Waking up in the middle of the night? Perhaps your internal bio clock is trying to tell you something.
For thousands of years, the sleep and wake cycles of human beings have largely evolved to be in synchronistic formation with the rhythms of nature and cycles of the seasons. Before electricity, people would naturally wake up upon sunrise and fall asleep shortly after sundown. Sleep disorders were rare hundreds of years ago and infrequently mentioned in the older classical Chinese medicinal and acupuncture texts. It wasn’t until the last hundred or so years after the advancement of modern technology that human beings started to experience more sleep issues. Modern technology, although wonderful in its myriad of positive contributions to the human experience, is not always as conducive when it comes to natural sleep bio- rhythms. In modern times, we often find ourselves awake and overstimulated long after sundown. This desynchronization with natural rhythms can adversely affect our capacity to indulge in a restful night of sleep and could eventually, over time, negatively impact our health.
As an Acupuncturist, it is part of my job to evaluate biological rhythms and patterns within the body. When a patient comes into my clinic with specific sleep concerns, I consider many factors, including the natural flow of vital energy or Qi through the body as it corresponds to the ancient system of the Chinese Bio-Clock. Although developed over 2000 years ago, the Chinese Bio-Clock is strikingly similar to the more modern Nobel Prize winning concept of Circadian Biology or Chronobiology as both systems explore the way in which internal clocks or circadian rhythms affect sleep and the internal organs. The main difference being that TCM evaluates daily rhythms and imbalances through a more energetic lens based on the way in which Qi circulates through the organs within a 24-hour period and Circadian Biology assesses daily oscillations on a more molecular level. Both perspectives are significant and add valuable insight into various physiological processes of the human body.
For Acupuncturists, understanding the energetic rhythms of the Chinese Bio-Clock is especially valuable when treating sleep disturbances, especially for those who are prone to waking up in the middle of the night at specific times and unable to fall easily back to sleep again.
In the Chinese Bio-Clock system each meridian represents an organ system within the body. Each organ system is more strongly affected by qi flow during certain hours. Below we will examine the Chinese Bio-Clock organ systems, the corresponding hours of predominant energetic activity and how these rhythms affect sleep.
9 PM - 11 PM / Triple Burner
In TCM theory the Triple Burner system is known to control fluid metabolism and can be closely tied to the endocrine and lymphatic systems. Most energetically active during 9pm-11pm, the Triple Burner is most efficient during what ideally would kick off the first half of the sleep cycle, initiating Slow Wave Sleep (SWS). During SWS the hormone cortisol is reduced, allowing the body to better relax and restore itself. Some of the best physiological restoration occurs during the first phase of sleep so it’s no surprise that the Triple Burner is most active during these hours.
11 PM - 1 AM / Gall Bladder
The gall bladder stores and secretes bile, which greatly aids in digestion and helping to break down fats. In TCM, it also responsible for tendons and sinews as well as decision making and courage. Sometimes waking up during gallbladder hours can signify a digestive issue, tendon issue or a difficult decision. If you find you are waking up between these hours it might be best to avoid fatty foods and snacking before bed.
1 AM - 3 AM / Liver
In TCM, the liver is responsible for detoxification of harmful substances and emotional processing. It is associated with the emotion anger. Thus If you find that you are waking up during liver hours, than you might be in a period of high stress or have unresolved anger. Consider constructive ways to unwind such as acupuncture, exercise, deep breathing, meditation. It is also beneficial to stay away from unhealthy foods and alcohol as they can hinder the liver’s ability to efficiently detoxify the body.
3 AM - 5 AM / Lung
The lung system in TCM is related to the Immune and respiratory system and its corresponding emotion is grief. Waking up during lung hours may possibly denote feelings of depression, sadness or grief. Other imbalances within the lung system include allergies, colds, asthma, shortness of breath, respiratory or immune conditions. If waking up during lung hours, consider yoga and deep breathing exercises to help strengthen and improve lung capacity. It is also advisable to address feelings of sadness or grief by talking to a friend, loved one or therapist or through meditation or journaling.
Realizing the connection between how energy moves through both the Bio-Clock organ system and within nature during daily and seasonal cycles can be of great benefit to our health and wellbeing. In Chinese medicine there is an old adage “As above so below” which helps us understand congruences between the cyclical fluctuations of nature in relation to the rhythms and cycles of the human body. In other words, it is as though the human body can be viewed as a miniature representation of the natural world. It’s also a good reminder to better align ourselves with more natural cycles. This could be as easy as not using electronic devices an hour or two before sleep or for a more systemic whole-body approach you could realign your natural sleep rhythms through acupuncture. Acupuncture is more than just the placement of needles; its core foundation is based on a deep understanding of complex patterns and cycles at work within the body. It operates on both a physical and energetic level to restore the body back into its natural balance and rhythm. Acupuncture does not only serve to improve the quality of your sleep but also greatly improves your mood and overall health.
Astra Gordon LAc. ACN