, is declining and qi and blood. Therefore both children and elderly patients should not be prescribed herbs having strong properties, and nor be given large dosages.
The same disease, but with different sexes, different physiol-ogical characteristics, and different body constitutions should be treated accordingly.
Key Words: principle, climatic, seasonal condition, geographic localities, personal conditions
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