I think it is fair to say that second semester sicknesses are running rampant across campus. My roommate, for one, has consumed multiple rolls of toilet paper for nasal purposes. In this highly infectious time, people are scrambling to boost immune systems and fend off that terrible mucous man

Featured in Mucinex commercials. There are innumerable ways to stay healthy during cold season, but I’d love to spend a few moments div- ing into some of the more homeo- pathic methods. The other day, my roommate (the one with the highly active na- sal cavity), asked for hot water in his thermos at the Pub. The kind Pub worker looked aghast when she noticed the mug was half full of soggy ginger and lemon slices. Similar to those tasty fruit wa- ters available at Dana, my room- mate was using water to leach out the flavors and in this case, im- mune boosting properties, of the contents of his thermos.

Lemon is a great source of vitamin C, while ginger can alleviate respiratory in- fections, coughs, and many stom- ach problems. Hot drinks are a wonderful way to enjoy a cozy dose of natural remedies, so if it’s not ginger and lemon floating in your brew, toss a tea bag in your mug and flush yourself with antioxidants and a warm heart. Gypsy Cold Care and Throat Coat tea are both excellent options when you are feeling under the weather. During my extensive research for this article (a survey of my housemates), I learned that el- derberry syrup is a most fabulous immune system booster. So fabu- lous, in fact, that the parents of one friend have been known to illegally forage elderberries under the cover of nightfall from the back of local businesses. Other friends reported being used as casual child labor to exploit a surprise elderberry patch found on the side of a bike path. Elderber- ry is full of antioxidants and is used to help fight coughs, colds, the flu, bacterial and viral infections. After trying some “elderberry cold-care cordial” during my investigations, I’m convinced that elderberry syr- up could also be a component of a great mixed drink. Fire cider is another liquid that can give your worn out body what it needs to make it from Tuesday

Blues to a Saturday Java show. While the name might imply a Fireball-esque hard cider bomb, fire cider is in fact void of alcohol. Instead, it is a concoction made from letting ingredients like honey, horseradish, ginger, habanero pep- pers, garlic, and turmeric infuse into apple cider vinegar. Home- made recipes are easy to find, and just a shot of the tonic can help to clear congestion, fight bacteria, support immune function, and act as an anti-inflammatory. Plus, there are actually mixed drinks you can make with fire cider. Best of luck fighting off the SLU flu this semester, and consider drinking some tasty tea or interest- ing tonics to help keep you body at its best. Natural remedies are not only fun to concoct, but put fewer colors, dyes, and synthetic chemi- cals into your body. You can even save that Friday night by safely combining cold-fighting power of nature with the sterilizing force of your favorite spirit. Or sleep. Sleep is good too.