The Chinese Meridian Time Clock can be used by practitioners to enhance clinical results. It can be especially useful to those who want to take an active role in their own daily self care.

If you’re using the Meridian Time Clock for your own self care, or when under the care of a practitioner, it’s always advised that you listen to your own body’s cues, as well as communicate those body cues to your practitioner. This open communication with your practitioner can greatly enhance your treatment results, as well as shorten the amount of time required for treatment to achieve optimal balance and results.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using the Chinese Meridian Time Clock.

1. When you apply a mild stimulus you will affect only the two hour time period in which the stimulus is given.
2. However, when you apply a more intense stimulus you will also affect the next adjacent two hour period of time. In example, when you nourish the large intestine meridian (5-7am) you will also nourish the next adjacent two hour period of time, the stomach meridian (7-9am).
3. In this instance, the large intestine meridian would be considered the Mother meridian and the next adjacent meridian, the Child meridian. When the Mother meridian is nourished simultaneously the Child meridian is nourished.
4. When you apply a more intense stimulus you will also be nourishing its polarity meridian located in the opposite time period. For example, when you nourish the large intestine meridian (5-7am) you will also be nourishing the kidney meridian (5-7pm).

When you apply the right amount of stimulus, then balance will be enhanced and imbalance mitigated.

Essential Oils

Essential Oils can be useful for balancing each of your organ meridians.

How to Use Your Essential Oils

You can use pure undiluted essential oils for direct inhalation, or use suitably diluted for safe skin application when using them topically to ensure an optimal response.

For direct inhalation you can dispense your pure oils on a perfumer’s smell strip, or cotton ball and inhale the aromatic vapors for 10-30 seconds duration. Relax and rest briefly, then inhale the vapors for another 10-30 seconds. You may repeat your direct inhalation of essential oil(s) for several cycles of breathing. Please be cautious and do not over stimulate your olfactory system. One sign of over stimulation is light headedness.

For safe skin application, please dilute your essential oils in a vegetable carrier oil like fractionated light coconut oil. Using diluted essential oil is the preferred and popular method when needling for an acupuncture treatment, or for acupressure massage. The general guideline is 10-15 drops of pure essential oil per one ounce bottle of carrier oil.

How to Select Your Essential Oils

Please be sure to use only quality essential oils to promote balance of your organ meridians.

• Be sure that the Latin name of the plant is listed for an essential oil. A Latin name, or botanical name, is the most precise way to identify a particular plant. Many plants will have several varieties. Each species of a plant has different aromas and therapeutic properties. In order for you to know the chemical make-up and properties of an essential oil, the label on the bottle of an essential oil must include the species of plant the oil is distilled from. The essential oil plant species for you to select to balance a meridian are noted in this article.
• Choose oils that have been GC/MS tested for 100% purity to ensure there’s no adulteration.

Please Note

Diaphragmatic breathing is recommended to enhance your results when using the direct inhalation of essential oils to restore balance. Inhaling the aromatic vapor of an essential oil and breathing in its scent for as little as 10-30 seconds is always suggested, no matter the delivery method you are using, as many benefits occur simply through the inhalation of an oil’s scent.

Essential oils will never contain just one exclusive scent, but there will always be a predominant aroma.

Generally, when you are in a state of balance and health, it’s recommended that you use a variety of aromas for enhancing and maintaining the balance of a particular organ meridian.

Rotating your essential oils, so that you are not inhaling the same scents daily, can help ensure ongoing balance for your meridians.

You do NOT have to know Chinese Medicine or Acupuncture to experience good results when using essential oils, though it can be helpful.

Chinese Meridian Time Clock

1-3am - Liver

More than 500 functions have been identified for the liver to date. From the production of bile which breaks down fat and helps carry away waste to the storage of glycogen for energy production, the liver is involved in the metabolism of nutrients, as well as the detoxification of drugs.

Liver imbalance is indicated when there are infections, alcoholism, excessive sweet or fat intake which can lead to fatty liver disease.

3-5am - Lung

The primary function of the Lungs is to take in oxygen. Fatigue rapidly results without sufficient supply of oxygen. The brain uses 20% of the oxygen taken into the body. It is the first organ to begin to show diminished function and fatigue if there is a deficient supply of oxygen. 

Clinical conditions that typically show weak lung meridian function are asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and bronchitis sufferers and smokers.

5-7am - Large Intestine

The major function of the Large Intestine is to break down food by bacterial action and to absorb water.

Symptoms of Large Intestine imbalance include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, shoulder stiffness, dry lips and rumbling in the bowels.

7-9am - Stomach

The stomach’s main function is to begin the initial breakdown of proteins.

Symptoms of imbalance in the stomach meridian include, digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea, increased thirst, nausea, bad breath, swollen gums, leg cramps or pain.

9-11am - Spleen

The Spleen organ meridian is comprised of two organs, the spleen and pancreas.

The pancreas secretes enzymes which digest starches, carbohydrates and sweets. The pancreas also functions to distribute nutrients.

Symptoms of imbalance in the pancreas include, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, cravings for sweets, drowsiness, bloating and flatulence.

The spleen produces red blood cells and, along with the bone marrow, white blood cells.

Symptoms of spleen imbalance, include excess, or deficient production of various types of blood cells and may include, jaundice (yellow tinged skin color), especially the hands, and low energy. Autoimmune and infectious diseases frequently show imbalance in spleen meridian function.

11am-1pm - Heart

Your heart acts as a pump whose task is to supply enough blood to deliver a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and the other vital organs. It regulates the circulation within your body.

Typical symptoms of heart imbalance are high, or low blood pressure.

1-3pm - Small Intestine

The small intestine is part of the digestive system. It helps to further digest the food that is coming from the stomach. It absorbs water and nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and proteins) from the food so they can be assimilated by the body. Drugs such as antibiotics can kill the bacteria in the small intestine and weaken the meridian.

Symptoms of small intestine imbalance can include, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, earache and tinnitus, digestive issues, appetite issues, anemia and anxious feelings.

3-5pm - Bladder

The bladder’s function is to store urine. The bladder’s walls expand to store urine, and contract to empty urine through the urethra.

Symptoms of imbalance include, headaches, frequent or difficult urination, pain or stiffness in the back and legs, and dark or cloudy urine. Fear is the key emotion of an imbalanced bladder meridian.

5-7pm - Kidney

The kidneys filter waste and toxins, and excess water from the bloodstream, which is carried out of the body in urine. The Chinese consider the kidneys to be the seat of life. The kidney controls structures in the head like the eyes, parts and brain.

Symptoms of kidney imbalance include, lack of sex drive, cold legs and feet, swollen ankles, swelling under the eyes, ringing in the ears, can be fearful and timid.

7-9pm - Pericardium

Also referred to as the Heart Governor, or Heart Constrictor and Circulation/Sex. This meridian helps with the regulation of the entire process of circulation.  The Pericardium acts as protection for the heart and big vessels. It has a lubricating nature and reduces friction between the heart and the surrounding structures.

An imbalance may result in chest pain, feeling feverish, insomnia or restless and dream filled sleep, palpitations, dilated pupils, slow reaction time, shaky hands, heavy headedness and mental confusion, and shortness of breath.

9-11pm - Triple Warmer

Refers to three regions of the body, upper, middle and lower. The triple warmer meridian controls your autonomic nervous system’s fight flight, or freeze response. It regulates your involuntary actions such as body temperature, energy production, respiration, digestion and excretion. The organs primarily involved with these functionings are the thyroid, adrenals, kidney and lungs.

Symptoms of imbalance include, dry hair and skin, constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of coldness and weakness in the body, swelling, feeling of restlessness, shortness of breath and depression.

11-pm -1am Gall Bladder

Your gallbladder is part of your digestive system. Its main function is to store bile and to regulate its flow into the small intestine. Bile helps your digestive system break down fats.

Symptoms of imbalance include, headache, nausea, indigestion, bloating after eating, jaundice, chills, bitter taste, fearful and angry.

Super Oils to Balance the Organ Meridian Channels

Also known as regulators, adaptogenic oils have a regulating and balancing effect. These super oils will increase or decrease the action of an element and the flow of chi (qi) in an organ meridian as needed.

You can use these oils in your food preparation, as well inhale their scent to encourage balance to an imbalanced organ meridian. You can also use them suitably diluted in a carrier oil, like fractionated light coconut oil, for safe skin application at an area of discomfort.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Small Intestines (Yang) and Heart (Yin), also includes Triple Warmer (Yang) and Pericardium (Yin)

Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua)
Stomach (yang), Spleen (yin)

Frankincense/Olibanum Oil (Boswellia carterii)
Large Intestine (Yang) and Lung (Yin)

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Bladder (Yang) and Kidney (Yin)

Himalayan Cedarwood, (Cedrus deodora)
Gall Bladder (Yang) and Liver (Yin)

BUY Chinese Medicine Energetics: Balance Organ Meridians Using Essential Oils & The Chinese Meridian Time Clock - By KG Stiles.