Do You Often Wake Up Between 3 AM and 5 AM?

Here’s What It Means. Human beings have an inherent and powerful connection to sunlight that evolved over thousands of years. Before the advent of electricity, we were bound by the constraints of daylight, and our sleep cycles followed suit. But today, electricity and technological stimulation allow our minds and bodies to be active after sundown. And this can wreak havoc on our health. With that said, many people manage to fall asleep easily, but often wake up at the same time in the middle of the night. This can be incredibly frustrating - especially if you can't fall back asleep and then you feel tired the next day.

hour cycle. Every two hours, the qi is strongest within a particular organ and its functions. And that's not all - the body, mind and emotions are inseparable in Chinese Medicine - meaning that if you have disharmony in your physical body, it is tied to your emotional state. If you find yourself waking up at the same time every night, it could be because your body is trying to send you a message. So, let’s find out what your body is trying to tell you! Here’s a list of the organs and emotions associated with different times during the night.

Number 1 - Waking Up Between 9 PM And 11 PM (Or Soon After You Fall Asleep) This is the time of the triple heater or endocrine system, where the body’s homeostasis is adjusted and enzymes are replenished. It is recommended to be asleep by this time so the body can conserve energy for the following day. If you manage to fall asleep between 9 and 11 but find yourself waking up, this suggests that your body is too stressed and is subconsciously in fight or flight mode. You may also find, that your fearful or anxious thoughts become louder and make you feel either threatened or unsafe. This is the time of day when energy is also sent to replenish your immune system, so if you’re feeling ill, you may experience stronger symptoms at this time. Be sure to complete important tasks before retiring for the evening. It can be helpful to keep a notepad by your bed - You can quickly scribble down anything that comes to mind. Then, rest knowing that you can address a new idea or any unfinished plans first thing in the morning. Also, it’s not a good idea to give your body a huge evening meal to deal with. The body needs to concentrate on reorganizing and regulating anything that may have become imbalanced throughout the course of the day. You may also benefit from meditating or adopting a night time ritual to help you calm your mind.

Number 2 - Waking Up Between 11 PM And 1 AM In order to wake up feeling energized, you should definitely be asleep by this time. The gallbladder is most active during this part of the night, and this is often the time when people with gallbladder issues, including gallstones, experience pain. Since the gallbladder is responsible for breaking down fats in your body, waking up at this time every night could be a sign that you need to change up your fat intake - either by reducing it or focusing on the consumption of healthier fats and oils. On an emotional level, waking up between 11 and 1 every night, may signify that you’re harboring serious feelings of bitterness, resentment, or judgment. This means that it may help to spend some time during the day reflecting on your relationships with others, and yourself. This will help release any negativity that might be blocking energy in your system.

Number 3 - Waking Up Between 1 AM And 3 AM If you’re constantly waking up during this window of time, your liver may be telling you it’s not able to use its allocated time to rejuvenate, as it’s overwhelmed by other tasks. Any congestion or toxicity in the liver may well be experienced as pain during these times. It’s important to note that in our society, excess energy in the liver is quite prevalent. Our fast-paced, congested environment, constant exposure to toxins and pollutants, and toxic emotions such as anger and stress, all directly target the liver. Muscle cramps and muscle injuries can also indicate a liver energy imbalance. As the liver is also responsible for regulating body processes, any condition where there are uneven or erratic symptoms: such as PMS, mood swings, or irregular bowel habits - may indicate a liver issue. The liver also supports the eyes and sight, so long hours straining your eyes at a computer screen will certainly weaken your liver. In addition to this, overindulgence in alcohol, a poor diet that includes fatty foods, and over-medicating with prescription drugs creates even more stagnation in the liver. You’ll do yourself a favor if you minimize the amount of alcohol, greasy foods, sugar and caffeinated beverages you put in your body. You may also want to try a detox that can help cleanse your liver. It will help get rid it of any toxins that might be keeping it from functioning at its best. On an emotional level, waking up between 1 am – 3 am also signifies pretty serious feelings of anger, resentment, and frustration. Spend time reflecting on what’s bothering you, and identify elements in your life that might be sources of negative energy. If you can, try to free yourself of those elements wherever possible.

Number 4 - Waking Up Between 3 AM And 5 AM Waking up during this time indicates that you should probably turn your attention to your lungs, or more specifically, you’re breathing. This is the time of night that your lungs are functioning the most actively, so a disruption to your sleep could mean that there is something blocking your ability to take deep, restorative breaths. Most likely, this is linked to emotional factors, and could mean that you’re having trouble relaxing and accepting that there are things in life that you don’t have control over. A 3 AM to 5 AM wake-up bracket might also be a result of grief, often associated with a loss. Either way, the key is to practice taking deep breaths, and practice acceptance in an effort to free yourself of anxiety over things that are out of your hands.

Number 5 - Waking Up Between 5 AM And 7 AM Early morning is when your colon experiences its greatest flow of energy. It’s primed to eliminate its contents from your body as effortlessly as possible. This is the best time to rise and start your day! This is also the best time to exercise, as vigorous physical activity will help to activate your qi. Any symptoms you experience during this time may indicate an imbalance in the colon and a need to pay attention to this organ. Especially if they are digestive issues, or involve constipation or diarrhea. Be sure to stay properly hydrated throughout the day, as this is one of the key components to a healthy colon. The main emotional aspects related to the colon involve the ability to let go or a tendency to hold on to issues, people or situations. Often, resolving any psychological issues related to holding on or letting go, will help to re-establish colon health. Also, try to work on consciously putting faith in things that you can’t change, and focus on what you can realistically do for your happiness and success.

Many of us are habitual night owls and think nothing of it, especially if we’re able to get a decent amount of sleep. But, according to Chinese medicine, it’s not only how much sleep you get those matters, but also when you get it. A bedtime, no later than 10:30 PM is advised so that you’re asleep by 11 PM - when the gallbladder and the liver start to regulate qi, process emotions, balance hormones and detoxify the body. According to Chinese medicine, the window from 11 PM - 3 AM, which correlates to the gallbladder and the liver, is most important in terms of maintaining health, especially as we age. This idea is backed by modern science - we experience the deepest part of sleep during the first third of the night. This deep sleep, is the most restorative part of our sleep. During these hours, the stress hormone cortisol is reduced and parasympathetic nervous system activity increases. This allows us to fully rest and move away from the fight or flight responses that dominate during waking hours. This stage of sleep is associated with memory and learning.

A lack of this type of sleep can not only result in waking up tired, but it can lead to reduced daytime functioning and alertness as well. Furthermore, human growth hormone, which is essential to repairing our bodies from daily injury and maintaining health, is released from 9 PM to 7 AM, making each hour of sleep during this time, critical. The Chinese Medicine Body Clock offers great insight to the messages of your body. However, it’s also important to use your intuition to determine if there may be another message that’s trying to be delivered to you.