
07 Jul Chinese Medicine Organ Clock
Have you ever wondered why you wake at the same time each night? Or why your energy levels fluctuate during the day?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that each organ functions at its optimum capacity at certain times of day. This helps us to understand when it’s best to exercise, eat, work, rest and sleep. If we work against the natural rhythms of our body we can find ourselves in a state of dis-ease.
Chinese Medicine practitioners use this clock to help determine the organ responsible for disease. For example, if you find yourself waking up between the hours of 3-5am (Lung time), you may have an underlying emotion of grief or sadness that is bothering you or you may have a condition associated to the lung area.
Have you ever noticed yourself waking up between the hours of 1-3am regularly? This time relates to the Liver where symptoms of liver imbalances include irregular menstruation, anaemia, chronic fatigue, and headache. The Liver is also emotionally connected to anger and so, if there are repressed feelings of anger or resentment, this could also be affecting your sleep during this time.
The organ clock not only demonstrates when the organs are working at their optimum, but also when they are at theirweakest. For example, the Kidneys are working at their prime between 5-7pm and function at their weakest at 5-7am. The Kidney energy is responsible for providing the energy and heat source for the entire body. The Spleen depends on the Kidney Yang or Heat energy for proper digestive peristalsis. When there is a deficiency, the intestines lose their contractile strength and daybreak diarrhoea can occur between the hours of 5-7am.
Below is a more detailed explanation of the 24 hour body clock. Perhaps your day may need a little tweaking in order to fully conserve and maximise your energy input and output.
5 am to 7 am – Large Intestine
Rising, Release bowels & Meditate |
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7-9am –Stomach
Healthy Eating& Good concentration |
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9-11am –Spleen
Clear thinking & Working |
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11am- 1pm –Heart
High energy, Meeting, Talking & Eating |
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1-3pm –Small Intestine
Sorting, Organising, Lower energy |
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3-5pm –Bladder
Storing & Reserving |
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5-7pm –Kidneys
Store Nutrients, Build bone marrow, Light supper |
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7-9pm –Circulation
Socialising & Flirting |
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9-11pm –Triple heater or Endocrine system
Relaxing & Chilling
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11pm-1am – Gall Bladder
Sleeping & Regenerating
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1-3am –Liver
Deep resting & Dreaming
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3-5am -Lungs
Deep sleep dreams & memories |
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