What Does It Mean To Keep Waking Up At The Same Hours Every Night In Chinese Medicine?

What Is The Body Clock In Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an old way of taking care of health that originated thousands of years ago in China. It may have also influenced several other traditional healings such as Ayurveda and traditional middle eastern healing cultures.

These traditional healing cultures think of the human bodies and disease states very differently than modern medicine does. So, they often have explanations and solutions for problems that modern medicine may not even consider. For example, at some point in your life, you may struggle with waking up at specific times during the night over and over. These waking-up tendencies come and go, sometimes in response to certain life events or lifestyle changes.

TCM believes your body has a unique clock with 12 parts, and each part is linked to a specific organ and energy channel. This TCM clock is called the body clock. It is related to the sun and moon’s natural patterns.

Each two-hour interval in the body clock is associated with a specific organ system and energy meridian. Chinese medicine considers waking up at specific times a sign of imbalances in these organs and channels. 

What Does It Mean To Wake Up At Midnight, Or Between 11 PM – 1 AM?

This time is associated with the gallbladder and liver meridians. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body, and when it’s out of balance, it can cause insomnia. Waking up during this time may indicate that the liver is working too hard, possibly due to strong emotions like anger and worry or an unhealthy diet.

What Does It Mean To Wake Up Between 1 AM – 3 AM?

This time is associated with the liver and lung meridians. The lungs play a crucial role in the movement of Qi throughout the body. When the lung and liver meridians are out of balance, you may struggle to fall asleep. Waking up during this time may indicate unresolved emotional issues such as grief or sadness, cortisol imbalance, or an imbalance in these organs.

What Does It Mean To Wake Up Between 2 – 4 AM?

This time is associated with the lung and large intestine meridians. The large intestine is responsible for eliminating waste from the body, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of Qi. When these meridians are out of balance, they can wake or keep you up during these hours. Waking up during this time may indicate emotional issues such as guilt or regret, suboptimal breathing, and an imbalance in these organs. 

What Does It Mean To Wake Up Between 3 – 5 AM?

This time is associated with the lung and spleen meridians. The spleen plays a crucial role in the production of Qi. And when it’s out of balance, it can wake you up or keep you up during these hours. 

Waking up during this time may indicate that the body is trying to release emotions such as worry, stress, or an imbalance in these organs. It is also common for a drop in blood sugar during the night to lead to waking up around this time. The need to use the restroom or physical discomfort could also disrupt sleep.

What Does It Mean To Wake Up Between 4 – 6 AM

This time is associated with the large intestine and stomach meridians. The stomach is responsible for digestion, and it plays a crucial role in producing Qi. When the stomach is out of balance, it can keep or wake you up during these hours. Waking up during this time may indicate that your body is trying to release emotions related to overthinking or overeating and an imbalance in these organs. Hormonal imbalances or changes in sleep patterns could also be factors.

How To Sleep Through The Night If You Keep Waking Up At The Same Hours

TCM provides a range of techniques to help restore balance to the body’s organs and energy meridians and promote better sleep. Some of these techniques include:

• Acupuncture: This TCM technique involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of Qi and restore balance.
• Herbal Medicine: Certain herbs can help rebalance and move Qi, which helps improve sleep quality. Herbal medicine can be taken in the form of teas, tinctures, or capsules.
• Dietary Adjustments: TCM practitioners may recommend eating certain foods to help restore balance and promote better sleep.
• Exercise: Physical activity is believed to help improve the flow of Qi throughout the body and promote overall health and well-being. Exercise can also help reduce stress and calm down the body, which can make it hard to fall asleep.
• Stress Management Techniques: Practices such as meditation, tai chi, or qi gong.

In addition to the techniques mentioned above, TCM also emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle to promote better sleep and overall health. This includes getting enough restful sleep, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress.

One of the unique features of TCM is its focus on the individual and keeping them in optimal health. TCM practitioners take a personalized approach to healthcare, taking into account a person’s unique constitution, lifestyle, and environment. By considering these factors, TCM practitioners can develop a treatment plan tailored to the individual’s needs.

It’s important to note that TCM is a complementary approach to healthcare and should not replace modern medical care. If you’re waking up at the same time each night, it’s essential to talk to a licensed healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause of your sleep disturbances and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.

TCM provides a holistic approach to healthcare that can help promote better sleep and overall health and well-being. By understanding the body clock and its relationship to the body’s organs and energy meridians, TCM practitioners can provide personalized diagnosis and treatment based on individual needs to help restore balance and promote better sleep.

Our customers who take Sleep Breakthrough find it easier to go back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of the night. Also, Dream Optimizer can make it easier to fall back asleep.