Chinese Medicine Organ Clock. How does it work?

If you were wondering if Chinese Medicine has more amazing things to bring to the table, here you will learn about the Chinese Medicine Organ clock.

The Chinese Medicine Organ Clock is a representation of the daily flow of Qi through your organs. Each organ has a peak of energy (Qi) in a two-hour window in which they are the strongest, and also have a two-hour trough of Qi which means it is the least ideal time to perform its functions. This allows you to plan ahead and harness the ebb and flow of Qi for better health.

Just like the circadian rhythm everyone is talking about and realizing its importance, Traditional Chinese Medicine can also weigh in in the problem and further explain why it is so important.

Even beyond the vital importance of the sleep-wake cycles and its impact on bodily functions and hormones, this TCM clock can help you better explain why it is so important you keep a healthy and steady daily schedule.

This is useful in diagnosing diseases and planning your daily schedule for an improvement in your health. Many diseases arise from the impairment of the organs to perform its functions.

But did you know that there is more than one clock? Yes, you heard it right.

Read along and find out how you can leverage this knowledge for better health

Chinese Medicine Organ Clock

The Chinese Medicine Organ Clock is a representation of the flow of Qi through your body on a daily basis. It is divided into 12 two-hour blocks starting at 11 pm in which an organ has a peak in Qi and another one has a trough.

In your body, 12 main Organ networks have Qi but also receive and give Qi to one another creating a closed circuit.

The Qi that comes from the food, breathing, and the Primordial Qi become true Qi and one part of that Qi becomes the Organ Qi and the Meridian Qi. That Qi flows in an ebb and flow fashion through your body nourishing it and making sure everything works properly.

Read also: What is Qi (Chi)?

This clock is the Eastern counterpart to what we call the circadian rhythm. Nowadays there is good evidence that explains why it is so crucial to have a steady sleep-wake cycle.

However, in contrast to the mainstream circadian rhythm, this Chinese clock goes in-depth into where is the energy going and thus helps us better understand how our body works and how to leverage it for better health.

What does it look like?

The circulation of Qi in your body and the division into two-hour blocks comes from the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di Nei Jing). The two-hour blocks are called Shíchén (時辰) and the traditional way to count them is by beginning at 11 pm of the previous day, unlike our regular schedule that begins at 12 am.

Here is the breakdown of the Chinese Body clock:

• Stomach peaks 7 A.M.–9 A.M
• Spleen peaks 9 A.M.–11 A.M
• Heart peaks 11 A.M.–1 P.M
• Small Intestine peaks 1 P.M.–3 P.M
• Urinary Bladder peaks 3 P.M.–5 P.M
• Kidney peaks 5 P.M.–7 P.M
• Pericardium peaks 7 P.M.–9 P.M
• Triple-Burner peaks 9 P.M.–11 P.M
• Gallbladder peaks 11 P.M.–1 A.M
• Liver peaks 1 A.M.–3 A.M
• Lung peaks 3 A.M.–5 A.M
• Large Intestine peaks 5 A.M.–7 A.M
• There is a window in this 24-hour cycle where the Qi runs through the Conception and Governor vessels before starting a new cycle.

One thing you have to keep in mind when learning almost anything about Chinese culture is that everything is related, and the organ clock is no exception. It is deeply related to the Five Elements theory and the Chinese horoscope.

Here is a visual example of the Clock:

How to Leverage it

The usefulness of this clock relies on our understanding of the functioning of the organ networks. This clock lets you know how your body is going to work throughout the day. That way you can begin to understand your body better.

As you learn what every Organ Network does you will understand how your body works.

• The stomach works in digestion, it ripens and rots the food so the nutritious substances can be extracted by the Spleen.
• The spleen is in charge of digestion. Taking the nutritive essence of food and turning it into Food Qi. It is also in charge of the conscious thought.
• The heart is in charge of your blood circulation, and your overall state of mind.
• The small Intestine is also in charge of digestion and works by extracting the nutritious substance from the food that wasn’t extracted by the Spleen. It is also the one capable of handling heavier foods.
• Urinary Bladder is in charge of excretion of the waste substances from the Kidney metabolism.
• The kidney is the most important organ network in the body. Is in charge of longevity, sexual health, the bone marrow, the brain, and the Essence.
• The pericardium is the one that protects the Heart and maintains peace.
• Triple-Burner Is the one in charge of making sure all the bodily functions are done right.
• The gallbladder aids in the digestive function and aids the Liver’s function of detoxifying.
• The liver is the one in charge of Blood, stores it, and makes sure it flows smoothly. Is the main organ of detox.
• The lung is in charge of breathing, taking the Qi from the air and bringing it inside. Governs the Qi and is the one that makes sure that it spreads properly.
• Large Intestine takes the solid waste and discharges it.

Daily Planning

The best time to have breakfast is between 7 am and 9 am because it is the time when the Stomach peaks which means our digestive functions are peaking. The Stomach’s functions of rotting and ripening the food are the basis of proper digestion.

That’s why breakfast is the most important meal of your day. Then at 9 am the Spleen peaks. The Spleen is the one in charge of extracting the Food Qi and the main organ in digestion.

The peak time of the Pericardium is the best time for self-care. The Pericardium is also called the Heart Protector and is the first defensive barrier against external pernicious influences.

Large and heavy meals are better eaten between 1pm and 3pm which is the time of the Small intestine.

Remember that in Traditional Chinese Medicine mind and body are interconnected and one influences the other. Your Physiology and your Psychology are both affected by these peaks in energy.

The time of the Spleen is also the best time for considering options, pondering, possibilities, and making final decisions. That’s why so many people benefit from a walk in the early morning and get their creative juices flowing at this time better than any other time.

You can do this with every Organ network and this way you’ll be able to create a good daily schedule that leverages your strengths.

Disease diagnosis

Another use of the Chinese Medicine Organ Clock is to help diagnose diseases according to TCM theory.

In TCM medical theory, diseases are cataloged in patterns of disharmonies. The main categories of disease are diseases by excess, by deficiency, of Yang quality, of Yin quality, internal, external, cold, and heat.

Symptoms of excess appear during the peak hours of the organ and symptoms of deficiency appear during the troughs. If you are suffering from bloating, a sensation of fullness in your stomach from 7 pm to 9 pm then you are most likely having a pattern of Stomach deficiency.

On the other hand, the peak time of the Heart is from 11 am to 1 pm. This is the time when most heart attacks happen. And if we take a look into the trough hours, around midnight, it is the most common hour of heart failure happening.

You can also note when you are experiencing certain symptoms and according to the Organ Clock, you can make a pretty good suggestion of where the problem may be. Dig a little deeper into the characteristics of the symptoms to see if they are by excess or deficiency and you are on your way to go to fix the problem.

The importance of a steady sleep schedule

If you take a close look at the divisions of the blocks and the flow of Qi around the day, you will find that many vital organs in charge of anabolic and synthesis functions are most active at night in times when you must be sleeping.

The Liver peaks from 1 to 3 am, this is the optimal time for the Liver to do its cleansing and detoxing function. But the Liver needs rest to be able to perform this task correctly. If you have a disturbed or irregular sleep schedule you are interfering with this organ’s physiology.

If you look even further, there is a combination of anabolic-focused organs peaking at times when you are supposed to be sleeping. Remember, the night is Yin in nature and is associated with the resting, recovering, and repairing functions.

Keep a steady sleep schedule, one that gets you to bed before 1 am and you will see your life get better.

The yearly Clock

As promised, now I’m going to tell you about the other biological rhythm we have. This one is a year-round cycle.

It is connected with the Five Elements theory and explains that each season represents an Element and the organ associated with such element. In this cycle, there are also peaks and troughs in energy. You can leverage this yearly clock to make smart decisions regarding your health and habits.

It is also useful when treating diseases.

The Yearly Organ Clock goes like this:

• Winter is associated with the Water element and the coupled organs are the Kidneys and the Bladder. Your Yin is at its highest as are your recovery functions. This is the ideal time to rest, go to bed earlier, spend more time at home, eating hearty meals and meat. You must take this time to reflect and prepare for the next year. Keep yourself warm and avoid cold.
• Spring is associated with Wood and the coupled organs are the Liver and the Gallbladder. Yang begins to rise and so do your vitality and biorhythm. This is an ideal time to start the year strong and get the momentum going. Beware of pollen and respiratory infections and Wind which is the main molester of the Wood element.
• Summer is associated with Fire and the coupled organs are the Heart and the Small intestine as well as the Pericardium and Triple Burner. Your Yang is at its highest. This is the best time to bring your vitality to the maximum. In this season you can eat cooling foods and its better to have meals not as heavy as in the winter. Eat cooling foods like fruits and vegetables, Exercise like you want and avoid Heat and Summer heat (which can mean sunstroke)
• Late summer or the 5th season is associated with Earth and the coupled organs are the Spleen and Stomach. This is the time to look for a balance between the excess activity and energy you have had in the year and start preparing for the gathering and storing seasons. Stay away from excess sweets and sugars, and protect yourself from dampness. Your digestive function is peaking but don’t stress it.
• Autumn/Fall is associated with Metal and the coupled organs are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. Yin is beginning to rise. This is the season in which you begin to prepare for winter. Protect yourself from dryness and make sure you are choosing nutrient-dense foods, bone broths, and stews. Life begins to contract and retreat preparing for winter.

How TCM doctors use it

This yearly clock is used in TCM clinics to provide you with dietary guidelines and behavior tools to improve your health as well as treat whatever disease you may be suffering from.

In the traditional theory, it is better to treat a disease in the season it originated. So if you got the disease in Spring and it’s summer, the best practice is to control it until Spring comes and then get rid of it. This secures better results.

The Chinese classics also say it is important to treat a disease in the time and season of its origin. Allergies that arise in the spring are treated in the same season to achieve the greatest results. Rheumatism that occurs after exposure to the cold of winter may become full blown in spring, yet it must be treated during the season of its origin, winter, and may only be palliated in spring, summer, and fall. Patience becomes practical virtue since it is often necessary to return full cycle and wait for the most propitious time to resolve a dysfunctional pattern.

Harriet Beinfield, Between Heaven and earth.

Final thoughts

You have two major rhythms in your body: your circadian rhythm and your yearly cycle.

These cycles reflect the circulation of Qi through your body and also in the world throughout the year. They are deeply rooted in Taoist philosophy and the Five Elements theory.

Knowing how your daily and yearly cycles look like and work will allow you to make better decision when it comes to health and even anticipate the onset of illnesses.

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