20/08/2026
I’ve been dealing with my first winter bug 🤧❄️ — along with lingering postnasal drip and thick morning mucus. With GP appointments not always easy to access in the countryside, I’ve been focusing on nourishing my body while I recover.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, my symptoms seem to resemble Spleen Qi Deficiency with Phlegm-Damp, so I’ve been leaning into warm, comforting and easy-to-digest foods.
🥣 My pumpkin & brown rice congee:
🎃 Pumpkin — beta-carotene + supports digestion
🍚 Brown rice — fibre + steady energy
🫚 Ginger — warming + supports digestion
🍄 Mushrooms — antioxidants + nutrients for overall health
🌱 Spring onions — vitamin C + antioxidants
🫛 Okra — fibre + supports gut health
🥣 Miso — fermented + adds flavour
🥚 Egg — protein + choline + B12
Throughout the day, I’m also swapping my usual caffeinated tea for warm Chen Pi (aged mandarin peel) with honey 🍊🍯 — traditionally used in TCM to support Qi movement and transform Phlegm, while honey can help soothe the throat.
This is simply what I’m doing to support my own recovery, not a substitute for medical care. 🌿