Meridian Behavioral Health
2020 — 2021
Traditional Chinese medical sciences: Meridian health preserving
Summary
Situation
We all want to stay healthy.
Besides, seeing people — especially our loved families and friends — suffering from preventable diseases is brutal.
Background
After designing for healthcare for a year, I learned that approximate 60% of health and well-being belongs to behavioral health. Medical care can only help about 10%. *1
I came from Taiwan and fortunately grew up with both contemporary (西醫) and traditional Chinese medical sciences (中醫). The latter developed a holistic health preserving method through the meridians (經絡) of the body *2 and can be practiced easily in our daily routine.
Assessment
I studied the meridian system, consulted doctors, and have been practicing activities since the pandemic outbreak. My sleep quality improved; I feel more energized and productive; and, most important, I feel I'm taking ownership of my health.
Recommendation
I visualized the meridian daily lifecycle in a simplified framework and shared with families and friends: when to wake up, when to exercise and what level of intensity, when to eat and what type of food, when to massage which part of the body, and when to rest and sleep. The graph is more about a visualization of practices, rather than a rigorous medical study.
(Mandarin version below; English version on the top.)
Stay safe and healthy!
Appendix
Refer to: We Can Do Better — Improving the Health of the American People, Steven A. Schroeder, M.D. and Determinants of Health
Meridian names based on Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature, WHO
Assistive Content
For better accessibility, here are the main content in the visualized graph.
Gallbladder Meridian
Time: 11 pm — 1 am
Functions: Visceral functions, detoxification
Activity: Deep sleep
Liver Meridian
Time: 1 am — 3 am
Functions: Hematopoiesis, blood purification, digestion, detoxification
Wood element, mastering anger, impacting eyes
Lung Meridian
Time: 3 am — 5 am
Function: Respiration
Metal element, mastering sadness, impacting nose
Large Intestine Meridian
Time: 5 am — 7 am
Function: Excretion
Activities:
Wake-up, warm water, digestive probiotics, morning ritual and spiritual study
Defecation
Gentle exercise, light sweat, i.e., Yoga
Stomach Meridian
Time: 7 am — 9 am
Function: Digestion
Activities:
Breakfast: 2/5 daily protein, carbohydrate, 2 serves of fruits, calcium
Massage chest and inside arms
Spleen Meridian
Time: 9 am — 11 am
Functions: Muscular system, digestion and absorption, blood sugar adjustment
Activity: Massage head and inside legs
Earth element, mastering missing, impacting month
Heart Meridian
Time: 11am — 1pm (The most accurate timing is when shadows are the shortest during a day, regardless of daylight saving.)
Functions: Cardiovascular system, blood circulation, cerebral cortex
Activities:
Moxibustion
Lunch: 2/5 daily protein, carbohydrate, 2 serves of vegetables
30-min nap
Fire element, mastering joy, impacting tongue
Small Intestine Meridian
Time: 1 pm — 3 pm
Functions: Digestion and absorption
Gastrointestinal function going down after 3 pm
Bladder Meridian
Time: 3 pm — 5 pm
Functions: Urinary system
Activities:
Light snack
Massage the back of the hips and thighs
No more fruit after 4pm
Kidney Meridian
Time: 5 pm — 7 pm
Functions: Reproduction, metabolism
Activities:
Cardio exercise or strength training
Light dinner: 1/5 daily protein, carbohydrate, 1 serve of vegetables
Water element, mastering fear, impacting ears
Pericardium Meridian
Time: 7 pm — 9 pm
Functions: Blood circulation, cerebral cortex, blood pressure
Activities:
Reflection, evening ritual
Massage shoulder and neck
Triple Energizer Meridian
Time: 9 pm — 11 pm
Functions: Immune system, detoxification, female endocrine system
Activities: Shower, wind down, rest, sleep