We admit that the terms ‘wolf hour’ and ‘organ clock’ sound a little strange and puzzling. The former in particular automatically brings to mind foggy, cold autumn nights, possibly werewolves and fairy tales from days long gone. Yet there is nothing frightening about the wolf hour. It is simply the name for a nocturnal waking phase that usually occurs at roughly the same time every night and interrupts the sleep of many.
The so-called organ clock also plays an exciting role in this context. It provides an additional perspective on waking up at night and helps us to better understand connections. But what exactly are wolf hour and the organ clock? Where does the wolf hour get its seemingly mysterious name from, and what are its causes? We at billerbeck, your sleep experts, have addressed all these questions and compiled the most important information for you in this article.
What is wolf hour and how is it connected to the organ clock?
In sleep research, the term wolf hour is used to describe the nocturnal waking phase that regularly occurs in many people between 2 or 3 am and 4 am. This phenomenon does not only affect those who already suffer from sleep disorders and problems sleeping through the night, but can occur for everyone – sometimes more, sometimes less pronounced. Researchers gave the somewhat eerie name to this nocturnal wakefulness as a reminiscence of the past, of a time when everyone slept indoors in the dead of night while wolves hunted outside.
Interestingly, it is precisely this time window that coincides with an important phase in the Chinese organ clock, namely liver time, which will play a special role in the rest of this article. In the context of the organ clock, the wolf hour is therefore by no means a coincidence, but can be well explained by the temporally assigned organ activity.
What is the cause of the wolf hour?
As mysterious as the phenomenon of wolf hour may seem, the reasons for it have been researched. As with almost all processes in our body, hormones are involved. The interaction between the hormones melatonin, serotonin and cortisol is just as responsible for wolf hour as the fact that the brain is naturally less supplied with blood at this time.
These three hormones are often out of balance between 2 or 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., which leads to lighter sleep and frequent waking. In addition, the blood supply to the brain is reduced, which can intensify negative sensations. The person suddenly awakened in the middle of the night begins to brood, fears and worries can take over and keep the carousel of thoughts going round and round. As a result, it takes a long time to fall asleep again. Anyone who regularly wakes up at the same time should therefore also take a look at the organ clock, as it can provide valuable information about possible physical or emotional causes.
The theory of the Chinese organ clock on the nocturnal waking phases
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its very own theory on the subject of waking up at night. This is based on the assumption that energy – the so-called life energy Qi – flows through our entire body. In this energy model, each organ has certain high and rest phases during the course of the day, i.e. active and passive times, which are shown in the Chinese organ clock. This millennia-old concept assigns a specific organ to each two-hour period of the day and night, which is particularly active in this phase or reacts particularly sensitively to disturbances. In traditional Chinese medicine, the organ clock follows its own energetic rhythm. Regularly waking up at the same time every night can therefore indicate an imbalance in a particular organ system.
How does the organ clock work?
According to TCM, complaints that may occur can be assigned to specific times – and therefore to specific organs. The theory assumes that the energy flow in the respective organ system could be disturbed, which leads to the symptoms mentioned. Therapeutic measures in traditional Chinese medicine are also based on the organ clock: treatments are considered particularly effective if they take place during the phase of highest organ activity.
Thus, as TCM suggests, a nocturnal waking phase between around 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. could be due to complaints in the liver, as this is the organ’s most active phase. During this time, it not only processes metabolic products, but also emotions such as anger or suppressed anger. According to the organ clock, anyone who regularly wakes up during this time window could be suffering from a blockage in the liver meridian – triggered by stress, alcohol, a heavy dinner or emotional stress.
Between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., on the other hand, the lungs are in the process of becoming active and cleansing themselves. According to TCM, anyone who wakes up during this time could suffer from a disturbed energy flow in the lungs, which can be caused by emotional stress such as grief or physical stimuli such as smoking, dry air or allergic reactions.
In addition to the medical-energetic view, the spiritual interpretation also describes waking up at night – especially at 3 a.m. – as a phase of heightened emotional receptivity. Some speak of a “soul time” when suppressed issues come to the surface. The Chinese organ clock combines body, mind and energy into a holistic system.
What helps against the wolf hour and waking up at night?
Good sleep hygiene is generally recommended to prevent regular night-time awakenings during wolf hour. This includes fixed bedtimes, a quiet environment and individually tailored bedding that provides comfort and security.
The AMBIENTE 3-chamber down pillow is particularly pleasant to sleep in, offering maximum comfort thanks to its soft support and fluffy filling of certified goose down and feathers. It is easy to care for and can be washed at up to 60 °C, making it suitable for house dust allergy sufferers.
We recommend the down duvet 308 AMBIENTE with 100% white goose down for anyone who wants to feel completely snug at night. It ensures a balanced, dry sleeping climate, is warm and wonderfully light. The cover made of the finest down batiste rounds off the cozy sleeping experience.
If you keep waking up at wolf’s hour, we recommend our blog post “Effective sleep techniques for falling asleep quickly”, which contains some helpful tips on how to get back to sleep quickly.
