We are all aware that natural biological cycles exist, for instance the year, the moon and the day. According to Chinese Medicine all our inner organs each have a time during the day when they are more active. However, “These are not organs as understood by Western medicine but instead represent a much broader concept, embracing multilevel bodily functions, emotions, psychic aspects, and spiritual abilities.”
The Chinese Organ Clock can guide us toward activities that are best suited to and supported by that time of day. Synchronizing our daily life with the Organ Clock is a very effective way to preserve good health, improve immunity and resist disease.
The Chinese Organ Clock can also allow us to recognize areas where disturbances may be occurring so that we may receive appropriate treatment, often long before the symptoms lead to illness.
5am – 7am : Colon Time
We must be empty to receive.
Blood concentrates in the large intestines. So perhaps it is not too surprising that a lot of people have a bowel movement first thing in the morning. If the bowels don’t eliminate regularly, we may experience feeling stuck, cynical, dismissive, or brain-fog.
7am – 9am : Stomach Time
Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast during this time because the Stomach is prepared to take in nourishment that will become energy. Otherwise, we may have trouble receiving in other areas in life and feel emotionally unstable, spaced out or unsatisfied.
9am – 11am : Spleen Time
Spleen time is suited for transforming, transferring and assimilating our breakfast, blood and energy throughout the body. This is usually a period of high alertness so use it to your advantage. If out of balance, we could become worried, stuck, be unable to concentrate or as if we are going around in circles.
11am – 1pm : Heart Time
The Heart really dislikes heat. That is why a siesta is taken in warmer countries at this time of day.
Ancient Daoists recommend taking a short nap or at least reducing activity at this time. It’s even more important for middle-aged and old people because afternoon naps help improve immunity, and help prevent coronary heart disease, hypertension, gastritis and dementia, and prolong life.
It’s not a good idea to go for a run or exercise during these hours as this generates stress and heat, which weaken the Heart. The Heart is strengthened when calm, joyful and stress-free.
When not in balance, panic, anxiety, a need to be in control and a lack of enthusiasm may develop.
1pm – 3pm : Small Intestine Time
Now is the best time to have lunch because it gives the Liver the most possible time to completely process the meal. Small Intestine time is when we separate the pure from the impure, and assimilate our experiences from the outside world into our inside world. It’s also a good time for exercise and to get things done. Our coordination is best right now. If there is an imbalance, we can become polluted, confused or sarcastic.
3pm – 5pm : Bladder Time
Bladder time is when our endurance and ambition are highly accessible. We also have our greatest cardiovascular efficiency, muscle strength and fastest reaction time now. The Bladder is strengthened by salty foods so consider having a cup of miso soup at this time. If the Bladder is imbalanced, we can drown in torrents of ideas or have a dried up lack of flow.
5pm – 7pm : Kidney Time
Like the Bladder, the Kidney is also strengthened by salty foods, which would be good to consume at these hours. Slowing down now is a good idea since our blood pressure is now highest. Try to make some time to go within (even for a few minutes), and connect with and nourish one’s sense of direction and inner trust, will to live, inner strength and power. The Kidney is weakened by fear, so avoid watching horror movies at these hours. Otherwise, feelings of weakness, debility, resignation and lack of willpower may result.
7pm – 9pm : Pericardium/Heart Protector Time
Some associate Heart Protector Time with good circulation and peak reproductive organ function. We want to do activities that feed and nourish the heart rather than cause it any stress. Perhaps we can share a healthy dinner or spend time connecting with our loved ones or community. When not balanced, we may become vulnerable, overly sensitive, withdrawn and joyless.
9pm – 11pm : Triple Warmer Time
“The Upper Burner controls intake, the Middle Burner controls transformation, the Lower Burner controls elimination.” On a spiritual level this seems similar to how we receive things in our life. Things, people, experiences come into our awareness and we then choose how to take them in, transform them and eliminate them. Now is a good time for slowing down, deepening relationships and making love. Otherwise, we can have difficulty adjusting to others, experience hot and cold emotions, a volcanic temper, and temperature and fluid regulation issues.
11pm – 1am : Gall Bladder Time
We should now be asleep. The Gall Bladder makes for wise and pure judgment and there is truth in the old adage that “we make the best decisions while asleep”. When not balanced, we can be indecisive, procrastinating, rigid, prejudice, and lack direction.
1 am – 3 am: Liver Time
Ensuring we are asleep at these hours means that more energy can be used in detoxifying and processing toxins and emotions. Liver time supports our goals, desires, strategic plans and creativity.
If you find yourself waking up at 1am-3am, it may be because you have anger or frustration in your life that is overwhelming. Other signs of imbalance are aimlessness, disorganization, uptightness, inflexibility and hopelessness.
3am – 5am: Lung Time
This is the best time for the Lungs to recharge to ensure you have enough breath, energy, inspiration, and mental clarity for the day ahead. Being asleep at these hours is important to enable optimal rest of the Lungs. It is also easy to connect to that which is bigger than us now. Spiritual seekers wake now to pray, meditate, practice Chi Gong, Tai Chi, yoga and breathing.
If you find yourself waking at these hours, it is often linked to grief. Other signs of imbalance are inertness, feelings of unworthiness and criticalness.
More info:
http://straightbamboo.com/eat-sleep-breathe/resting-regular-life/