Chinese Body Clock

This picture from Healthline website.

Did you know there is a Chinese body clock in addition to the body’s biological clock? Have you ever noticed that you wake up between 1 am and 3 am after a night out with some drinks? Or do you find yourself waking up at a particular time early in the morning? If so, you may want to check out the Chinese body clock.

This chart shows the 24-hour cycle related to our internal organs and elements from a Chinese medicine perspective. For example, waking up between 1 am and 3 am after drinking could indicate that your liver is active, working hard to process the alcohol.

One of my patients told me she wakes up at 3 am every day and is unable to fall back asleep until 5 am. What an interesting time! In the Chinese body clock, 3 am to 5 am is the Lung time, which is associated with autumn and the season of dryness. My patient also shared other symptoms, such as thirst, dry lips, and sadness, which align with the Lung in Chinese medicine and seasonal changes. After I provided her with acupuncture treatment and recommended food therapy, she began to sleep well, and felt more hydrated! I love TCM!

Now, let me ask you: if you need to take a nap during the day, what time is best for it?

The answer is 11am to 1pm!!!