With the winter season coming to a close, the cold and flu will soon be replaced with terrible allergies. Not to mention, with finals right around the corner; headaches, migraines and stress will be present. Definitely not a fun time for anyone involved. However, to help combat this issue,  I have listed some natural remedies that you can try at home to soothe your symptoms. The Captain’s Log, however, wants to note that these remedies should not replace prescription medication. Go to the doctor if you are showing concerning symptoms.

• Honey

Honey has a lot of amazing properties that make it perfect for a variety of symptoms. First, honey provides relief for sore throat symptoms and can help alleviate a cough. Eating a spoon of honey can also help improve digestion by reducing bloating, gas and constipation. If you aren’t an avid honey eater, try mixing it with a hot tea of your choice. 

• Ginger

Do the thoughts of final exam week give you stress? Does it make your stomach very upset? Not to worry, ginger is your best friend. The properties in ginger help soothe an upset stomach, whether that’s nausea or indigestion. Now, ginger can be potent to eat by itself, so I recommend drinking ginger ale, which does the same thing. 

• Garlic

Despite its unpleasant smell and taste, garlic has a lot more benefits than you might think. First, garlic is very good at reducing high blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels in your body. Garlic also lowers cholesterol, protecting the heart from disease. It can also boost the immune system, which can prevent a lot of illnesses. So the next time you are out shopping, make sure you pick up some cloves of garlic.

• Lemon Water

Dining hall food messing your stomach up? Switch that around by making your very own lemon water. Lemon water has many amazing digestive benefits which can help your stomach digest harsher meals. When preparing this water, you can either slice lemons to put in there or just get some traditional lemon juice. 

• Oatmeal

With allergies comes very dry and irritated skin. To combat this issue, try using an oatmeal mask. All you need to do is put oatmeal powder in a bowl with water and stir. This mixture will help soothe skin. You can either do this in the shower or put in on the affected areas and leave it on for 15 minutes. Your skin will be feeling back to normal before you know it. 

• Peppermint 

Peppermint is your best friend if you frequently suffer from headaches. Peppermint oil or tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe a headache. Its cooling sensation, primarily due to the menthol, helps relax muscles and stimulates blood flow which contradicts the inflammation. Give this a try the next time you have a debilitating headache. 

I hope these natural remedies can help whatever illness comes your way. With college being very busy around this time of year, make sure you are taking care of yourself.