Ever wondered why you so often wake up at the same time? Let me introduce you to The Chinese Organ Body Clock.
You’re a pretty healthy person. You’re eating right, you dodge coffee in the afternoons and evenings, you don’t partake in much sugar, and you’re exercising most days. In theory, you should be sleeping well. But gosh darn it, that hot bod of yours is waking you up EVERY NIGHT at the SAME BLINKING TIME. Why?!
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners would recommend you take a look at the Chinese meridian clock.
There are fourteen major meridians (or energy flow channels) in TCM, with twelve of these placed neatly around a 24-hour clock. Each of these twelve meridians has a two-hour period in which they are the primary meridian, and each represents a particular body part, emotion, and element – earth, water, metal, wood and fire.
When the energy of a specific meridian is blocked – for either a physical or emotional reason, or, heck, even both – signs or symptoms will appear throughout. And, using this knowledge, you can use the meridian clock to help narrow down which of your meridians is crying out for help. And why.
The Meridian Clock
11pm to 1am: the Gall Bladder
Our gall bladder is responsible for both storing and excreting bile, and, emotionally, for our decision-making and self-esteem. Difficulty making good decisions or digesting fats, and poor self-esteem, will result from depleting the energy stores of our gall bladder – so it’s important to make sure you’re tucked in by 11pm at night!
1am to 3am: the liver
In TCM, the liver is responsible for storing blood for menstruation, and for getting us through the day. Emotionally, the liver is linked to issues with anger and resentment. If you’re waking during the liver hours, consider any anger you may be repressing, and let that shit go! On a more physical level, irregular periods, anaemia, headaches and chronic fatigue are all symptoms of liver imbalance.
3am to 5am: the Lung
Obviously our lungs are responsible for respiration, but in TCM, our lungs are also responsible for moving qi (or energy) throughout the body and for maintaining immunity. The lungs are emotionally attached to feelings of grief and sorrow. When imbalanced, symptoms for the lung appear as coughs, wheezing, asthma, and decreased immunity.
5am to 7am: the Large Intestine
In TCM, our large intestine represents ‘letting go’ – not only physically, but on an emotional level too. The hours between 5am and 7am are hence absolutely optimal for bowel movements. If you’re feeling a little stuck emotionally, or if you’re suffering from constipation, it might be time for some intestinal TLC.
7am to 9am: the Stomach
These hours are perfect for a healthy breakfast. As our stomach’s function is in digesting and breaking down what we eat, why not align our breakfast time with the hours our tummy’s working at its best? Bad breath, stomach ulcers and acid reflux are all issues which may point to some digestive disturbance.
9am to 11am: the Spleen
The spleen is responsible for extracting nutrients from the food we eat, turning them into energy, and sending that energy through our bods to all of the other important bits. If you’re suffering from loose stools, bloating up after a meal, craving sweets 24/7, or struggling with fatigue, this could represent spleen imbalance. Have a nice warming cup of tea during these hours, or a light snack including spleen-supporting cinnamon, dates or lentils.
11am to 1pm: the Heart
The heart is really not a fan of heat of any kind – physical or emotional – so avoid caffeine, strenuous exercise, and as much stress as possible during these hours to keep your blood pressure from rising too high. Instead, relax and enjoy your lunch (and heck, take a nap if you can). This will prevent shortness of breath, palpitations, and insomnia.
1pm to 3pm: the Small Intestine
Ever feel dehydrated around now? That will be your small intestine, whose role is to separate fluids in the body and direct them to the bladder or large intestine for excretion. If you’ve not had enough water during the day, you’re more likely to feel dehydrated right about now (and experience all of dehydration’s associated joys…yay…not).
3pm to 5pm: the Bladder
You’ll be feeling a dip in energy levels right about now, especially if you’re not well-hydrated enough and your bladder’s taking a beating as a result. You may also experience discomfort or burning when peeing, or a UTI, if your bladder’s not in balance. The bladder, as you’d know babe, is responsible for storing and secreting urine; but you may not know that its nourished by foods of the salty variety. So reach for a veggie broth or miso during these hours for some bladder restoration.
5pm to 7pm: the Kidney
Our kidneys are vital in healthy reproduction, growth and development. Keep your kidney ‘essence’ strong, and problems like low back pain, greying hair or sexual difficulty at bay, with a smallish hearty meal and a healthy dose of lovemaking during these hours 😉
7pm to 9pm: the Pericardium
Known as an accessory organ, the pericardium holds our heart. Ease into sleep and support your heart-holder gently with some meditation, reading, stretching or restorative yoga, and cuddling.
9pm to 11pm: the San Jiao
The San Jiao, or ‘triple burner’, is the only meridian in Chinese medicine that doesn’t have a Western counterpart, so it’s a little hard to describe… But, important for you to know is this: these hours are when you should be hitting the hay for optimal health – earlier in the winter, and a little later in summer.
So what?
Think of electrical circuits: if there’s a block somewhere along the line, the proverbial hits the fan. It’s the same with the meridians – energy channels – in our body. If there’s a block (some stress of some kind, physical or emotional) preventing healthy flow, you’re going to know about it. You’ll be experiencing some kind of sign or symptom in that meridian.
So, self-reflection is key. Waking up at the same gosh darn hours of the way-too-early morning? Always crashing at 3pm? Consider the meridian at play, what might be happening with you, and then go from there. Our bodies are always trying to tell us something – so stop and listen.
The TL;DR Edit
What you need to know…
If you find yourself waking up at the same time every night, your body might be trying to tell you something. According to the Chinese Organ Body Clock, different organs are represented by specific times, and waking up consistently could indicate imbalances in those areas.
Understanding your body’s natural rhythms can help you identify areas of imbalance, whether it’s stress, diet, or emotional health. By supporting your organs through herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle shifts, you can work with your body’s clock, not against it—leading to deeper, more restful sleep.
Want a personalised plan to balance your body (physical and emotional) for better sleep? Let’s get to work!
