Hooray for the Hoary Body Clock
Greetings! Nihao.
In today's post we're looking into a combination of time + health in the world of the hoary body clock.
If you haven't had much experience with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) you might be wondering, "What on earth is a hoary body clock?!"
Well, that's what today is all about.
In a nutshell, the hoary body clock refers to our internal, biological clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle and other bodily functions. Similar to your circadian cycle, but it's more than just knowing when to wake up and fall asleep.
It's like having a tiny, sophisticated timekeeper (or clock) in our bodies that ensures everything runs smoothly according to a specific schedule.
Why is this even important?
Well, because long term disruptions to our body clock (I'm sure you can think of a few that can just throw you off some days) can lead to a bunch of easily avoidable negative health effects, like grogginess, fatigue, weight gain, and even more serious ones.
So today, we're taking a look at the hoary body clock, from a little bit of the science behind it to some easy tips and tricks that you can incorporate to help maintain an even better body clock.
What is the Hoary Body Clock?
So, it has a funny name, but what is it exactly?
Going back to the illustration I made before, imagine your hoary body clock as a tiny internal timekeeper whose job it is to ensure that everything runs like clockwork.
It might be a new thought to you, but realize that your body's on a schedule.
Your body's on a natural schedule.
The hoary body clock is essentially a complex biological system that regulates our sleep-wake cycle as well as a ton of other bodily functions.
For example, according to the hoary body clock, your stomach is most strong/active around 8 AM. So, logically what are you doing around this time? Probably eating breakfast.
This is what makes sure that our bodies stick to a specific schedule.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the main component of the hoary body clock. It's a tiny group of cells in the hypothalamus of your brain and acts as our master clock. The SCN receives information about light and darkness through receptors in out eyes, which then helps to regulate our internal clock and ensure it's in sync with the outside world.
*P.S. I did my research, but this is the simple explanation, as best I understand.
The circadian rhythm is not the same thing as the hoary body clock, but it is a crucial aspect of the hoary body clock. Circadian cycles are the 24-hour cycles that regulate sleep-wake, and hormone production, digestion, and body temperature. When our circadian rhythm is in sync with our environment, we have more energy during the day and feel more relaxed and sleepy at night.
The Hoary Body Clock Time - Body Part
Here is a brief list of the corresponding body part/organ and the time it is associated with according to the Hoary Body Clock.
For more details, check out this great resource: The Horary (Or Body Clock) Organ Peak Times, Functions, Imbalances And Emotions
The Science
Time for the science-y stuff.
First up, sunlight plays a significant role in regulating our internal clock.
This is true for circadian cycles and the hoary body clock and basically any type of body clock.
When we're exposed to light, our eyes send a signal to the SCN, which then sends a signal to other parts of our brain and body, telling glands to release serotonin among other hormones that tells us it's time to be awake and alert.
When it's dark, the opposite happens and the lack of light tells our body that it's time to wind down and get ready for sleep.
But light and melatonin are just the very basics. Other factors like food, exercise, and even social interactions affect our internal clock. For example, how many of you have eaten a big meal right before bed and slept terribly because of that?
Things like that can disrupt it, while other things like regularly exercising help your clock sync up and function strongly.
Unfortunately, some disruptions are just unavoidable. Jet lag and shift work are two of the most common disruptors of our internal clock. They throw more than just a wrench into our sleep-wake cycle, they throw a wrench, hammer, screw driver, and a bucket of nails and can cause a bunch of nasty effects, especially fatigue, irritability, impaired cognitive function, and wonky hormone levels.
The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Body Clock
If you want your body to function like a well oiled clock, you got to oil the gears.
And there are plenty of simple things we can do to maintain a healthy hoary body clock.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule - try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekends. If you need help rebooting your circadian cycle try watching the sun set in the evening and getting some sunshine in the morning.
Get plenty of natural light during the day - try to spend some time outside or near a window, especially in the morning. Like we said before, the sun plays a big part in helping to regulate our internal clock.
Avoid screens before bed - the blue light emitted by screens can disrupt our melatonin production and make it harder to fall asleep.
Practice good sleep hygiene - make sure your bedroom is cool, quiet, and dark, and avoid eating or exercising right before bed.
Be mindful of your caffeine intake - caffeine can disrupt our sleep patterns and make it harder to fall asleep at night.
Just by making a few tweaks to your daily routine, you can help keep your hoary body clock in tip-top shape.
Some Final Thoughts
Of course, maintaining a healthy hoary body clock isn't just about sleep. It's also important to pay attention to your lifestyle holistically. Which means paying attention to you eating habits, your exercise routine, and especially your stress levels.
If you're interested in finding out more about this interesting topic, check out some books like:
"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker
"The Power of When" by Michael Breus,
or dive into the world of sleep-tracking apps like Sleep Cycle or Pillow.
Hope this helped!
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