Why You Feel Heavy, Stuck, blocked sinuses Right Now (and What Autumn Is Trying to Tell You)

A guide to seasonal living (in Scotland/UK) through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Every October, I notice the same thing - my energy dips, my skin feels drier, my chest gets a bit wheezy, and I start craving comfort food like nobody’s business. Sound familiar?

It’s not just you. It’s not “just the weather.” What’s happening in your body right now is nature doing its thing and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is one of the most important transitions of the year.

Autumn, in TCM, belongs to the Lungs and Large Intestine - the organs of breath, immunity, and letting go. Just like the trees shedding their leaves, we’re meant to release the heaviness we’ve been carrying - physically and emotionally - and prepare for the quiet, reflective season ahead.

But here’s the catch: our Scottish climate doesn’t make that easy. Dampness, wind, and cold creep into our homes and our bodies. That “sluggish,” “phlegmy,” “tired but wired” feeling? It’s your internal landscape matching what’s happening outside.

What TCM Actually Means (Without the Fluffy Jargon)

Think of TCM as the study of living in sync with the seasons. Your body isn’t separate from nature, it is nature. When it’s cold and wet outside, your inner world mirrors that. The goal isn’t to fight it, but to work with it: to eat, move, and rest in ways that keep your internal fire burning while the world cools down.

Autumn & The Lungs: What This Season Brings Up

In TCM, the Lungs are deeply connected to grief, release, and inspiration. When this organ system is out of balance, we might feel:

• Chesty or congested

• Low or heavy in mood

• Tired, flat, or foggy

• Dry skin or a lingering cough

• Uninspired/Stagnant

  
  

You might also feel like you’re ready to shed - old routines, emotions, or even relationships that don’t feel right anymore. That’s the season doing its work.

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What to Eat (and What to Avoid)

This is the time to keep your meals warm, light, and cooked. You want foods that support digestion and move dampness, not make it worse.

❌ Avoid (Cold & Damp-Forming)

• Dairy (especially milk and cheese)

• Ice cream or chilled foods (yoghurt, kefir)

• Smoothies and raw salads

• Fried, greasy meals

• Excess sugar and white bread

• Raw foods - cold, raw juices, raw celery, raw carrot, cold salads

✅ Favour (Warming, Local, and Nourishing)

• Soups, slow-cooked stews, and broths add garlic, ginger, and leek for extra warmth

• Root veg carrots, parsnips, neeps, and tatties keep you grounded

• Oats soothing and perfect for Scottish mornings

• Pears and apples (stewed or baked) moisten the lungs gently

• Barley and rice light grains that don’t trap damp

NOTE: Make sure you are ONLY buying ORGANIC, especially for barley, rice, oats and grains. Non-organic grains are saturated in chemicals which plays havoc with your body, causing toxic build-up. (See my blog about how and why it is important to soak grains before consumption)

My favourite UK suppliers are Hodmedods and Biona :)

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Herbs & Supplements for This Season

• Astragalus (Huang Qi) strengthens immunity before winter (I love it as a tea)

• Cordyceps or Reishi mushrooms support lung and energy

• Thyme and elderberry syrup gentle and effective for phlegm or coughs

• Vitamin D a must for darker Scottish winter months

Rituals to Support the Lungs & Letting Go

• Deep breathing  expand your chest, take in fresh air, let go with intention - practice 7-7-7 breathing

• Declutter your space reflects your internal state - get your stuff on Vinted or charity shops!

• Stay warm especially your neck, chest, and lower back - wear a snood/scarf, high neck, long jumpers to cover lower back.

• Get outside daily even in drizzle; your lungs thrive on crisp air

• Journal or reflect ask: what am I ready to release before the winter hibernation months?

When we live in rhythm with the seasons, everything starts to make more sense - our cravings, our moods, even our energy. Autumn isn’t asking you to push harder; it’s inviting you to breathe, release, and slow down in preparation for the long winter days of hibernation.

So, as Scotland turns misty and the air thickens, remember: this season is your chance to clear space, inside and out, for what’s next.

Check out my other blogs in The Honest Edit xx