Meridian Clock · Twelve Double-Hours

Chinese-medicine timekeeping for the meridians — qi circulates through twelve channels on a fixed rhythm, one channel peaking every two hours.

Meridian flow clock

Twelve double-hours

Gallbladder

子

23:00-01:00

At Zi (11pm–1am) the Gallbladder meridian is in command and yin peaks — deep sleep is essential. Only then is gallbladder qi nourished; a strong gallbladder gives clear judgment.

💡 Knock the gallbladder meridian: loose fists, tap the outer thigh-to-knee line 50 times daily. Eat light to avoid greasy food and gallstones.

Liver

丑

01:00-03:00

At Chou (1–3am) the Liver meridian rules; it stores blood and detoxifies, so sound sleep lets it work. Staying up harms the liver and eventually depletes liver blood.

💡 For women the liver is the root of constitution. Liver-soothing tea: 3g rose bud + 3g bupleurum, steeped 5 min. Keep emotions even.

Lung

寅

03:00-05:00

At Yin (3–5am) the Lung meridian rules, taking the liver’s blood to distribute it. Weak lungs tend to cough now. The lung is delicate — tend it carefully.

💡 Eat white foods: pear, lily bulb, tremella. Press LU9 and SP3 (yuan points) 150 times each to build earth and nourish metal.

Large Intestine

卯

05:00-07:00

At Mao (5–7am) the Large Intestine meridian rules — the best time to move the bowels. Lung and large intestine are paired; with lung qi full at Yin, stools pass normally.

💡 Drink warm water after rising to aid elimination. For constipation: 30g walnut + 30g sesame, crushed, with hot water to moisten the intestines.

Stomach

辰

07:00-09:00

At Chen (7–9am) the Stomach meridian rules and takes food most readily. The stomach is the sea of the organs — breakfast must be substantial.

💡 Make breakfast balanced and varied; beyond eggs, add some meat. Skipping breakfast long-term invites stomach disease.

Spleen

巳

09:00-11:00

At Si (9–11am) the Spleen meridian rules and the mind is sharpest — the golden hours. The spleen is the acquired foundation and source of qi-blood, sending essence everywhere.

💡 A good breakfast lets the spleen absorb enough. Office workers and students peak now — tackle important tasks.

Heart

午

11:00-13:00

At Wu (11am–1pm) the Heart meridian rules and yang is at its height. The heart is the monarch; it governs vessels and houses the spirit. A short nap balances yin and yang.

💡 Walk after lunch, then nap briefly. The Zi-Wu nap harmonizes yin-yang. Heart patients must protect heart yang.

Small Intestine

未

13:00-15:00

At Wei (1–3pm) the Small Intestine meridian rules, refining the stomach’s output — essence out, waste down.

💡 Keep lunch moderate, avoid heavy greasy food; don’t make dinner too rich. Rule: good breakfast, full lunch, light dinner.

Bladder

申

15:00-17:00

At Shen (3–5pm) the Bladder meridian rules, storing and draining urine. It is the body’s largest detox channel and a key barrier against external cold.

💡 Drink warm water to aid detox. Pat the bladder meridian (back and legs) 30 times daily to keep it clear.

Kidney

酉

17:00-19:00

At You (5–7pm) the Kidney meridian rules; the kidney is the congenital foundation. Kidney qi warms all life; premature grey hair ties to kidney deficiency.

💡 Drink warm water to cleanse kidney and bladder. Soak feet in hot water before bed and press KI1 to tonify kidney and brain.

Pericardium

戌

19:00-21:00

At Xu (7–9pm) the Pericardium meridian rules; when it flows freely the heart opens and one feels at ease. Care for it and the heart stays healthier.

💡 Speak your mind; don’t bottle frustration. A good time to talk with family and keep the mood light.

Triple Burner

亥

21:00-23:00

At Hai (9–11pm) the Triple Burner meridian rules — largest of the six bowels, governing all qi and the water passages. Sleep now so the hundred vessels rest.

💡 Sleep at Hai and the vessels recover, skin improves. Pat the outer arm (opposite hand). Or do the ba duan jin move "Raise the hands to regulate the triple burner".

Swipe left / right or use the arrows to move through the twelve double-hours.

About the meridian clock

The meridian clock is a core idea in Chinese medical chronobiology, rooted in the Huangdi Neijing and Zhenjiu Dacheng. The twelve double-hours map to the twelve branches, each governing one channel at its peak — Zi (Gallbladder) → Chou (Liver) → Yin (Lung) → Mao (Large Intestine) → Chen (Stomach) → Si (Spleen) → Wu (Heart) → Wei (Small Intestine) → Shen (Bladder) → You (Kidney) → Xu (Pericardium) → Hai (Triple Burner), cycling on. At its hour a channel’s qi is fullest — the best time to tend it. Living by this rhythm is the daily practice of "treating disease before it starts".

How to read this

What is this?

A circular dial mapping the 24 hours onto the twelve branches and then onto the twelve meridian channels. The outer ring shows the 24-hour scale, the middle ring the twelve double-hours, the inner ring the channel in command.

What does it solve?

It turns the abstract "what to nourish, and when" into a visible dial and an actionable card set. You don’t need to memorize the order — the pointer shows the current double-hour and channel in real time, and the cards below give that hour’s care points and concrete methods.

How to read it

The pointer marks the current double-hour and channel — that is what is "in command" right now. Open the matching card to read the care advice and tips. Align your routine with the hours; tend the right channel at the right time and the effect compounds.