Dear Tribune,

I caught a cold a few days ago and as the days pass by, my runny nose and rusty cough keep getting worse. I don’t feel like I can skip classes because we’re in the middle of midterm season, and I badly need to study. How can I recover as fast as possible?

Sincerely,

Ill Academic Weapon  (IAW)

Dear IAW,

The Tribune has you covered. Fall is officially back: Some were dreading it, others could not wait. Slowly but surely, sunny days are fading away while students’ spirits drop every morning when they open their weather app. Apart from the constant din of construction on campus, the invading sounds of sneezes and coughs fill the ears of students who are courageous enough to brave the rain and declining temperatures. Fall entering the scene also means that the season of colds is back. 

After trying to escape the “Frosh flu,” first-years will now discover the joy of stepping into a library filled with viruses floating in the air. Looking around, it’s hard to miss the traces of microbes—the astonishing amount of tissues in the bins, a classmate’s unstoppable coughing fit in the middle of class, or the bright red colour of friends’ noses. Colds are all around, so here are some tips to cure them and be ready to face midterms. 

Honey-lemon hot tea

Most of us have been told—probably by a grandmother—that honey is good for soothing a sore throat. Making hot tea with lots of honey is a great way to soothe a sore throat, or you can skip the tea and just make hot water with honey, optionally along with the juice of a lemon. Ginger is also a classic for home sore-throat remedy recipes. Although the research on honey, lemon, and tea for sore throats is spotty, and there’s some concern that the acidity of the lemon may be irritating for certain sore throats, follow your grandma’s advice and do what works for you.  

Steam inhalation*

Blowing your nose into a tissue when it’s all stuffed up can be frustrating, and it can get painful if your runny nose lasts for more than a few days. Some may use salted water to clean their noses, but using a homemade inhalant is the best way to go. 

Ingredients:

• 10 cups of boiling water (or enough to fill up a large bowl)
• 2 tbsp each of peppermint, lavender, and thyme
• 2-3 drops of essential oil (optional but recommended)

Steps:

1. Pour the boiling water into a large heatproof bowl.
2. Mix all the herbs together and put into the bowl. Add the essential oil.
3. Cover the bowl and let it steep for 10 minutes.
4. Place your face over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to keep the steam in. Make sure the water has cooled a little bit first—you don’t want to get burned from the steam!
5. Close your eyes and inhale through your nose for 10 breaths, then inhale through your mouth for 10 breaths and repeat. Do this for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Sleep

Another crucial way to overcome a bad cold is by sleeping. While it can be hard to make time for sleep during midterm season, our bodies combat infections when we are asleep because that is when we produce cytokines—a type of protein in our immune system that targets infections. Getting a good 7-9 hours of sleep is vital to boosting your immune system for recovery. 

Protect yourself and others

While it’s best to stay home from classes if you are feeling sick, if you must go to campus, it’s important to wear a mask when you enter a shared space such as a library or a classroom. Masks are available for free in several buildings on the downtown campus. And don’t forget that at the end of the day, your health comes first. If you are too sick, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital or take a few days off. It may not seem like it, but your studies can wait.

Get a flu shot

As they say in the medical industry, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While it can be easy to forget about yearly flu shots when living away from home, it’s a crucial part of keeping yourself and others healthy for the winter. Go online now to schedule an appointment at your local pharmacy—pharmacies typically book one to two weeks out. Also, it’s often possible to book a COVID-19 vaccination at the same time as your flu shot.

*The inhalant recipe was adapted from Herbal Reality’s steam inhalation recipe.