Excerpts from internet sources…
What else do I have to do at 4am in the morning.
Have you ever wondered why you always seem to wake up during the night at particular times?
And it’s not just an odd night here and there. After a while you begin to realize you’re waking up again and again, the nights of sleeping through a distant memory. So you start to look at the clock and find it’s always at the same time between certain hours like 4am to 5am. You’re not drinking coffee late in the afternoon, you’ve cut down on your much loved sugars and you’re fairly active during the day (incidentally if you are drinking coffee all afternoon and you’re dipping into refined sugars, consider stopping and then see how you sleep!). Sure, life’s a bit stressful but how is it that it’s always 4am?!
Those who use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) would tell you “that’s easy – look at the Chinese Medicine Meridian Clock”. It’s one of my favorite tools to use in Kinesiology. The great thing about the Meridian Clock is you don’t have to be a Kinesiology's or a Doctor of TCM to understand it or gain insight from it. So here’s a basic explanation to get you started.
The medicine of holistic kinesiology can treat a range of ailments.
- It is known to ease chronic pain, headaches, migraines, depression, learning difficulties (including attention deficit syndrome), back pain, chronic fatigue, bed wetting, sleep difficulties, asthma.
- It can also help with relationship difficulties, stress, anxiety, fears, phobias, allergic reactions, and setting and achieving goals.
- Holistic kinesiology has evolved from the integration of specialized forms of kinesiology with anatomy and physiology, nutrition, communication studies, counseling skills, energetic sciences, etc.
- Holistic kinesiology addresses the causes of the issue and prepares the body-mind to begin the healing process.
- When a person is truly ready to heal, the results can be astounding.
What’s your time?
First, have a look at the clock above and find the time you’re waking up. Take note of the name that sits directly beneath it. For example, if you’re waking between 1am and 3am then you would look at the information about the Liver meridian. Don’t freak out – it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your Liver, it’s just the way they’re named in English.
14 major meridians – our electrical system
There are 14 major meridians or flows of an energy substance (you may have heard of Qi/Ch’i which sustains life) with 12 of them sitting within the 24 hour clock. All are constantly flowing with energy from our environment and penetrating our bodies through our skin. These portals on the skin are what acupuncture and acupressure use. Each has a two hour period where they are the primary meridian. Each meridian is linked to particular parts of the body, mechanisms of the body, other meridians, thoughts and emotions, color, sound, seasons and other spiritual aspects. They’re also partnered together as Yin (receiving energy) and Yang (expressing energy) of an element – Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.
Think of it like electrical circuits – when the energy of a meridian is not flowing well due to a block (like stress), you’ll find that you’ll experience a sign or symptom from the meridian involved. This block will also cause an imbalance in the flows between meridians. So when waking up in the night at the same time, or becoming exhausted with 3:30 in the afternoon, you can look at the meridian at work and what may be happening with you. Here’s a list of the basic emotions of each element (the ring below the meridians).
- Earth – Empathy, sympathy, balanced giving and receiving
- Metal – Grief and loss
- Water – Fear and anxiety
- Wood – Anger, frustration and resentment
- Fire – Love, hate and joy
What now?
Self reflection people! It’s really not that hard. Your body is trying to tell you something by waking you up at the same time. Back to our previous example, if your time is the Liver meridian and the Wood element – ask yourself “What am I angry or frustrated at?” Or think of the Liver organ and apply this to your life “What is toxic in my life that I need to get rid of?” Perhaps you have symptoms that your digestive system is not working so well?
I’ll leave you with this as food for thought. Spend some time to reflect on your life and what’s keeping you awake based on the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Is it an aspect of your life that wakes you up at night?
Maybe you’re a bit stuck and you don’t know what to do next? Or you’re waking up early and are caught in a mental loop of guilt over some kind of loss – a relationship, lack of happiness, a job. Often we don’t even realize our own feelings or behaviors until they’re pointed out to us. The key responsibilities (aspects of life) connected to each meridian is another useful avenue to self-understanding.
Meridians and their key responsibilities
The following table describes the basic responsibilities for each of the 12 meridians.
- Stomach – Nourishment of others; nourishment from outside
- Spleen – Nourishment of self in every way
- Heart – Connection to your spirit; circulation of Qi (energy); heart and mind working as one
- Small Intestine – Communication (speaking, listening); perception; truth
- Bladder – When to use our resources; being controlling
- Kidney – Reproduction and creating things in life; our resources
- Pericardium (aka Sex/Circulation) – Intimate relationships; protecting your heart; healthy boundaries
- Triple Heater – Non-intimate relationships; social aspects
- Gall Bladder – Determination and decision making; action
- Liver – Internal plans; the vision for life
- Lung – Barrier (skin) to the outside world; understanding what is of true value
- Large Intestine – Letting go of impurities (of emotions and beliefs, past experiences) ; holding on to what is of value
Of course, some sleeping problems stem from the inability to even fall asleep at night; the dreaded insomnia. Do you find yourself helplessly awake watching the bedside clock tick loudly over to midnight with your mind ticking away even louder? Midnight puts you in Gall Bladder (11pm – 1am) and the Wood element. Ask yourself “am I stuck and not making a decision about something or acting upon it?”, “have I lost perspective?”
Extending the use of the clock beyond sleep
There are many patterns and signs in our lives; you just need to have your eyes open to see them, for example: anxiety around 4pm, headaches late at night, or a sore lower back before dinner time.
Your body is speaking to you in the only way it can by turning your attention away from the external world and inwards toward you. With the transferable knowledge of TCM you can use the clock for any time of day, not just sleeping problems.
Benefits of holistic kinesiology
Like all natural therapies, holistic kinesiology aims to improve your health and wellbeing by stimulating your body's own healing potential. Holistic kinesiology is a very broad form of complementary medicine, encompassing many aspects of both Western and traditional medicine. Holistic kinesiologists are trained in the structural, emotional, nutritional, electromagnetic, energetic, metaphysical, physiological and psycho-spiritual areas of natural holographic healthcare.
In holistic kinesiology, virtually every area of complementary medicine is used, including acupressure, nutrition, chiropractic, blood and lymph reflexes, various forms of counseling, homeopathy, traditional Tibetan and Indian medicine, reflexology, and aromatherapy. What is unique to kinesiology is the use of manual muscle-monitoring feedback to provide understanding and an appropriate solution to the client's issue.
The answer within
Holistic kinesiology aims to provide understanding and solutions to the causes of your issue. The reason for your issue, however, always lies within you. For example, you may suffer from a sore and stiff neck and feel anxious and stressed. Is the stress due to the sore neck or is the sore neck due to stress? It can be either. In one case, muscle feedback may prompt the holistic kinesiologist to work to defuse the stress causing the sore neck. In another case the practitioner may work on the sore muscles that are causing you stress. The holistic kinesiologist would look for factors that are causing the muscles of the neck not to function well.
Holistic kinesiology does not diagnose or treat symptoms or conditions; rather it merely addresses relative underlying stress patterns associated with imbalances in the system. Once the stress has been corrected the indicator muscles will respond accordingly, confirming a positive change. This change in muscle response anchors the changes into the body, giving it conscious positive feedback. This also gives the body more information and better strategies if the same situation occurs again.
Interesting reading… skeptical to say the least… but interesting. Don’t think I’m ready to plop down hundreds of dollars to understand more or potentially solve any problems… so I guess I’ll just get use to getting up at 4am… or wait for the this latest waking trend to pass. After all… it’s not really problem… I’m not tired or fatigued. Not worried, stressed, depressed, or excessively thinking about anything. In fact, very much so at peace with everything.
Like most forms of medical or healing… it’s a business. It’s goal to provide a health service/benefit and make money. Sometimes I truly wonder if the main element isn’t to make money, and if you get a benefit from the service you incidentally come out ahead.
Don’t get me wrong… medical doctors provide a needed and valuable health service. Indirect medical services like chiropractic doctors provide a valuable health service, despite the disapproval of some / most medical doctors.
Beyond that… Fringe medicine… does apparently have some positive health benefits… but I’m a bit skeptical… okay, 98% skeptical. But like most “fringe medicine” or health programs or products, I can’t help but feel they prey on those looking for cures or results beyond conventional medicine and plop down their money on a hope and a prayer for a cure or to feel or look better. But perhaps some truly do work… for a price. Some just want your money for a “lick and a promise”.
If you look to the social conscience for truth in advertising the clues might be in the fine print. “results not typical” … “the FDA has not evaluated the benefits of this product”… “not intended to solve medical issues” … “she’s a paid spokesperson” … and the list goes on and on. Everyone selling something is looking to get your money… yes, even those with money back guarantees (they know even if you are not satisfied, most people won’t return it)… or if they do, it’s less shipping and handling now more commonly called processing fees… and they have still made money off of you.
Promises of making you feeling better from whatever is bothering you… loosing weight… looking younger… having more hair… living longer… being happier… emotional wellbeing… sex appeal… or whatever you want to change about yourself… there’s a fringe medicine, product, or service to promise the positive results you are looking for. Some may actually work, for some people… or at least they are paid to say so. Well, if they paid me lots of money to say something really works ( thinking anyone would listen to me), hell yeah… I’d take the money, skirt the truth, and tell you it’s nothing short of a miracle… that’s advertising! That’s why, despite laws about making unsubstantiated claims… the saying is still… “Buyer beware!”
So where is all of this leading… Idoeno! Other then the fact that I will still be getting up at 4am for no reason at all.
All I know for sure, I know less now then when I first got up… having read about the reasons why. And that if I plop my money down… someone can explain it to me… possibly even help… but probably not. But I’d emotionally fell better knowing that I have a greater understanding even if the results I seek are not typical… and won’t happen for me.
What can I say about all this… in a word… falderal!
Y’all have a great day, and help yourself the most by doing it yourself… there are rarely any miracles remedies. Besides, I feel emotionally better not giving anyone my money to understand an unsolvable issue… and spending it on good seafood, crabs, shrimp, or scallops, or the occasional porterhouse steak! Now that makes me feel good! Emotionally and physically… and I still have money in my pocket!
