Awake at Night? The Answer May Lie in the Chinese Body Clock

Find yourself awake around the same time every night? SAME! Lately, for me, this is between the hours of 1 am and 3 am. Pretty much the worst time to be lying in bed, counting sheep and wondering why the heck you’re not asleep.

There are plenty of reasons why you are awake at night. Most of us have trouble sleeping at some stage in our lives and this could be due to so many factors, from stress to poor diet. Many people can easily fall asleep but have trouble staying asleep while others may toss and turn for hours every night before finally settling into sleep.

Whatever the case, it can be frustrating, exhausting and frightening. Knowing you have a full day and lying awake at night brings out a new level of anxiety, which, in turn, makes it even harder to get back to sleep.

On one of my many late-night Googling quests to figure out why I keep waking up at the same time every night, I uncovered the potential answer in something known as the Chinese Body Clock.

The Chinese Body Clock explained

The Chinese Medicine’s 24-hour body clock is divided into 12 two-hour intervals of the Qi (vital force) moving through the organ system.

Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the Chinese body clock is based on the idea that you can make the most of your energy and specific organs by using them when they’re at their peak.

Throughout a 24-hour day, the body’s Qi (life force or energy) cycles through the various organ systems. This idea suggests that each organ has a two-hour window during which it performs at its best. Each window is also associated with certain feelings which may be stronger during this time.

Chinese Medicine practitioners use The Organ Body Clock to help them determine the organ responsible for diseases but it can also indicate what part of your body could be out of sync. For example, if you find yourself awake at a certain period during the night (like 1 am to 3 am, for example), this could be an indication that your liver may not be functioning as well as it should.

Dr. Lana Moshkovich from Nirvana Naturopathics explains the two-hour window, which organ is at its peak and which emotions are attached to each window.

Making the most of the Chinese Body Clock during the day

5 am to 7 am: Large Intestine | Poop and Prep

This is the perfect time to have a bowel movement and remove toxins from the day before. It is also the ideal time to wash your body and comb your hair.

It is believed that combing your hair helps to clear out energy from the mind. At this time, emotions of defensiveness or feelings of being stuck could be evoked.

7 am to 9 am: Stomach | Eat

Eat the biggest meal of the day here to optimise digestion and absorption. Warm meals that are high in nutrition are best in the morning. Emotions that are likely to be stirred at this time include disgust or despair.

9 am to 11 am: Spleen | Productive time

Enzymes are released to help digest food and release energy for the day ahead. This is the ideal time to exercise and work. Do your most taxing tasks of the day at this time. Emotions such as low self-esteem may be felt at this time.

11 am to 1 pm: Heart | Reduce stress and rest

Because the heart represents peacefulness, it’s essential to reduce stress during this period. Having a one-hour nap or a cup of tea is also recommended during this time. Feelings of extreme joy or sadness can also be experienced at this time.

1 pm to 3 pm: Small Intestine | Digestion and exercise

This is the optimal time for digestion. This is also a good time to go about daily tasks or exercise. Sometimes, vulnerable thoughts or feelings of abandonment may subconsciously arise at this time.

3 pm to 5 pm: Bladder | Brain activities

This is when metabolic wastes move into the kidney’s filtration system. This is the perfect time to study or complete brain-challenging work. Feeling irritated or timid may also occur at this time.

5 pm to 7 pm: Kidneys | Eat and walk

This is when the blood is filtered and the kidneys work to maintain proper chemical balance. It’s the ideal time to have dinner and to activate your circulation either by walking, having a massage or stretching. Subconscious thoughts of fear or terror can also be active at this time.

7 pm to 9 pm: Circulation | Conceive or read

Nutrients are carried to the capillaries and to each cell. This is the perfect time to read, have sex or conceive. Avoid doing mental activities at this time.

Night Time Body Clock – Why Am I Awake at Night??

9 pm to 11 pm: Triple Heater/Endocrine System | Wind down and sleep

Chinese practitioners recommend that you should be asleep at this stage to fully allow your body to heal and enzymes to be replenished. Being awake at this time may lead to feelings of paranoia or confusion. This period is thought to be when it generates the most amount of heat.

Why Am I Awake at Night?

According to the Yinova Center,

“Triple energizer controls intake, transformation, and elimination. It also regulates your immune system and can be disturbed by anesthesia. Survival feelings may surface and you may feel like everything is a threat to your physical and emotional being, you may not be able to fall asleep or wake up shortly after falling asleep, frightened and confused.”

11 pm-1 am: Gall Bladder | Sleep

If you’re awake at night at this time, it could impact your energy levels the next day as this is when your body should be at rest. In Chinese medicine, this period is when yin energy fades and yang energy begins to grow. Yang energy helps you to keep active during the day and is stored when you are asleep.

Why Am I Awake?

The Yinova Center explains that if you are having trouble sleeping at this stage, it might have to do with your diet. You may also need to take a look at your diet and eat healthier oils. Trouble sleeping during the gallbladder zone may also have to do with being resentful or angry at someone.

1 am to 3 am: Liver | Sleep

Your body should be asleep during this two-hour window which is the Liver’s time to shine. This is when toxins are released from the body and fresh new blood is made.

If you find yourself waking during this time, you could have too much yang energy or problems with your liver or detoxification pathways. In other words – your liver is working overtime. It might be wise to start cutting back on alcohol and other toxins.

The Yinova Center also suggests that being awake at night at this time may also suggest hormonal imbalances and digestive problems. This is also the most common time for people to have trouble sleeping.

“In Chinese medicine, the liver is said to open in the eyes and can be associated with inner seeing. Similarly to the gall bladder, a liver imbalance may manifest itself as anxiety, guilt, rage, anger, and frustration – all self-directed.”

3 am to 5 am: Lungs | Sleep, meditate or exercise if you’re an early riser

Most of us are asleep at this time but this is when the lungs are at peak energy so it makes sense that many runners like to use this time to get a PB. But, for the normal non-early risers, this is the time when the body should be asleep and letting your lungs replenish the body with oxygen.

If you are awake at this time, it could indicate something is wrong with your lungs. The lungs are also associated with grief and sadness so this may be another reason you can’t sleep at this time – you may be processing grief. Try deep breathing exercises and meditation.

As Dr. Lana Moshkovich explains,

Understanding that every organ has a repair/maintenance schedule to keep on a daily basis offers you the opportunity to learn how to treat yourself for improved health and well-being.

It also allows you to identify exactly which organ system or emotion needs strengthening/resolving. Always use your symptoms and body cues as a guide.

Make sure to look at the emotional aspect too. If you’re sleepy during kidney time, do you have any fears holding you back from reaching your true potential? Are you afraid of rejection? Failure? Addressing this emotion will strengthen the organ and improve your physical health forever.”

To all the mums out there who are lying awake at night and having trouble sleeping, we hope this insight into the Chinese Body Clock helps. Consider aligning your day (as much as you can) to the activities suggested above and see if that helps too.