11:00 PM — 1:00 AMGallbladder
Traditionally associated with the Gallbladder meridian and functions described in TCM as involving decision-making, courage and the storage and excretion of bile.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Gallbladder period. Repeated symptoms at this hour may be recorded as part of a broader pattern, but timing alone is not diagnostic.
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1:00 AM — 3:00 AMLiver
Traditionally associated with the Liver meridian, the smooth flow of Qi, storage of Blood and regulation of activity and rest within the TCM framework.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Liver period. Repeated waking or discomfort may be observed as part of the full pattern; the hour alone is not a diagnosis.
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3:00 AM — 5:00 AMLung
Traditionally associated with the Lung meridian, respiration, the movement of Qi and the relationship between the body and its external environment.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Lung period. Respiratory symptoms deserve appropriate clinical assessment and should not be attributed to the clock alone.
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5:00 AM — 7:00 AMLarge Intestine
Traditionally associated with the Large Intestine meridian and elimination.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Large Intestine period. Bowel timing can be observed, but changes in bowel habits have many possible causes.
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7:00 AM — 9:00 AMStomach
Traditionally associated with the Stomach meridian and the receiving and initial processing of food.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Stomach period. This creates an interesting future comparison point with modern research on meal timing and metabolism.
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9:00 AM — 11:00 AMSpleen
In TCM, the Spleen system is traditionally associated with transformation and transportation of nutrients and fluids; it is not identical to the anatomical spleen of biomedicine.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Spleen period. The TCM Spleen is a functional system and should not be equated directly with the anatomical spleen.
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11:00 AM — 1:00 PMHeart
Traditionally associated with the Heart meridian, circulation and the TCM concept of Shen.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Heart period. Cardiovascular symptoms should never be explained by clock timing alone.
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1:00 PM — 3:00 PMSmall Intestine
Traditionally associated with the Small Intestine meridian and the separation of what is described as pure from impure in TCM theory.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Small Intestine period. Traditional functional terminology should not be mapped literally onto modern intestinal physiology.
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3:00 PM — 5:00 PMBladder
Traditionally associated with the Bladder meridian and fluid transformation and excretion within the TCM framework.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Bladder period. Urinary symptoms can have many causes and require context.
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5:00 PM — 7:00 PMKidney
In TCM, the Kidney system has a broad functional meaning involving Essence, growth, development, reproduction and water metabolism; it is not equivalent to the biomedical kidney alone.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Kidney period. The TCM Kidney system is broader than the biomedical kidney and includes traditional concepts such as Essence, growth and development.
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7:00 PM — 9:00 PMPericardium
Traditionally associated with the Pericardium meridian and described as protecting or supporting the Heart within TCM theory.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Pericardium period. Symptoms at this hour alone are not evidence of a Pericardium disorder.
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9:00 PM — 11:00 PMTriple Burner
The Triple Burner (San Jiao) is a TCM functional concept without a direct single anatomical equivalent.
In the traditional organ-clock model, this is the Triple Burner period. San Jiao is a functional TCM concept without a direct single anatomical equivalent.
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