In Part 1 I discussed the basic concept of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ‘Meridian Clock’ and how it can give you insight into why you are waking up at the same time each night. As I mentioned before, the 12 meridians that sit within the clock have many responsibilities, pathways of energy and connections to different aspects of being: your mind, emotions, body and spirit. When we are in balance, each meridian is flowing and not expressing dis-ease. Let’s now look further into this incredibly useful wisdom.
Is it an aspect of your life that wakes you up at night?
Maybe you’re a bit stuck and you don’t know what to do next? Or you’re waking up early and are caught in a mental loop of guilt over some kind of loss – a relationship, lack of happiness, a job. Often we don’t even realise our feelings or behaviours until they’re pointed out to us. The key responsibilities (aspects of life) connected to each meridian is another useful avenue to self-understanding.
Following on from the basic emotions of the elements (Why You Wake Up At The Same Time Every Night Part 1) are the key responsibilities to each meridian. When I’m working with clients I find a pattern of blockages between particular meridians. From this, I can see a picture of behaviour or areas of their life that are not working so well. Remember we’re talking about sleep and when you’re waking up, so use Part 1 to help you find which meridian you need to focus on for self-reflection.
Meridians and their key responsibilities
The following table describes the basic responsibilities for each of the 12 meridians.
- Stomach – Nourishment of others; nourishment from outside
- Spleen – Nourishment of self in every way
- Heart – Connection to your spirit; circulation of Qi (energy); heart and mind working as one
- Small Intestine – Communication (speaking, listening); perception; truth
- Bladder – When to use our resources; being controlling
- Kidney – Reproduction and creating things in life; our resources
- Pericardium (aka Sex/Circulation) – Intimate relationships; protecting your heart; healthy boundaries
- Triple Heater – Non-intimate relationships; social aspects
- Gall Bladder – Determination and decision making; action
- Liver – Internal plans; the vision for life
- Lung – Barrier (skin) to the outside world; understanding what is of true value
- Large Intestine – Letting go of impurities (of emotions and beliefs, past experiences) ; holding on to what is of value
Of course, some sleeping problems stem from the inability to even fall asleep at night; dreaded insomnia. Do you find yourself helplessly awake watching the bedside clock tick loudly over to midnight with your mind ticking away even louder? Midnight places you in Gall Bladder meridian energy (11pm – 1am) and the Wood element. Ask yourself “am I stuck and not making a decision about something or acting upon it?”, “have I lost perspective?”
Extending the use of the clock beyond sleep
There are many patterns and signs in our lives; you just need to have your eyes open to see them. For example: anxiety around 4pm, headaches late at night, or a sore lower back before dinner time.
Your body is speaking to you in the only way it can by turning your attention away from the external world and inwards toward you. With the transferable knowledge of TCM you can use the clock for any time of day, not just sleeping problems.
If you would like to know more about the key responsibilities of each meridian (as there are many more than those mentioned in Part 1 and 2) check out Acupuncture.com.au.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, have a look at my article in the Sanctuary of Sleep series Part One Stress & Sleep – why you have trouble falling asleep.
I have received hundreds of comments for this series and I endeavour to answer them. Please go back to the clock and through the articles and your answer is most likely there.
As always my friend — you don’t have to do it alone.
Kate
Why You Wake Up by Kate Pamphilon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Kerry says
Hi Kate, this is a great article 🙂
It is definitely interesting to observe the time your sleep is disturbed and what this might mean. Also happy to seen another Kinesiologist blogging!
priscilla says
Hi this article is a big help… Never crossed my mind that it had something to do with our body…
Joanne says
Interesting article, thank you. My husband and I have just split and not sure if temporary or permanent but we both have a lot of thinking to do. I keep waking between 2 and 3am and sometimes not getting back to sleep till 4 or 5 so this could be why…
laura says
This makes a lot of sense! Thank you. I think I will get back to my quite moments of introspection before I sleep. Usually a aroma bath. I stopped doing this when the babies were born. I think I need to start again. I need to review & understand my thoughts, feelings and emotions, created during the day, before I can communicate with anyone. So much happens in a day, I don’t really process it all before I go to bed. That explains why I wake with a head full of thoughts. My body wakes me up to process the feelings, before I start another day and fill my mind, body and soul with more stuff. Wow. Thank you!
Kate says
Thanks for your comment, Laura. I am sure others will be helped by seeing the things that you do to process a day and be clear and calm. Take care :o)
Kate says
Thanks, Laura. I am sure that other people will get help from reading your comment to see how you process the day to be clear and calm. Take Care. Kate
Deborah Coffey says
THANK YOU for the understandable version of the TCM clock.
I have a question about going to sleep. In the last 3 years or so, I fall asleep at 11pm. If I’m out with friends, at a dinner party, or just at home, it’s like I am unable to stay awake past 11, like my “off” switch goes. I hadn’t been considering this an issue, but I’m noticing that this aligns with a meridian shift. Is it significant? I’m relatively healthy and balanced otherwise…
Tre says
Deborah; can relate to your post. I too have an “off” switch. Cannot stay up past 10PM or the next day is big time coffee. I do not know how old you are, but now that I’m in my 50’s, did the career, raising, kid, running like a maniac, I’m at a slower pace in my life. I have learned through TCM and other modalities to honor my body when it says GO TO BED and other messages it gives me. I too, am fairly balanced and healthy. So anyone who knows me, usually honors that I just need to go to sleep, rest and rejuvenate. Hope this helps!
caesar montes says
on January 2012 i had a sudden major back pain i went to the doctor for advice. She mentioned that the blood pressure was too high 150 /103 and that she needed to put me on blood pressure medication for life.. i am in my late thirties. i couldnt go to sleep anymore i had three or four days with insomnia. i was given antidepressant pills to go to sleep. i was like i just cant go to sleep i dont have depression. every night i wake up at 3 am … i get up breath deeply and go back to sleep.