01 Sep Cold remedies for a healthy start to Uni

It’s that time of year when many young people are heading off to higher education and parents want to make sure they are ready with essential supplies such as cold remedies to keep them healthy as they start Uni.

Once they have sorted out where they are going, what subject they will be studying and what type of accommodation they will be living in, you probably want to help them plan what they need to take with them when they go – part of the preparation process which often seems to fall to parents to sort out whilst the young people themselves are out celebrating their success!

There are plenty of useful check-lists on sites such as www.thestudentroom.com which give you ideas about what to buy, ranging from the obvious – a kettle and a duvet, for example – through to things that you might not have considered like a doorstop (if they wedge their door open they’re more likely to meet new people in those daunting first few days) or a keyring to keep all their keys and electronic fobs together.

But in between scouring the supermarkets for a folding clothes-airer and the cheapest plates, cups and cutlery you can find, it may be worth spending some time thinking about some of the precautions you can encourage them to take to ensure that they stay healthy in those critical first few weeks at university, such as taking herbal cold remedies.

Cold remedies to fight ‘Freshers Flu’

It is extremely common for new students to catch a bad cold or suffer from flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, a fever and headaches in their first few weeks at Uni. Known as ‘Freshers Flu’, this is not really a single illness, but the result of an assault on their immune system caused by a combination of being exposed to new viruses, along with lack of sleep, too much alcohol, a less-than-healthy diet and the stress of being away from home and having to deal with everything from spiders in the shower to the electricity bill by themselves for the first time.

The best way to help your young person to avoid going down with Freshers Flu is to encourage them to help shore up their natural immune system through healthy eating and not going too mad with the Jaegermeister so that it can deal with the new viruses.

HRI Cold & Flu Echinacea™ tablets offer an easy-to-take a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and flu-type infections based on traditional use only and can be taken at the first sign of a cold.

Get them immunised

The government is now recommending that young people starting University, in particular, should consider having the ‘Men ACWY’ vaccination before they start. This vaccine offers protection against the Meningitis A, C, W and Y which are all on the rise, particularly among young people of university age.

Be prepared

It’s a good idea to put together a simple medical kit with antiseptic wipes, plasters, headache tablets and something for an upset stomach so that they are prepared for every eventuality.

Help them keep hydrated

Send them off with a refillable water bottle so that they can avoid the perils and – literal – headache of becoming dehydrated either through too much alcohol or from spending too long sitting at their desks. There are now bottles that allow you to add fruit to a central compartment making the water tastier and giving them a few vitamins into the bargain!

Kill the germs

Shared flats and halls of residence have usually had a deep clean over the summer, but student habits mean that it probably won’t be long before the place is less than hygienic, so it is worth sending your son or daughter off with some hand sanitiser to help keeps bugs at bay.

HRI Cold & Flu Echinacea tablets carry a Traditional Herbal Registration mark, which is your assurance of quality and safety.