In the old days, if you went and saw a Chinese medicine doctor, they would often ask you what exact time do you go to sleep every night, and if you replied after 11:00 PM, they would probably say I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do to help you. 

In Chinese medicine, the first step to good health is sleep. It is crucial because it’s often said that if you miss a night of sleep, it will take over 100 days for you to recover. Sleep is so important because it allows your body to rest, repair, and recover and will enable you to cultivate your energy.

Students often ask me why they still feel sleepy and low on energy, even if they manage to get 8 to 9 hours of sleep every day. In response, I inquire about their typical sleep schedule, as it is not only the quantity but also the timing of sleep that is crucial for ensuring proper rest and energy levels.

The Chinese medicine body clock explains that Chi or energy flows throughout your body at different times of the day. First, I must reemphasize that the organs in Chinese and Western medicine differ. For example, Chinese medicine organs are focused on the physiological functions of the system, and the organs in Western medicine focus on the anatomical structure of the organ and not the system. So therefore, the heart in Chinese medicine differs from that of the heart in Western medicine.

In the Chinese medicine body clock, 24 hours is divided into 12 sections, every two hours, and that two hours corresponds to one of the 12 main internal organ systems.

For example, the energy of the gall bladder meridian is most active from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM; the liver is from 1:00 to 3:00 AM, the lungs from three to five, the large intestine from 5 to 7, the stomach from 7 to 9, spleen from 9 to 11, heart from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, small intestine from one to 3 PM Bladder from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, a kidney from 5 to 7, pericardium from 7 to 9, and Triple Burner from 9 to 11:00 PM, and the cycle goes on.

To achieve good health, we have to conform to nature, and we have to conform to the Ying and Yang forces throughout the day. See more about Yin and Yang series on my website. Yin represents stillness, and Yang represents activeness.

Two important timings are essential throughout the day. One is from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and the other is from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. From 11:00 PM, the yang energy starts to rise, and throughout the day, it peaks at 11:00 AM, and from 11:00 AM, the yin energy starts to rise, and it peaks at 11:00 PM.

In Chinese medicine, sleeping from 9 PM to 5 AM is essential. However, I want you to know this is very difficult. So that’s why I think you should sleep before 11:00 PM. And the reason why 11:00 PM is essential is that after 11:00 PM, the yang energy starts to rise, and if you’re still not asleep, it will affect your ability to sleep and the quality of your sleep. Another reason is from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. It is a time of the gallbladder meridian. The gall bladder chi can lead to the smooth flow of the other eleven internal organs is like a train –  the second, third, 4th cars, to the last vehicle, do not move, but the first car, because it has an engine, drives, and so the gallbladder is that first car. So therefore, we need to have the gallbladder rest and recover from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM and from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM; that is the time of the liver Meridian, and that is a time when your body detoxifies and regenerates and recovers. Therefore, you need to be asleep from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM.

Does that mean you only need to sleep 4 hours daily from 11 to 3 AM? No, that’s not what I meant, what I meant. Hours are the most crucial time for you to be asleep. And it could be from 11:00 PM to 7:00 or 8:00 AM or 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM. That depends on your schedule. But those four hours are most crucial, so what if you sleep after 11:00 PM? Well, it could cause short-term consequences like headache, dizziness, or even loss of energy, and you’ll feel tired the next day so that you can focus or concentrate on your work in school. And the long term, it could cause effects such as weakening your immune system. It could cause chronic diseases like cardiovascular, respiratory, or digestive issues. In addition, it could also cause emotional problems such as mood swings or depression. It could cause weight gain, cortisol rises, and hair and skin issues such as acne and bags under your eyes, and yes, it could be evident or not so obvious.

Now, could it be that serious? Well, we spend our lives about one-third of our time sleeping, and in the short term, especially if you’re young, it could not cause damage from an issue, but for the long term, maybe ten years, 15 years, 20 years, or even longer, it could cause some health issues. So, it is essential to sleep the right way. I understand it is hard for us to sleep early, especially if you’re used to looking at cell phones or your iPad before sleep. But it is essential to develop a habit early so that later you have a healthy body.