What Does the Body Clock Chinese Medicine say About You
Do you know what time of day your body is most productive? According to Chinese medicine, each hour of the day is associated with different organs and activities. The body clock Chinese medicine is a tool used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help assess a person’s health. It is based on the belief that each organ in the body has a two-hour peak time of activity. For example, the liver is most active between 11 pm and 1 am, while the kidneys are most active between 5 pm and 7 pm.
The Organ Body Clock is a system used in body clock Chinese Medicine to determine the organ responsible for diseases. It takes 12 two-hour intervals, or “clocks,” where vital force moves through each one of your organs and corresponding symptoms will appear as it does so; this allows practitioners an easier way than trying out different theories on what may be causing their illness because now they know exactly where things lie!
The body clock is like a great big thermostat, regulating your mood and energy levels. When one organ is at the peak of its cycle it needs more power than another (ex. adrenals/thyroid – heart), and you will find that 12 hours later it is at its lowest on life force!
What does the body clock Chinese medicine say about you?
Below is a breakdown of how your body is working to keep you healthy throughout the day. Take cues from your body if you are having issues at the same time every day.
1 AM – 3 AM = Liver
As you are peacefully sleeping, your liver is hard at work. Your liver is detoxifying your blood and regulates your hormone levels during these hours of the early morning. If you find yourself waking up consistently during these hours, it could mean that your liver is working OT and overloaded with toxins. Many people report having excessive feelings of rage, anger, and frustration when their liver isn’t functioning properly.
3 AM – 5 AM = Lungs
The lungs tend to absorb negative emotions stemming from deep grief. If you are tossing and turning at these hours – explore your emotions. If you wake up coughing between 3-5 AM it could be that your lungs have released toxins as it is detoxing.
5 AM – 7 AM = Large Intestine
The large intestine is preparing you to expel all of the harmful things from your food during these hours. If you wake up every morning with an upset gut – check your eating. You may be overloading your large intestine with poor food choices. Emotions that come from an overloaded large intestine tend to be discouragement and a feeling that if you aren’t perfect, you are worthless.
7 AM – 9 AM = Stomach
You have always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day… well your stomach also thrives on a hot breakfast. Anxiety and stress are symptoms that your stomach is out of balance. If you are feeling overly anxious or stressed, again check your diet. We are what we eat!
9 AM – 11 AM = Spleen/Pancreas
Are you a worrier? Do you suffer from low self-esteem? If so, your spleen or pancreas could be telling you that it needs some attention. As your spleen is detoxifying, it is readying your body for a nutritious lunch.
11 AM – 1 PM = Heart
Did you know that 70% of heart attacks occur during this time of the day? When any part of the body is overloaded, it causes the heart to work even harder. As you refuel for the day during lunch, give your heart a hug and eat healthy! Feelings of abandonment or despair may contribute to your heart being out of sync.
1PM – 3PM = Small Intestine
The small intestine has an important dual purpose. It not only helps sort through the nutrition from lunch and decide what you need to fuel your body, it is also helping sort through your emotions. Scars from childhood rejection, loneliness, and anxieties about self-worth can increase the bloated feeling and general blahs.
3PM – 5PM = Bladder
After the small intestine has processed lunch and eliminated the waste, it’s time for the bladder to dispose of it. As your bladder works detox, you may suffer from feelings of fear and uncertainty.
5 PM – 7 PM = Kidney
The kidneys filter blood and remove water-soluble waste. Feelings of shame and paranoia may be felt during these hours if your kidneys are overloaded. If you feel extreme fatigue during these hours, you may suffer from adrenal fatigue.
7 PM – 9 PM = Pericardium and Reproductive Organs
The pericardium is a thin sac that houses the major vessels and the heart itself. This is the time of day when emotions of the emotional heart begin to stir as well. If your pericardium or reproductive organs are struggling, you may feel a strong desire to protect your heart.
9 PM – 11 PM = Triple Burner
This is one of the most detoxifying times for your body of the day. It includes your thorax, abdomen, and pelvic organs. As this detox takes place you will naturally begin to feel tired, and exhaustion will set in. Thus, leading to bedtime!
11 PM – 1 AM = Gallbladder
The gallbladder oversees the repairs to cells in your body. It will also excrete bile from your meals for the day. If you’re feeling restless or having gut pains during this time of day, you may want to lay off of greasy foods and eat dinner earlier in the evening. The gallbladder is associated with feelings of resentment.
Final Thoughts on Your Body Clock Chinese Medicine
No matter what time of day you are most productive, the important thing is to listen to your body and do what is best for your health! However, if you have any concerns about your health, be sure to speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
29 Comments
Mina
Great post! I love to mix TCM and modern medicine – both are super useful.
Beth
Me too Mina!
Dominique
This is very intriguing and informative. Never heard of the Chinese Body Clock before.
Beth
Once I learned of it and started paying attention, I was amazed at what it told me about my body!
Dan Rey
Interesting! I enjoyed reading this.
Beth
This was an incredibly interesting read. I never heard of the body clock before. I’ll have to use this and see what’s what!
Syephanie
I’ve never heard of the body clock before, but it makes a lot of sense! I do wonder, though, does your schedule effect the timing? If I’m someone who always wakes very early, and my sister sleeps in, are our bodies working at the same time?
Maria Azanha
Wow…this is a fascinating article! I had no idea such a “body clock” existed. Thank you for the informative article, I am going ot come back to it!
Leanne Wong
It’s so important to listen to our bodies, but we also have to know what they’re saying. The Chinese Body Clock can be a big help with that.
Jennifer Prince
Oh wow! I’ve never heard about this before. I have a lot of respect for ancient cultures and things they discovered that actually worked!
Jenna
This is so interesting! I had never heard of the Chinese body clock. I loved learning about it. Thank you for sharing, Beth!
Gervin Khan
Awesome! Such a wonderful post and very informative! This will make anybody understand the needs of the body at a specific time of the day. Loved it!
Subarna
Great post, a lot to know. We should take care of our health and be aware of our actions. I try to take dinner early but some days are my bad. Need to work on that.
Kelly
This is so interesting! I have never heard of this before. But I do know about gut health and how important it is. And this defintely emphasised that!
Kitchen Mosaic Backsplash
That is so cool, I had no idea that each body part is associated with a specific time, that is awesome. Thank you so much for the information.
Fransic verso
Wow, this is interesting and the first time to know about them. I will keep this in mind. Thank you for sharing!
Marysa
How interesting! I’ve never heard of this. Sounds like a good way to stay on top of health.
Oli
This is the first time I hear about this type of clock, but it is really interesting also. Great share you got there to keep our health in check.
Rosey
That does makes sense that when your body is detoxing you get tired. Thanks for the summaries.
Ntensibe Edgar
Hihi…I am guilty when it comes to me and the large intestine. A cup of warm water every morning helps make the entire situation better.
Lyosha
oh wow! never knew about it. so curious! definitely want to dig into the subject even more. thanks for the intro
Sonia Seivwright
Wow, the Chinese seem to have answers to everything. hahaha. I love this. Very good to know.
Angela Ricardo Bethea
What an informative post and didn’t know much about this body clock in Chinese medicine before until now. Definitely learned something new and will try to incorporate those tips into my day.
Liv
What an interesting read! Never heard about this before, thanks for sharing.
KEVIN FOODIE
This is so interesting. I have read about the body’s internal clock online, but not related to medical conditions. Chinese medicine is not contemporary traditional medicine and is sometimes hard to accept. However, I believe they have some merit. Thank you so much for sharing.
Katie
This is so fascinating! Great post, thank you!
sejal
I’ve never heard of this, thanks for sharing! My small intestine is the most productive right now! The explanations you included are really insightful and help me understand my emotions at certain times.
sejal | thelazygal.com
Elizabeth
Such a cool post! I have never read about this before. Thanks so much for sharing!
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