The Chinese medicine body clock

The Chinese medicine body clock was once of the most fascinating things I learned about when I studied at university, and as a practitioner I use it in every single one of my consults. You probably already notice that your body does certain things at certain times of day, and when disruption occurs in your body symptoms will also often flare up at different points of the day. Chinese medicine explains the rhythms based on it’s unique body clock.

In Chinese medicine theory, Qi or energy circulates throughout the meridians over a 24 hour period. This means that there are times of day when Qi is strongest in each meridian. This can help guide the type of activities we choose to do at different times of day. It can also help us to understand where an imbalance might be occurring if a symptom happens at the same time each day.

We use the body clock to analyze the cause of symptoms and to guide choice of treatment. For example, we use acupuncture to treat symptoms of jetlag by selecting points that correspond to the time zone that you have arrived in, allowing the Qi in your body to catch up. We can also use the clock to treat injuries and pain. For example, if you injure your knee in a basketball game at 6pm, we treat both the Kidney and Large Intestine meridians which were at their highest and lowest points at the time of injury. We might even choose points based on the time of day you come in for treatment too!

So if you’re interested in the Chinese medicine body clock and learning some tips about how to get the best out of each segment of the clock, read on!

1am -3am Liver

This is a time you might be most familiar with. Imbalances in the liver meridian tend to show up at this time with frequent waking in the night. The liver is particularly affected by stress, so this is a common time at night for disrupted sleep when we are stressed. This is also an important time for detox and recovery. If we are not resting it can take a big toll on the body.

Tips: ensure you are in deep sleep by this time, this means getting to bed by 11pm. If you are noticing you are waking at this time, it is most likely due to stress. Use stress management tools such as deep breathing, journalling or talking to a trusted person to help you manage it better.

3am - 5am Lung

At this time of morning you should still be in deep sleep. People tend to wake at this time with a cough, sore throat or blocked nose if they are unwell. As a metal organ, the lungs are our most superficial connection to the outside world. We tend to process things at this time through dreams and laying memories.

5am - 7am Large intestine

This is the deal time for waking. Upon waking drink warm water to moisten intestines and start your day with gentle movement such as walking or stretching. This is the best time to set aside to move your bowels, especially if you are suffering from constipation.

7am - 9am Stomach

The ideal time for a protein rich breakfast, ideally cooked and warm. If you feel heavy and tired in the mornings or have nausea or aversion to eating, it indicates the stomach and spleen are having trouble waking up. Inviting some gentle movement at this time might help them to wake up - take a walk or stretch!

Tip: start your digestive fire with warming teas with cinnamon and ginger

9am - 11am Spleen

The ideal time for digestion, the spleen turns the food eaten at breakfast into Qi and blood for the body to use. This time is best for deep focus tasks. Any tiredness or lack of focus at this time indicates spleen deficiency, which is common when we are overworking and under-resting.

Tip: notice if you have an energy slump at this time, it might indicate that your digestive system needs a bit more protein in the morning

11am - 1pm Heart

By this time the blood is really circulating through the body. The heart which governs our mental capacity is ready to engage in deep thinking. It’s important to eat lunch at this time to replenish energy stores from the mentally heavy morning

1pm - 3pm Small intestine

The small intestine sorts what we need from what we don’t need at this time, depositing waste. As it does this you might feel tired, so this is a good time for a rest. Many cultures include a rest after lunch. If you can have a small rest at this time you will avoid the common afternoon slump.

3pm - 5pm Bladder

If you rested earlier you will now be ready for a little more work. This time is better for lighter duties, less deep thinking and more action. It is a good time to work together, share the load and foster connection.

5pm - 7pm Kidney

Time to stop working. The Kidney is the root of the Yin and Yang of the body, and therefore it is your most precious resource. If you can, take a rest with light duties at this time to protect your kidney energy. If you feel deep exhaustion at this time it is a sign that your kidneys need some more attention. Head to your acupuncturist for tips on how to nurture your Kidney energy!

7pm - 9pm Pericardium

The pericardium is the protector of the heart. This is a good time to kindle the fire at the core of yourself by making space for connection, self love and intimacy. Connect with loved ones (including yourself!) through journalling, reflection, meditation and cuddles.

9pm - 11pm Triple burner

The triple burner is responsible for regulating and coordinating the whole body. At this time of night our hormones and metabolism balances and we should start to get sleepy. If you experience a burst of energy at this time of night it may indicate that the Yin and Yang of your body is out of balance - you might need some acupuncture to rebalance!

11pm -1am Gallbladder

By this time you should have entered sleep. Our body undergoes repair at this stage. The gallbladder is responsible for enforcing our boundaries. If our boundaries are not clear it limits our ability to care for ourselves and our energy may go to worrying about others at this time. Additionally, if our boundaries are not clear we might not set aside this time for rest.

As you become more familiar with the Chinese medicine body clock you might start to learn more about yourself. Perhaps you always wake or energy crash at a certain time. You Chinese medicine practitioner can use this information to inform your treatments together, helping move your body towards balance and relieving your symptoms. If you are interested in learning more, please contact me or come and see me in clinic!