The TCM Body Clock, explained.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), balance is a dynamic state of fluctuation between Ying & Yang and the Five Elements. To live in harmony is to live in accordance with the rhythms of nature, as well as the body's own flow of life force.
Similar to the female monthly menstrual cycle, the body's circadian rhythm, or the yearly cycle of the seasons, the human body experiences a daily Qi cycle. According to TCM, our Qi (life force energy) cycles through each organ over the course of a day. When Qi is flowing strongly in a particular organ, that organ is activated and ready to work. There are 12 organ systems or meridian pathways that are represented by this clock. Each meridian is also associated with an emotion, taste, sense organ, season, and more.
The TCM Body Clock helps us tune into this daily energy cycle, and brings awareness to the physical and emotional symptoms that arise if an organ is out of balance. Each organ aligns with a 2-hour interval of naturally elevated energy for that meridian.
By aligning our daily activities (as best we can) with the natural flow of our body’s Qi, we’re able to work with our body’s internal processes, making it easier to maintain balance between our body, mind, and spirit—therefore supporting our overall health.
3-5 AM
Organ: Lung
Actions: Early stirring and gentle breathing
Emotions being processed: Grief and sadness
The lung is responsible for moving the qi (energy) through the meridians and to the entire body, as well as providing immune protection. It is also associated with grief. You may wake up during these times if you are struggling with grief or sorrow. Imbalances may also show up as wheezing, coughing, asthma, or getting sick easily.
5-7 AM
Organ: Large intestine
Actions: Waking up and releasing
Emotions being processed: Guilt and stagnation
This is the best time to have a bowel movement. The large intestine is all about ‘letting go’ - both physically and emotionally. Imbalances include constipation, dry stools, skin rash, and feeling emotionally ‘stuck’ . Try to start your day with a glass of warm water* to gently wake up the colon. Give your body time to naturally detox with meditation or mindful breathing.
7-9 AM
Organ: Stomach Actions: Eating and nourishing Emotions being processed: Despair
The stomach’s function is to digest & breakdown foods, so this is the best time to eat a healthy & hearty breakfast. Try to avoid cold foods/drinks like smoothies, as cold dampens the digestive fire, making digestion less efficient. Imbalances may manifest as acid reflux, stomach ulcer, and bad breath.
9-11 AM
Organs: Pancreas and spleen Actions: Thinking and working Emotions being processed: Jealousy, worry, and low self-esteem
In TCM, the spleen extracts nutrients from food, transforms it into energy and transports it to other organ systems. During this timeframe, you can support the spleen by having a nice cup of warming tea, or a light snack. Foods that support the spleen include cinnamon, yam, dates, and lentils. This is a great time to focus on your most mentally taxing work. While your spleen converts food into usable energy, you're better able to use your mental energy.
Imbalances in the spleen may show up as loose stools, bloating after meals, craving sweets, and low energy.
11AM - 1PM
Organ: Heart Actions: Engaging and consuming Emotions being processed: Joy or frightful sadness
This is an ideal time to relax, enjoy a light lunch and good conversation—take a break from work or other stressors by grabbing food with a friend. Try to avoid reading, working, or watching tv while eating for optimal digestion. Theart dislikes heat so try to avoid caffeine, stress, intense exercise, or anything that raises your blood pressure. Signs of imbalances in the heart include palpitations, shortness of breath, cold hands & feet, and insomnia.
1-3 PM
Organ: Small intestine Actions: Separating the good from bad, and organizing Emotions being processed: Insecurity
The small intestine separates the clear and turbid fluids, and moves these to the urinary bladder and large intestine, respectively. If you haven’t drank enough water during the day, you are more likely to feel dehydrated during this time. When out of balance, conditions that may arise include duodenal ulcer, bloating with vomiting or gas.
As the body digests lunch, separating nutrients from waste, it’s a good time to focus on more detail-oriented tasks or chores, like filing expenses or washing the dishes.
3-5pm
Organ: Bladder Action: Reserving and storing Emotions being processed: Irritation, moving energy internally
This is a time of the day when you can feel a dip in energy levels, especially if you are not well-hydrated. The urinary bladder stores & secretes urine (clear fluid), and is nourished by salty foods so having a bowl of brothy soup, such as miso or veggie broth, miso soup or nuts during this time helps strengthen the bladder (and the kidney, which is it’s paired organ). It’s also an ideal time to study or prepare for the next day’s work. If out of balance, you may experience burning when urinating, yeast infection, or urinary incontinence.
5-7 PM
Organ: Kidney Actions: Replenishing vital energy Emotions being processed: Fear
The kidneys are responsible for healthy reproduction, development, and growth. You can support the kidneys during this time by having a healthy meal (but not too large) with a little salt for flavoring and/or cozying up with a loved one, which keeps your kidney ‘essence’ strong! When the kidney meridian is out of balance, symptoms that may arise include sexual difficulties, low back pain, or premature graying of hair. After enjoying a light dinner, try some light walking or stretching to support digestion and boost circulation, which helps the kidneys filter more blood during this time.
7-9PM Organ: Pericardium Action: Emotional support Emotions being processed: Excessive euphoria and compassion
This is one of the accessory organs systems. To support the pericardium, this is the time to do something gentle to help ease yourself into sleep, such as meditation, light stretching, reading, or cuddling. After a long day, you deserve some quality time—alone or with loved ones. It just so happens to be the best time to conceive.
9-11 PM: Relaxing & Rebalancing Organ: Triple Burner (San Jiao), Metabolism, blood vessels Action: Relaxing and hydrating Emotions being processed: Hopelessness and confusion
This is the second accessory organ system. To best support San Jiao, this is the time that we should be going to sleep – having an earlier bed time in the winter, and staying up a little later in summer. As you prepare your body for sleep, try opting for a book instead of your phone or tv, and get cozy in bed even if you don’t plan to fall asleep for a while.
11PM - 1AM
Organ: Gallbladder Action: Sleeping and regenerating Emotions being processed: Indecisiveness and resentment
Physically, the gallbladder stores and secretes bile, but emotionally, it is in charge of self-esteem and decision-making. If you’re not sleeping by this time, you are depleting your gallbladder’s energy stores, which over time, can lead to poor self-esteem, poor judgment, or difficulty digesting fats. If the gallbladder can’t do its job, you might experience aches & pains, weight gain, or indecisiveness.
1-3 AM Organ: Liver Action: Deep sleep and dreaming Emotions being processed: Anger, anxiety, and frustration
The liver’s role is to clean the blood,
to store it for menstruation and to get us through the day. If you’re not sleeping at this time, you can quickly become deficient, especially if you are female because of the importance of blood for menstruation (even for those going through menopause). The liver is also emotionally connected to anger. You may find that you wake up between 1-3am if you have repressed anger or long standing resentment. Symptoms of liver imbalances include irregular menstruation, anemia, chronic fatigue, and headache. This is an important time to be asleep so that your body can repair and recover as the Liver cleans the blood.
Conclusion You can track yourself for a couple of days and notice what time it is when something comes up. Do you always wake up in the middle of the night at 2AM? Do you always get super thirsty at 2PM? Do you feel particularly sad at lunch time eating your salad by yourself at your desk? Just notice, your Qi might be trying to tell you something!
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