Morning light helps reset the body’s natural rhythm — crucial for sleep, digestion and healing.
In 2017, three Nobel Prize–winning scientists uncovered a secret hiding in plain sight: Our bodies run on time. Not just sleep and hunger, but even how we respond to medicine follows a 24-hour rhythm known as the circadian cycle.
Today, more doctors are turning to chronotherapy — an approach that matches treatments to the body’s internal clock. The result? Better outcomes, fewer side effects and smarter healing.
Your body has a schedule
You know your blood pressure naturally spikes in the morning? Or that your liver works harder to process cholesterol at night? These rhythms can change how effective medicine is.
Here are a few examples:
| Medicine Type | Best Timing | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Pills | Evening | Calms dangerous morning blood pressure surge |
| Statins (Cholesterol) | Night | Liver makes more cholesterol at night |
| Asthma Inhalers | Morning | Asthma symptoms worsen during the night |
| Chemotherapy | Timed to cycles | Matches cancer cell cycles, spares healthy cells |
Taking medicine at the right time can make it more powerful and gentler on your body.
What happens when you ignore the clock?
A lifestyle that fights your circadian rhythm — like eating late, staying up on screens, or working night shifts — can seriously hurt your health.
Doctors call this circadian disruption, and it’s been linked to:
- Insomnia
- Diabetes and weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Depression and anxiety
- Even some cancers
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has even labelled night shift work as a probable cause of cancer.
Simple tips to stay in sync
- You don’t need fancy tools — just daily habits that support your internal clock:
- Get morning light exposure.
- Sleep and wake up at regular times.
- Take medicine exactly as prescribed (not “when you remember”).
What’s next in time-based treatment?
Hospitals and researchers around the world are beginning to apply time-based care to:
- Chemotherapy infusions — timed to cancer cell division.
- Radiation therapy — scheduled when healthy cells are less sensitive.
- Vaccines and insulin — administered when the immune system or glucose levels respond best.
BOTTOM LINE
The “when” of your medicine is just as important as the “what.”
Your body keeps time — healing is better when we follow it.
🩺 Dr Bura practises Plant based Dietary Consultancy at Golden Rose Hotel in Arusha from Monday to Saturday 4-6pm. His contact is 0626265471.
