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The Chinese organ body clock

Chinese organ body clock

Background on the Chinese organ body clock

Often when I start working with with a new patient, I’ll ask them if they’ve ever heard of the Chinese organ body clock. Typically, the response is an interested, “No, what’s that”? What I’m referring to is an important part of Chinese medicine that is firmly rooted in nature. The Chinese organ body clock refers to the projection of organ system function to our 24-hour clock. Every two hours a different organ system is either at its peak function of activity or its lowest activity or time of rest, just like the tides in the ocean. Aligning our activity to the organ clock can help maximize our health and wellbeing. It can give us clues into the root of illness or dis-ease. At times, it can also provide a simple explanation and solution to health issues.

 

How the Chinese organ body clock works

In Chinese medicine, the organ cycle starts with the Lungs from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and cycles through a different organ system every two hours. It ends with the Liver from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. After that, the cycle starts all over again. Follow this link for a visual of an organ clock created by Health CMI. Here is a listing of the times for each organ system:

 

3 a.m. – 5 a.m. : Lung

This is the time when the lung organ system is at its peak. The lungs are associated with the emotion of grief. Often, people who are grieving will find themselves waking up at this time as the lungs process grief. This is a good time to stay in bed and rest to nourish the lung organ system.

 

5 a.m. – 7 a.m. : Large Intestine

This is the time when the large intestine organ system is at its peak. The large intestine is associated with letting go.  We literally let go of what the body does not need when we have a bowel movement. This peak time for the large intestine is when it is easiest to have a bowel movement, and why people who’s bodies are in tune with nature have a bowel movement during this time after they wake up.

 

7 a.m. – 9 a.m. : Stomach

This is the time when the stomach organ system is at its peak. This is the ideal time to eat a big meal, as the stomach is best able to digest food at this time. Interestingly, the worst time for the stomach to have a big meal is 7 p.pm or later in the evening when the stomach is at its energetic low point. This is why it is recommended to have dinner by 6 p. m. and stop eating for the night by 7 p.m.

 

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. : Spleen

This is the time when the spleen organ system is at its peak. The spleen helps with the assimilation of nutrients from food to build energy in the body. This is an ideal time to work and tackle your most difficult tasks. Conversely, during 9 p. m. and 11 p. m. the body should be winding down for the night and going to bed.

 

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. : Heart

This is the time when the heart organ system is at its peak. The heart pumps blood and nutrients throughout the body. This is a good time to eat lunch, and ideally, a lighter meal than eaten at breakfast. When the heart is performing optimally, the shen or spirit is bright, and thinking and speech are clear and effective.

 

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. : Small Intestine

This is the time when the small intestine organ system is at its peak. The small intestine separates the pure from the impure. In other words, it separates what serves us that we want to hold on to from what does not serve us that we should let go of. This is both physical and mental / emotional. We hold on to nutrition from food, and pass waste material to the large intestine. The small intestine also governs our discernment with thoughts and emotions and helps us sift through what serves us and what does not.

 

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. : Bladder

This is the time when the bladder organ system is at its peak. The bladder excretes liquid waste from the body. It is important to drink water throughout the day to help the bladder function optimally. Conversely, the weakest time of the the bladder organ system is 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. If the bladder organ system is weak, you may find yourself waking up during this time to urinate.

 

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. : Kidney

This is the time when the kidney organ system is at its peak. The kidneys filter fluids and maintain a healthy chemical balance in the blood. This a great time to have a walk after eating dinner to help with circulation and digestion. Gentle stretching is also helpful during this time. The weakest time of the kidney organ system is from 5 a.m. through 7 a.m. If you find yourself having trouble getting out of bed during this time, it may indicate that your kidney organ system is deficient from an energetic perspective.

 

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. : Xin Bao / Pericardium

This is the time when the xin bao or pericardium organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, xin bao translates to “heart envelope”, and it refers to the pericardium that wraps around the heart. The pericardium protects the heart, and in Chinese medicine it also relates to circulation. This is an optimal time of day for conception. The weakest time of this organ system is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m, and it has been shown that heart attacks are more likely to occur during this time. It is believed in Chinese medicine that this is because the pericardium, or heart protector, is at its weakest during this time.

 

9 p.m. – 11 p.m. : San Jiao / Triple Burner

This is the time when the san jiao or triple burner organ system is at its peak. In Chinese, san jiao translates to “three burners”, and it refers to the three places in the body where energy is transformed. San jiao is related to metabolism as well as circulation. In Chinese medicine, it is recommended to go to sleep by 10 p.m. This allows the san jiao to work on metabolizing everything that was taken in during the day and perform repair and regeneration functions.

 

11 p.m. – 1 a.m. : Gall Bladder

This is the time when the gall bladder organ system is at its peak. The gall bladder is responsible for storing and excreting bile which is used to break down fat. This is a very important time to be asleep so that the gall bladder organ system can focus on working with bile. If your gall bladder is having trouble dealing with a fatty meal, you might find yourself waking up and feeling restless or uncomfortable during this time. In Chinese medicine, it is said that the gall bladder pulls blood from the sinews and sends the blood to the liver to be detoxified. Aches and pains may be felt in the morning if the gall bladder is not able to complete this activity overnight.

 

1 a.m. – 3 a.m. : Liver

This is the time when the liver organ system is at its peak. A primary function of the liver is to store, cleanse, and detoxify the blood. In Chinese medicine, it also regulates the healthy flow of energy through the body. It is extremely important to be asleep during this time so the liver can focus on these important functions. If you wake up during this time, it could be because of something energetically effecting your liver organ system. The emotion associated with the liver organ system is anger, which is also frustration and rage. Often these emotions are held in rather than expressed and can affect the liver and sleep.

 

Influence on health and well-being

People are often really interested to learn about the Chinese organ body clock and how it can correlate to health and well-being. Understanding the details of what our bodies are focused on during different intervals of the day help us understand a lot of common advice, like why is so important to try to be in bed and go to sleep by 10 p.m.

 

An interesting case of night sweats

I saw a new patient recently who was having a lot of hot flashes and sweating at night that were preventing her from sleeping. An obvious conclusion might be that this was a symptom of menopause, but this was not the case. It turns out that she was eating dinner around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and she was eating spicy food during this time.  Just when her body wanted to wind down and rest, it was given a big task of digesting a spicy meal. This disturbed her sleep and made it difficult for her to rest. She altered her diet to have an earlier dinner without spicy food and found that her hot flashes abated and her sleep improved.

 

Alcohol and sleep quality

Many people believe that consuming alcohol in the evening helps them wind down and is beneficial to their sleep. They tell me they don’t understand why they wake up in the middle of the night. They can fall asleep easily but they have trouble staying asleep. I  ask them if they notice what time they are waking up. Their response is usually sometime between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. As you read earlier, this is “liver time”.  In many cases, while the alcohol might help them slow down and relax which may help them fall asleep, the liver then gets agitated with processing the alcohol and causes them to wake up.  Abstaining from alcohol for a few nights will usually show if this is what’s going on.

 

These are just a few examples of how fascinating the Chinese organ body clock is.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

Enhance your vitality with qigong

Qigong

What is qigong?

Qigong is a practice of cultivating energy. The word “qi” refers to energy or life force, and the word “gong” in this case refers to work or practice. Qigong is a combination of gentle movements with mindful breathing that balance and move energy. Qigong can be practiced by anyone at any age or level of health.

  

Why I love it

I love qigong because it is so simple and effective. It can be practiced anywhere. I don’t need any equipment or to go to the gym. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining outside or too hot or too cold. I can practice if I am sick or injured. I can tailor and recommend qigong movements to every one of my patients regardless of their age or level of health.

 

Benefits of qigong

Practicing qigong has been said to be like recharging your battery. It gives you energy. Qigong balances your energy, and it can help calm and disperse uncomfortable energy like stress and anxiety. The body is then able to use this energy to heal anything that may need to be healed. Qigong benefits mental, emotional, and physical health. It can also be very helpful in boosting immunity.

 

How I incorporate it into a treatment

In addition to offering telehealth appointments with customized qigong exercises, I will often recommend qigong exercises to my patients who come in for acupuncture treatments. This is especially useful for people who want to continue to enhance their vitality and well-being at home. At the end of an acupuncture session, I will teach patients a simple exercise or two. We’ll practice it together to make sure they can feel the sensations and ask questions if needed. Here are two  examples of simple qigong exercises that can be done at home:

Shaking:

  • Stand with feet shoulder with apart.
  • Start at your hands and begin a shaking motion that moves up your arms and through your body. Include your head, torso, legs, etc.
  • This moves energy and stuck emotions.
  • Let yourself exhale deeply to release tension.
  • Open your mouth and make a sound if you like. This could be a sigh, a grunt, or whatever feels right to you.
  • This exercise is great for stress relief.

 

Calming:

  • Stand with feet shoulder width apart.
  • Inhale and raise arms with palms facing up over your head, and then exhale with the palms facing each other and gently let them float down.
  • When your palms pass in front of your face, turn the palms down to face the ground and continue lowering your palms in front of you until they reach your hips.
  • Repeat at least three times.
  • During the last time, let your hands rest on your lower abdomen with palms facing in, and take a few more slow breaths into your abdomen.
  • This exercise is also referred to as “waterfalls”. It can be helpful to envision gentle water washing over you, easing away tension and invigorating you as you practice.
  • This exercise smooths, calms, and grounds your energy.

 

Resources

There are so many wonderful books, DVDs, and even free videos on Youtube dedicated to qigong practices. Some are tailored to areas like stress and anxiety, headaches, back pain, insomnia, digestion, and immunity to name a few. Others focus on certain populations, like chair-based qigong for elderly or injured people.

 

Here are links to some of my favorite teachers and videos: 

 

Want to learn more about qigong and get customized exercises just for you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

The value of Health and Wellness coaching

health and wellness coaching

What is Health and Wellness Coaching?

Health and wellness coaching is a structured partnership where coaches work closely with clients to enhance health and wellness through lasting behavior changes that are aligned with the client’s values.  A health and wellness coach holds a respectful, positive, and supportive space for their clients. A recent article from Harvard Medical School entitled “Health coaching is effective. Should you try it?” shares how a Harvard Physician, Dr. Grinspoon, found that health and wellness coaching has helped people attain health goals that had previously been out of their reach. Dr. Grinspoon listed Duke Integrative Medicine as one of top four most respected training programs in the country. I received my foundational and certification training from Duke Integrative Medicine, and I agree that is a top-notch program.

 

How does it work?

It all starts with you, the client. You’re probably reading this blog because you are interested in making a change in your life to improve your health and wellness. Has there been a behavior or part of your life that you have wanted to change, but you haven’t had the tools to be successful? Has a health concern has arisen that you need to address? A coach will help you develop and realize your optimal health vision. You are the expert on yourself and your life, and the coaching partnership focuses on making and supporting meaningful changes that will work specifically for you and your unique needs.

 

Why is it effective in helping people realize their optimal health and wellness?

The coaching partnership is based on respect, non-judgement, and accountability. The coaching methodology I learned through the coaching program at Duke Integrative Medicine is based on the neuroscience of behavior change. This is a very motivating and empowering process for creating lasting change.

Specifically:

  • Coaches work with you as a whole person. They listen to your concerns and ask powerful questions to help motivate you to make the changes you desire.
  • Coaches spend time exploring what is most important to you in your overall health and wellness and allow you to choose your course of action.
  • Coaches guide you through a process to maximize your success.
  • You and your coach work in partnership to identify obstacles to change and create strategies for achieving your goals.
  • Coaches support you in tracking your progress and hold you accountable for your commitments.
  • Coaches provide additional resources as needed for making healthy behavior changes.

 

What are appropriate topics for health and wellness coaching?

Health and wellness are affected by multiple interconnected dimensions. These dimensions include physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, as well as support from healthcare providers. Any concern that gets in the way of taking care of your optimal health and wellness is the perfect place to start. Therefore, any topic you want to bring up that you think will contribute to your optimal health and wellness is an appropriate topic for health and wellness Coaching.

 

Here are some examples of potential topics:

  • Managing stress and anxiety
  • Building healthy sleep habits
  • Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
  • Improving nutrition
  • Starting or adapting an exercise program
  • Making a career change
  • Pursuing an unachieved life goal or hobby
  • Creating a healthy and safe home or work environment
  • Navigating difficult relationships
  • Planning preventative and routine medical care
  • Quitting smoking
  • Working through a health concern like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol

 

This is just a taste of some of the things that can be covered in health and wellness coaching. Whatever matters most to you is the best place to start.

 

Want to learn more about how Health and Wellness coaching can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is a Health and Wellness Coach trained by Duke Integrative Medicine. She is based in Wilmington, NC, and she is available to coach clients around the world virtually. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

 

Learn the ancient Chinese art of yangsheng – nourishing life

yangsheng

Why yangsheng and the art of nourishing life is important

At the start of the Chinese New Year in February 2021, I listened to a webcast from one of my favorite teachers, Lillian Pearl Bridges. Lillian is an expert on Face Reading. She can tell what’s going on with a person’s health and wellness just by looking at their face. Lillian also has a broad knowledge of Chinese astrology and Feng Shui. I have taken a number of Lillian’s classes, and I look forward to the special Chinese New Year forecast that she presents to Chinese Medicine practitioners each year.

 

This year, when Lillian shared her thoughts about the year of the Ox, she stressed the importance of practicing yangsheng. The ox is a very respected animal, and it is valued for its ability to work hard and endure. This year will require patience and an emphasis on yangsheng. Simply put, yangsheng refers to the practice of nourishing life that has been in existence and documented for other two thousand years. “Yang” translates to nurture or nourish. “Sheng” translates to life or vitality. This is a practice of self-cultivation or self-care that is believed to be crucial to overall health and longevity.

 

How to practice yangsheng

Another favorite teacher of mine is Peter Deadman. He has written a number of books on Chinese Medicine and has delved deeply into yangsheng. He states that there are three main ways to practice yangsheng:

 

First, avoid behavior that causes harm. This includes consuming alcohol excessively, smoking, eating poor quality food, allowing emotions to damage our mental health, and not being physically active.

 

Second, engage in activities that promote health and well-being. This includes eating healthfully, exercising appropriately, fostering positive emotions and managing negative emotions, practicing good sleep hygiene, cultivating positive relationships, and spending time in nature. Follow this link to read my blog on how to improve your sleep. To help manage emotions, click this link to read a blog I wrote on how to manage stress and anxiety.

 

Third, practice exercises specifically designed to nourish life. This includes qigong, taiji (also known as tai chi), and yoga.  Other yangsheng-specific activities include meditation, mindful breathing, and practicing the relaxation response. Follow this link to read a blog I wrote on how you can practice the relaxation response.

 

 

Balance and moderation are key

In our American culture, we have a tendency to overdo things, and we can become unbalanced. To practice yangsheng we need to consider a balanced approach to life. For example, some of us may be great at exercising consistently but we don’t get enough sleep. Maybe we eat really well but we also worry constantly and experience stress and anxiety. In yangsheng, balancing exercise, diet, sleep, and mental health are essential. Everything in moderation. I deeply respect this approach. In fact, the name of the Chinese Medicine school I attended, Jung Tao, translates to “middle way”. Not too far one way or the other. The middle way is preferable.

 

Even though yangsheng concepts are quite simple, they can be very difficult to put into practice. Most people will want more of something that feels good to them. If a little is good, more must be better. This can give way to overeating, overexercising, even oversleeping.

 

Time can also be challenge with so many of us leading busy lives. It is often hard to find time to do all of the things we want to do. As I have been working on cultivating yangsheng for myself this year, I find that some weeks I am successful at including exercise, but I am not able to pay as much attention to healthy eating habits. Other weeks I eat really well and make time to meditate, but do not find time to exercise. Trying to squeeze everything in can create an imbalance of activity and can be counter to the principles of yangsheng.

 

Make time to rest

Balancing doing with non-doing, or rest, is key. Creating free spaces in your day are important to balance all of the activity. What I’ve discovered is most important for me is to be kind to myself and to be as present as I can with whatever activity I am engaged in. That in and of itself is a very important part of nourishing life.

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.

Acupuncture for stress and anxiety

acupuncture stress anxiety

Can acupuncture help with stress and anxiety?

Over the past few months, I have received a lot of calls and emails from new patients wondering if acupuncture can help with stress and anxiety. Given the current state of our world, it’s not surprising. COVID-19 continues to have a huge impact on people’s lives. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with these patients and help them start feeling better and find ways to manage their stress and anxiety.

 

An increase in stressors

People are scared for their loved ones and their own safety and well-being. They’re worried about how to take care of their families. And they’re worried about how their kids are coping with these unprecedented times. The way people work has changed dramatically, and some people are re-evaluating their career choices. Then there are the teachers and parents who continue to deal with the stress of remote learning and concerns about having a safe classroom. People want to connect with their families and loved ones but are scared to travel. They feel isolated and alone. These are just a few of the things I hear from patients wanting help managing their stress and anxiety.

 

Making the best treatment choice for you

Sometimes people feel so much stress and anxiety that they don’t feel comfortable leaving their house. Others have challenges wearing a mask. I offer Telemedicine in addition to in-office treatments to address these concerns. Follow this link for more details about Telemedicine options. Through Telemedicine, I can prescribe acupressure points and teach people how to do acupressure on themselves, walk them through how to apply ear seeds, and teach qigong exercises, for example.

 

For patients who want to come into the office for their treatment, I share all of the COVID-19 safety protocols I have in place in the office. Masks are required for everyone. Screening questionnaires are performed and temperatures are checked at every appointment. Appointments are spaced to allow the treatment room to be cleaned thoroughly between patients, with linens changed and surfaces cleaned with an EPA-approved botanical disinfectant. A medical-grade filtration H13 true HEPA system runs continuously in the treatment room.

 

It’s important that people feel comfortable and safe when they come to see me. Someone who is experiencing stress and anxiety does not need another thing to feel stressed and anxious about! I take the time to address any concerns and answer any questions they might have.

 

Stress and anxiety from an acupuncture and Chinese medicine perspective

Every person is unique, and no two people will experience stress and anxiety for the same reason in the exact same way. Each of the primary energetic pathways and acupuncture channels in the body is associated with an organ system and has associated emotions and physical sensations. A disruption to any of these energetic systems can result in stress and anxiety.

 

Possible underlying causes

To start, someone who feels anxious and feels heart palpitations or discomfort in their chest may be someone who has too much nervous energy around their heart. They may need support for their Heart energetic pathways. Someone who has trouble with obsessive thinking or rumination often needs their Spleen energy supported. This person may have trouble sleeping at night because they feel like they can’t turn their thoughts off.

 

Another person may be feeling scared and shaky which is creating stress and anxiety. They might also feel cold, and their low back might even be sore. In this case, it’s likely that their Kidney energy needs support. In other cases, people may be feeling like they have to hold their emotions in and are getting headaches and migraines. Some people may even feel dizzy and experience vertigo. In this instance, supporting the Liver energy can be helpful. Others may feel overwhelmed with grief and the stress of losing a loved one. Here, supporting the Lung energy can make a world of difference.

 

Balancing energy is key

I work on balancing energy most often with acupuncture needles. I love to combine this kind of treatment with ear seeds. Ear seeds are great because they are something tangible that people can take home with them to continue the treatment. It also gives people comfort to have something to do if they feel anxious. By gently giving the ear seeds a squeeze, the body gets a subtle message to relax. I also have Stress and Anxiety-specific ear seed kits for people who want to apply their own treatments at home, and I am happy to customize them as needed.

 

What can you do at home?

In my practice, I tailor treatments to each individual patient. If this kind of treatment is not available to you, there are still things you can do at home that may help. Here are some ideas:

 

Reward yourself!

And now for the “dessert”. This is the metaphorical cherry on top to reward yourself for just being you.  Here it is:

Do one thing EVERY day that brings you joy.

If you can do this, you will at least have that time that is stress and anxiety free. The thing you choose needs to be something that brings you great delight and a smile to your face. What’s important is that it is meaningful to you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It doesn’t have to be anything big or something that takes a lot of time. Here are some ideas to give you food for thought: snuggle with your pet, drink a delicious cup of hot tea, giggle with a friend, move to music in your kitchen, sing your favorite song as loudly as you can, walk outside and crunch through crisp winter leaves on the ground, or take a soothing essential-oil scented bubble bath. Involve the senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. What would FEEL good to you and bring you JOY?

 

Want to talk about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help your stress and anxiety? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and email me through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.

 

About the Author

Ericca Burke is the owner of HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine where she provides acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments in Wilmington, NC. Click this link to read more about Ericca. 

 

About HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Wilmington, NC

HAVEN Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine is an acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice located in Wilmington, NC just minutes from beautiful Wrightsville Beach. Click this link for contact information and directions. Click this link for a listing and description of services offered.