TCM Circadian System
By Tian Li, L.AC
Today, let's talk in detail about Traditional Chinese Medicine’s circadian system. The TCM circadian system corresponds to each meridian, which in turn, corresponds with each of our major internal organs and plays a significant role in our health regulation and preservation. Violet Wellness Spa’s signature Meridian Massage is developed based on this theory. Learning about the TCM circadian system will enhance your ability to live a healthier life style. The way to health preservation begins with good living habits.
Following is a description of the 12 meridian cycles, the period when they are active and the details you can understand and utilize for optimum health.
Yin Shi (3:00 am-5:00 am) Hand Tai Yin Lung Meridian
The circulation of blood in the human body depends on the promotion of Qi. The lung governs breathing and regulates the Qi of the whole body. At this time, the hand TaiYin lung meridian is vigorous, which helps the lung Qi regulate and distribute blood to the whole body. The lung governs the will and the redistribution of Qi and blood is completed by the lung.
The Qi of the human body is all about letting nature take its course, that is, starting from the lung meridian. The time when people sleep the deepest should be from 3 am to 5 am. This is the time of process within the human body that Qi and blood go from static to dynamic, which is completed through deep sleep.
On the other hand, people with weak lung immunity or poor lung detoxification ability are likely to wake up during this time period. This is the body reminding you that there is a problem with your lungs. There is no need for medical instrument examination, Chinese medicine naturally attributes these conditions to the body’s natural rhythm, this is where Chinese medicine is powerful.
Mao Shi (5:00 am-7:00 am) Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Meridian
At this time, the day starts bright, and people should defecate normally to excrete waste toxins, so you should develop the habit of defecation in the morning. Use this time period to clean up the residue in the large intestine. This will ensure that the stomach and intestines will be clean, and the complexion will be better and not dull. If your whole family gets up to rush to the toilet, it means that your whole family is healthy!
According to Chinese medicine, the lungs and large intestine are the exterior and interior, and there will be defecation only when the lung Qi is sufficient. Chinese medicine asks about defecation to know how your heart and lung function is. Children's stools are formed and very thick, which is a sign of strong heart and lungs. When the stool is particularly thin, it means that the heart and lungs are particularly poor.
In addition, taking laxatives to treat constipation is counterproductive. It is temporary, consumes a lot of human vitality and will lead to development of a strong dependence. Once it is stopped, constipation will occur again.
Chen Shi (7:00 am-9:00 am) Foot Yang Ming Stomach Meridian
The stomach is most active at this time, so you must eat breakfast. It is best to massage the stomach meridian at this time every day, it’s like starting the power generation system of the human body.
The meridian Qi and blood are all raised at this time from the Yang of the midnight. This is the time when the Yang of heaven and earth is the most prosperous. It is easiest for people to digest and absorb breakfast at this time, so breakfast should be eaten well.
If you don't put the stomach to work, it will keep secreting gastric acid. Bile secretion is also very strong. If you are hungry for a long time, you will have problems such as gastric ulcers, gastritis, duodenitis, cholecystitis, and gallstones.
You will not gain weight if you eat a good breakfast, because the spleen meridian and stomach meridian are in charge of transportation, distributing the nutrients to the body. So, you must eat a good breakfast.
If you eat and sleep according to the laws of nature, you will not get sick easily. Many people take dinner as the main meal and ignore lunch and breakfast. This pattern will produce negative consequences to your health. You must eat breakfast! The importance of eating breakfast is summarized as "spring rain is as precious as oil," a Chinese proverb highlighting the vital role of rain in spring for agriculture, particularly in areas where spring rain is scarce. Most people with big bellies don't eat breakfast very often, their dinner is the big meal of the day!
If you have stomachache, stomach acid, bloating and other digestion problems, it is recommended to nourish the stomach during this time period. Additionally, techniques such as massaging the stomach meridian and acupressure or get acupuncture on stomach meridian at this time, because this period is the time when the stomach meridian opens and runs.
Si Shi (9:00 am-11:00 am) Tai Yin Spleen Meridian of the Foot
The spleen is the foundation of acquired nature, responsible for transportation, transformation and the muscles of the whole body. In Chinese medicine theory, "The spleen and stomach are the officials of the granary, and the five flavors come out of them." The stomach is responsible for receiving, and the spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation. They participate in the digestion and absorption of food together, one Yin and one Yang. The spleen is mainly responsible for transporting the Qi and blood of the decomposed food to the muscles and skin.
Breakfast eaten at the time of ChenShi (7-9 am), will mobilize the spleen's transportation and transformation function. In addition to absorbing the essence of water and grain and nourishing the whole body, it is also beneficial to the function of the spleen and makes people energetic. The spleen is responsible for thinking and is also related to wisdom. This is the best time for learning and thinking, and it is used to study and work with half the effort.
Among the five internal organs, the spleen is like a busy little maid, but if she is sick, our five internal organs will be uncomfortable, and we will get the so-called modern diseases, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, etc.
If the lips are moist and plump, the spleen's transportation and transformation function is good. If the spleen function is good, the person's muscles will be well developed.
If the human body has obesity, drooling, swelling, fatigue and other problems, they are all spleen diseases. This period is when our spleen meridian opens and runs, and it is also the best time to protect the spleen.
Our 1-hour meridian massage in the morning is for the stomach meridian and spleen meridian. The 1.5-hour massage will add the pericardium and small intestine meridians that are connected to the stomach and spleen.
Zhong Wu (11:00 am-1:00 pm) Heart Meridian of Hand Shao Yin
Chinese culture attaches great importance to midnight and noon. The characteristic of noon is that is when Yin is born. The movement of the whole morning is all Yang energy, and this is when one Yin is born. Midnight and noon are the turning points of the Qi of heaven and earth, and the human body should also pay attention to this turning point.
The Qi of heaven and earth is transformed during this time period. When it is transformed, we should not stir it. You don’t have that much power to interfere with the Qi of heaven and earth, so what should we do? Rest, and respond to all changes with the same attitude. "If you don't sleep at midnight, you will lose your Yin, and if you don't rest at noon, you will hurt your Yang." In the ancient way of keeping healthy, people always advocated for a good "midday nap." It is best to take a nap at noon, even if it is only 15 or 20 minutes, you can just close your eyes and relax your mind. At this time, the heart meridian is working, and the most important function of "midday nap" is to nourish the heart. "The heart is the official of the monarch, and the spirit comes out of it."
Only when the heart is full of Qi and blood, and the mind is nourished, can normal life activities, a clear mind and spirit be maintained. Many people like to go to the gym at noon, thinking that they are exercising, but in fact they are going against the Qi of heaven and earth and hurting their hearts. I often see people riding bicycles and running outside at noon, and I always worry about them, I wish more people would know this ancient wisdom.
Wei Shi (1:00 pm-3:00 pm) Hand Tai Yang Small Intestine Meridian
The small intestine is the main absorber. Its function is to absorb the essence of food that has been decomposed by the spleen and stomach, and then turn it into nutrients for distribution to the various organs. This is the time that lunch nutrients are absorbed into the human body and when the small intestine is most energetic. If it is not absorbed well, it will form garbage and toxins in the human body.
The heart and small intestine are exterior and interior, the exterior is Yang, and the interior is Yin. If there is a problem with Yang, there will be a problem with Yin. Conversely, heart disease is likely to manifest in the small intestine meridian at the beginning.
Some patients will feel chest tightness and panic at around 2 o'clock every afternoon, but they can't find any heart problems when they go to the hospital. In fact, it means that your heart problem has begun to show.
Some people feel sleepy and tired after lunch. In fact, it is also a manifestation of weak heart and small intestine function. There is also a modern disease, inexplicable shoulder and neck pain, which is actually related to the weakness of the heart meridian and small intestine meridian. The small intestine meridian goes behind the shoulder joints and shoulder blades.
Our one-hour massage during the noon period will target the heart and small intestine meridians. The massage will add the gallbladder and spleen meridians that connect the heart and small intestine.
Shen Shi (3:00 pm-5:00 pm) Foot Tai Yang Bladder Meridian
The Yang Qi continues to decline at Shen Shi, while the Yin Qi gradually increases, and the bladder meridian is at its peak.
The bladder meridian is responsible for the discharge of urine and sweat from the human body. It is the largest detoxification system in the human body. It is known as the Sun in traditional Chinese medicine. It runs from the heel along the sides and the back of the legs and the middle of the posterior spine, all the way up to the brain. It is a longest meridian in the back of the human body,
It is precisely because the Foot-Tai Yang bladder meridian is a meridian that can reach the brain that memory loss is also related to the bladder meridian. The main reason is that the Yang Qi cannot come up, and the Qi and blood above are not enough, so memory loss occurs.
This is a good time to review and study, so the ancients advocated "learning in the morning and reviewing in the evening." At this time, because the Qi and blood are easily transferred to the brain, the learning efficiency will be very high.
At this time, you can drink more water to help the body eliminate toxins through urine.
You Shi (5:00 pm-7:00 pm) Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian
The essence of the kidney is the basis of the body's life activities. The human body goes through the Shen Shi to purge fire and detoxify, and the kidney enters the stage of storing essence in the Youshi.
One manifestation of sufficient kidney essence is high ambition, and wisdom is also a manifestation of sufficient kidney essence. For example: the elderly with insufficient essence will not have high ambitions and will not be motivated to do many things; while children or Yang people with sufficient kidney essence will have high ambitions, so if people want to do great things, they must first protect their kidney essence.
This is the best time to collect Yang energy in the day, and it is also the best time to replenish the kidney. At this time, intense exercise will lose a lot of essence.
For people with kidney problems, they will feel tired and weak at this time, and their eyes will feel tired even. This is the body sending out a warning. At this time, massaging the acupoints of the foot Shao Yin kidney meridian will have the most obvious effect of tonifying the kidney.
Our one-hour meridian massage in the afternoon will target the bladder meridian and kidney meridian. One and a half hours will add the meridians that are connected to the bladder meridian and kidney meridian - the lung and triple burner meridians.
Xu Shi (7:00 pm-9:00 pm) Hand Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian
What is the pericardium? The pericardium is the outer membrane tissue of the heart, which mainly serves to protect our heart and reduce pressure on the heart. The heart is not affected by negative energy, so what is affected by negative energy? The pericardium is affected by negative energy, and many people's heart problems can be attributed to pericardium meridian diseases.
The periphery of the heart is responsible for a function of the heart called joy. The pericardium meridian is responsible for joy. During this time, you must keep your mood happy, relax, and release stress.
Don't do strenuous exercise or play pickle ball at this time, otherwise you will easily suffer from insomnia. The best exercise is walking, yoga, meditation, and Qigong, which can help digestion and benefit the heart.
Hai Shi (9:00 pm-11:00 pm) Shao Yang Sanjiao Meridian
Hai Shi is the time for the Sanjiao Meridian. In Chinese medicine, the Sanjiao Meridian is a very special concept, referring to the area that connects the internal organs. It is like a city's road network that can connect all of the internal organs.
Hai Shi Sanjiao connects all meridians. If people rest at Hai Shi, all meridians can be cultivated, and the body and face can be nourished. The collagen under our skin is also controlled by the Sanjiao. The so-called beauty sleep is to fall asleep at this time! Many people think that as long as I sleep for 8 hours, I have a good sleep! But if you miss the time for the Sanjiao to fall asleep, your collagen will be lost quickly! Many people who live long lives have a common characteristic, that is, sleeping at this time. Unfortunately, few modern people can do this, so fewer and fewer people have rosy complexions, and more and more people put on makeup!
This is the best time for us to relax and enjoy the intimacy 💕
From the hour of Hai (9:00 pm) to the beginning of the hour of Yin (3:00 am), it is the time for the human body to recuperate and innovate. At this time, people rotate with the earth to the side facing away from the sun, which is equivalent to the "winter" of the day. It is a good time for people to sleep, so that they can have a good physical and mental state.
Zi Shi (11:00 pm-1:00 am) Foot Shao Yang Gallbladder Meridian
Zi Shi is the place where the Yang begins to move, and growth has not yet begun. Zi Shi is the golden sleep stage, and high-quality sleep is the guardian of health.
According to Chinese medicine, staying up late will damage the Yin fluid, the body fluid will not turn into blood, and the blood will not produce body fluid. After a long time, it will form heart and lung Yin deficiency, and irritability, palpitations, restlessness and other conditions will follow.
Zi and Chou are also the best time for beauty. Poor metabolism caused by staying up late at this time can easily show up on the skin.
Only when people fall asleep before Zi can the gallbladder complete metabolism. "The clearer the gallbladder, the clearer the brain." Those who fall asleep before Zi will have a clear mind and rosy complexion after waking up in the morning.
There is a saying in the Huangdi Neijing that "all eleven organs are derived from the gallbladder." The gallbladder is the place where the Yang originates. Whether the Yang energy of the human body can renew depends on the proper function of the gallbladder. When the gallbladder functions properly, the Qi and blood of the whole body can follow.
Chou Shi (1:00 am-3:00 am) Foot Jue Yin Liver Meridian
People's thinking and actions rely on the support of liver blood. The toxins in the blood are eliminated and fresh blood is produced. This metabolic process is usually completed at Chou Shi when the liver meridian is the most prosperous.
When a person lies down, blood returns to the liver. If you don't fall asleep at Chou time, the liver is still outputting energy and cannot complete metabolism. Therefore, those who don't fall asleep before Chou time have a grayish complexion, are tired and irritable, and are prone to liver disease.
Many people wake up between 1 and 3 am, which actually means that there is something wrong with the liver. Clinically, patients diagnosed with liver cancer were very likely unable to fall asleep at this time for as long as two years or more. Chinese medicine doctors know it is the liver as soon as they hear that their patient’s sleep followed this pattern. Western medicine is still doing various instrument tests to diagnose the disease, missing this important clue. When you can't fall asleep at the beginning, you can try acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbal medicine. You don't need to wait until the disease comes to you before you rush to solve it. In fact, it's already too late!
This circadian rhythm is the meridian flow of Chinese medicine, which is also timing medicine. The meridians of the body are like plants and trees that need to be cultivated frequently to grow luxuriously and stay healthy! Follow this cycle and adhere to the rhythm for good health.