Hi Qi-chaers! Today, we would like to introduce the Twelve-Hour Meridian Body Clock ⏰ mentioned in the Huangdi Neijing. Each meridian of the human body has its most active time. Let's look into each of them, and we can also follow this timetable to maintain good health!
One of our customers' most frequently asked questions: when is the best time to drink our teas? If you take a closer look at the diagram above, you will notice that we have also included the suggested timings of when to drink which tea blends according to the ingredients and effects! Feel free to use this as a reference when having your cuppa 🍵
However, this doesn't mean you must adhere strictly to the timetable when having the teas; you can still drink as and when you need, appropriately!
It is also highly recommended to consume only one blend a day to ensure the ingredients don't conflict amongst the different blends.
At this point, you might be wondering why there are only twelve hours in the timetable 🤔 In the olden days, the unit of measurement for the time was a little different in China, where 1 hour back then is equivalent to our 2 hours now! The corresponding timings to the body's meridian schedule and what we can do to maximise health benefits are listed below:
05:00～07:00 ("Ruan Shi") - Large Intestine Meridian:
It is advisable to go to the toilet to defecate.
During this period, "Qi" blood will flow to the large intestine, which helps with excreting waste. Drink a cup of warm water after waking up, and then eliminate all the waste accumulated in the day!
07:00～09:00 ("Chen Shi") - Stomach Meridian:
During this period, it is advisable to consume breakfast.
Food consumed during this period is most easily digested and metabolised, supplying your body with the calories needed for the day. Food such as porridge, oatmeal, buns, etc., are recommended for consumption and try to avoid fried food early in the morning!
(🍵：The Little Sunshine , The Hustler)
09:00～11:00 ("Yi Shi") - Spleen Meridian:
Suitable to activate your brain for work, studies, or do some stretching activities.
The spleen is responsible for the coordination of digestion, absorption, and excretion during the most vigorous "Qi" blood period. There is a saying in TCM that "the spleen governs the muscles". As the ruler of human blood, a good spleen will aid with good digestion, good hematopoiesis and blood quality. The better the quality of your blood, the redder your lips.
During this period, the brain is most active and is the most productive time of the day. In addition, as the spleen controls the muscles and prolonged sitting isn't good for the body, office workers should get up every hour to do some simple stretching exercises, walk around and drink water.
(🍵：The Little Sunshine , The Hustler)
11:00～13:00 ("Wu Shi") - Heart Meridian:
Suitable to consume lunch and have a short rest.
You can take a nap at noon to calm your nerves and help you feel energetic in the afternoon until night.
13:00～15:00 ("Mo Shi") - Small Intestine Meridian:
During this period, the small intestine is most productive. Its duty is to absorb the essence of the food that has been digested by the spleen and stomach and then distribute it to the body for the activities for the afternoon. Thus, we should consume our lunch before 1 o'clock if possible.
If there is "heat" in the small intestine, coughing and farting are common symptoms. To relieve these symptoms, do keep your body hydrated and relax your mind. Drinking plenty of water and tea is beneficial for intestinal detoxification and reducing the "heat".
(🍵：The Hustler, The Overeater)
15:00～17:00 ("Shen Shi") - Bladder Meridian:
Suitable for drinking plenty of water.
During this period, "Qi" blood flows into the bladder to remove wastewater from the body. Your body may feel warmer at this time, and people with "Yin" deficiency will notice it easily. Moving around or exercising will help with the body's fluid circulation, and drinking tea that nourishes "Yin" and relieves "heat" will be effective.
(🍵：The Hustler, The Overeater, The Night Owl)
17:00～19:00 ("You Shi") - Kidney Meridian:
Suitable for moderate exercise and consumption of dinner.
During this period, the kidneys will help the body detoxify the waste substance, and you might notice you are more sensitive towards smell and taste.
Do some stretching exercises (avoid strenuous exercise) to help the kidneys excrete toxins.
(🍵：The Melancholic Beauty, The Night Owl, The Panda)
19: 00 ~ 21: 00 (“Xu Shi”) - Pericardium Meridian:
Suitable for resting.
The pericardium meridian is full of "Qi" blood, which protects the heart and preserves energy for the body. During this period, try staying in a good and relaxed mood by reading a book or listening to music to relieve your stress.
(🍵：The Melancholic Beauty, The Night Owl, The Panda)
21:00～23:00 ("Hai Shi") - Triple Burner (Triple Warmer, San Jiao) Meridian:
Suitable to rest, meditate, and sleep.
The Triple Burner (Tripler Warmer, Sanjiao) Meridian is in charge of all the "Qi" in the human body and is responsible for transporting the "Qi" all around the body. Falling asleep at this hour will allow the body to get the best rest. This is also the time that you can gain your "beauty sleep"!
Consider soaking your feet in a tub of warm water before going to bed can help promote blood circulation, relieve fatigue, relax your mind and make it easier to fall asleep. If you cannot fall asleep, try listening to music, reading a book, watching TV, meditating, and practising yoga!
23:00～01:00 (“Zhi Shi”) - Gallbladder:
Suitable for sleeping as the bile undergoes its metabolic cycle and the bone marrow hematopoietic time. Falling asleep before midnight results in a clear mind, ruddy complexion and no dark circles (panda eyes) after waking up in the morning the next day. On the contrary, those who often cannot fall asleep during this time will have a pale complexion and dark circles. At the same time, due to the poor metabolism of bile detoxification, gall crystals and stones are more likely to be formed over a long period.
01:00～03:00 ("Chou Shi") - Liver Meridian:
Suitable for deep sleep.
"Qi" and blood of the whole body will return to the liver, and the liver will proceed to filter the blood. For those unable to fall asleep during this time, your liver will have to still disperse energy to support your thinking and actions, resulting in the inability to complete the metabolic cycle. It will then lead to having a blue-grey complexion and gets easily irritated, prone to liver disease, and a dull complexion.
03:00～05:00 ("Yin Shi") - Lung Meridian:
Suitable for deep sleep.
The lungs will transport "Qi" blood throughout the body, and deep sleep aids in this transportation. During this period, the human body requires a large amount of oxygen. If you happen to wake up from coughing at this time, it is best to drink a glass of warm water, which can relieve your coughing and the lungs' dryness.
今天我们将为大家介绍一下十二时辰经络养生时间表，黄帝内经里有提到人体的每条经络都有他们最活跃的时间，而我们也能够随着这时间表来养生哦！
而启茶儿也常常提出一些关于什么时候该喝什么茶饮的问题，顺带在这里我们也根据茶饮的材料和功效，在时间表里为大家建议一下在什么时间喝这些茶饮哦！大家可以参考参考哦！
请注意图中的意思不是让大家在同一天里饮用六种茶饮哦，只是建议茶饮的时间段，我们建议大家一天只喝一种养生茶饮哒！
大家可能很好奇为什么时间表里只有十二时辰，其实是因为中国古时以现代的两个小时唯一单位，所以一天只有十二时辰。下面为大家列出十二时辰所对应的时间，经络作息和我们在对应时辰可以做些什么来顺应经络养生：
05：00～07：00 卯时 - 大肠经
宜上厕所排便。
气血流往大肠，排泄废物。
起床后喝杯温开水，然后把一天积攒下来的废物，都排出体外吧！
(🍵：小暖暖）
07：00～09：00 辰时- 胃经
宜吃早餐。
此时进食最易被消化及进行代谢，提供一天所需热量。
人在此时段吃早餐最容易消化，吸收也最好。早餐可安排温和养胃的食品如稀粥、麦片、包点等，尽量避免煎炸食物。
09：00～11：00 已时- 脾经
宜动脑筋、工作，学习、做些伸展活动。
气血最旺盛的时段，脾负责消化、吸收及排泄的调和，中医有“脾主肌肉”之说。脾是人体血液的统领，脾好-消化好-造血好，血的质量好嘴唇才红润。
此时大脑最活跃，也是一天中最高效率的时间。
此外，脾主肌肉，久坐易伤肉。上班族最好每隔一小时起来做些伸展运动、走动喝水。
11：00～13：00 午时 - 心经
宜午餐、小憩一会。
心主血脉和神志。
午时一小憩，安神养精气。人在午时能睡片段，对于养心大有好处，中使下午至晚上精力充沛。
(🍵：铁娘子）
13：00～15：00 未时 - 小肠经
小肠最精力旺盛的时间，它的工作是现吸收被脾胃腐熟后食物的精华，然后再进行分配以供下午的消耗，因此我们应该在午时1点前吃午餐。
如小肠有热，人会干咳、排屁。此时保持身心舒畅，多喝水、喝茶有利小肠排毒、降火。
15：00～17：00 申时- 膀胱经
气血流注膀胱，清除体内废水。宜多喝水。
申时人体温较热，阴虚的人最为突出。
此时适当的活动有助于体内津液循环，喝滋阴泻火的茶水对阴虚的人最有效。
17：00～19：00 酉时- 肾经
適合适度的運動，晚餐时间。
肾脏排曳毒物的时间，亦是嗅觉和味觉最敏感时间。
适当的伸展运动（避免激烈运动）有助於腎臟排泄毒物。
19：00～21：00 戌时- 心包经：
宜休养生息
心包经气血充沛，可保护心脏、保存精力。
此时一定要保持心情舒畅：看书听音乐、放松心情，释放压力。
21：00～23：00 亥时- 三焦经：
宜休养、打坐冥想、睡觉
三焦经掌管诸气，人体诸气皆通过三焦输送到各脏腑。
在这个时辰入睡，能够让身体能够得到最好的休息，可以美容，亦称‘美容觉’，隔天起床精神也倍好。睡前泡泡脚可促进血液循环，解除疲劳，让人放松心情更容易入睡。
如不能入睡，可听音乐、看书、看电视、打坐冥想、练瑜伽。
23：00～01：00 子时 - 胆经
宜睡觉
胆汁进行新陈代谢，骨髓造血时间。
子时前入睡者，晨醒后头脑清晰、气色红润，没有黑眼圈。反之，常于子时内不能入睡者，则气色青白，眼眶昏黑。同时因胆汁排毒代谢不良更容易生成结晶、结石。
01：00～03：00 丑时 - 肝经
宜睡觉
全身气血会归于肝，由肝来滤化血液。
如果丑时不能入睡，肝脏还在输出能量支持人的思维和行动，就无法完成新陈代谢。所以丑时前未能入睡者，面色青灰，情志怠慢而躁，易生肝病，脸色晦暗长斑。
03：00～05：00 寅时 - 肺经
宜熟睡
肺气将气血输送全身，深层睡眠有助肺气输送。
此刻人体需要大量呼吸氧气，进行深呼吸，所以要求较深的睡眠。
在这个时候，如果您咳醒的话，最好是喝杯温开水，能够缓解一下，还可以去肺燥。
