Random Post 1

How to Beat the Frat Flu

My Tried and True Regiment to Overcome a Pesky Cold/Flu


It’s October which means the weather is cooling down while parties are heating up. With Hallo-weekend approaching, don’t get spooked by the looming Frat Flu on the Row. You may already have caught the Frat Flu from a few fun nights out or even from a friend. I’ve never been to a frat party before but I always seem to catch the bug one way or another, especially in our packed Marshall classes and other common spaces on campus. DayQuil, Emergen-C, and chugging water can only do so much to heal your weakened immune system, but don’t fear–I have the perfect cost-effective, Asian mom-approved home remedy that will bring you comfort and relief!


How to Make a “Medicine Ball” at Home


You may be familiar with “Medicine Balls” from Starbucks, which are super popular during flu season and colder months. If not, “Medicine Balls” are hot beverages packed with ingredients targeting your sniffles like Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea, honey, and steamed lemonade (I know, sounds super weird). The recipe is pretty straightforward if you just Google the name of the drink, but I like to use the following ingredients at home. 


Frat Flu Remedy Ingredients:


  1. Jasmine green tea or any green tea - I use bagged tea but loose leaf is even better, in my opinion

  2. Honey - I like to use clover honey

  3. Lemon juice - Fresh-squeezed is preferred

  4. Kumquat syrup - I used this all the time when I worked at a Taiwanese boba shop, you can find it at Asian markets but it can also be supplemented with some sort of citrus jam/syrup

  5. Water so hot it might burn you - According to my mom, cold water can make you sicker (common Asian health belief), so the hotter the better


Simply steep your tea bags in hot water for about 5 minutes, then add your honey, lemon juice, and kumquat syrup to taste. Not only will the tea give you the energy to get back to working on assignments, but the honey will soothe your throat and the citrus elements will support your immune system with virus-fighting vitamins. 


Other Random Health Hacks


My mom always tells me when I’m sick that I need to get off my phone. Unfortunately, I can’t resist brain-rotting on Instagram Reels, and I end up even more drained after the fact when I should be resting. If you’re bedridden with the frat flu or some other sickness, you must lock in and actually rest. My favorite product to rest my eyes is these steam eye masks you can get from Amazon. I frequently use these to relax the muscles around my eyes, depuff my face, and relieve pressure on my sinuses. If I’ve been in bed too long and need to hydrate quickly, I love to drink Pocari Sweat (basically Japanese Gatorade) or have the little Pocari Sweat jelly pouches. When I had COVID, my mom made me drink almost a liter of Pocari Sweat and I felt much better afterward. Don’t forget to always wash your hands, disinfect high-touch surfaces, and isolate when needed. Take the initiative to turn your rest days into self-care days, and I hope you don’t catch the Frat Flu anytime soon.

Comments

  1. Daniel Palmore WRIT 340October 15, 2024 at 8:59 AM

    Hi Momo, this was a really cool article! I have never been to a frat party either, but last year, my roommate went to one and caught a bad case of Frat Flu. I wish I knew these things at the time because it felt like he was coughing non-stop for at least a few weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karly 340October 15, 2024 at 9:59 PM

    This is the most necessary guide ever! As someone who is chronically sick, I needed this, especially as the weather starts getting colder and flu season kicks in. I loved your breakdown of the medicine ball, ive always wondered how they make those at Starbucks because theyre so good! Also, I will be trying the steam eye masks--those are a need!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Miriam 340October 16, 2024 at 10:51 PM

    This was so needed I'm so paranoid about getting sick at this point in the semester. With everything building up academically it's more important than ever to be prepared to face an illness. You can bet as soon as I feel a SNIFFLE, I'll be back here to follow your recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alex Balian 340October 16, 2024 at 11:29 PM

    I have been sick since I started college so this is incredibly helpful. The weather is starting to become more fall-y which means sickness follows so I will be using this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Javier LoredoOctober 17, 2024 at 5:56 PM

    Hey Momo! This post came in with perfect timing. I will definitely have to try out some things on your list in case I get sick. Thanks for caring for the class!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Assignment 2: Job Description

  Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist Every single advertisement you swipe past on your social media feed has been carefully curated to your identity. If you’ve ever wondered why your algorithm served you a particular ad or how it was developed, you have come to the right place. As a Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist, I’ve worked with big brands on influencer campaigns. Funny enough, I once saw an ad from one of my favorite social media stars that I wrote for a campaign with Palmer’s. Let us dive into the world of the Creator Economy and unpack your unique advertising algorithm. The role of a Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist can be different depending on the company. Simply put, I have overlapping tasks between the Marketing and Creative departments at The Influencer Marketing Factory, which involve internal and external marketing efforts, market research on the Creator Economy, and helping with creative campaigns for our clients. I work from home, so I c...
Read more

Random Post 2

  How to Make an Iced Chai Latte At Home The Best Starbucks-Inspired Recipe for a Fraction of the In-Store Cost I’m not afraid to admit I have a caffeine addiction, but I am embarrassed to share how much of my monthly budget is dedicated to costly cafe excursions. Matcha lattes have always been a top pick of mine when cafe-hopping around SoCal from LA to Fullerton to San Diego. Recently, chai lattes have been my go-to fall drink–yes, I prefer them iced–for their comforting cinnamon flavor. Although I love a good iced chai when I’m out and about, those $6 lattes add up quickly , especially since I go to Dulce and other cafes multiple times a week. I’m doing my best to budget leading up to the holiday shopping season so I wanted to share my simple two-ingredient chai latte recipe for anyone who’s also looking to save money while satisfying their caffeine cravings.  For my at-home chai latte recipe, all you need is the Tazo Classic Chai Tea Concentrate and a milk of your choice–I...
Read more

World We Imagine Post 1

There are so many things that trouble our world–climate change, hunger, homelessness, nuclear weapons, and so on–that it can be difficult to determine where to “start.” I’m very fortunate to have had amazing teachers and professors that shed light on local and global crises, but sometimes I can’t help but feel helpless. I’ve come to understand that knowledge is power, and through our education and network at USC, the opportunities are almost limitless when it comes to supporting our neighboring communities and advocating for change.  I wish more schools like Vox had the opportunity to collaborate with us and other colleges to promote mental health, social connection, and other pressing matters. I often think about how the “big kids” from my neighborhood high school would visit my elementary school for Dr. Seuss day to read to us and everyone thought that they were so cool. They were older, in a fun club or sport, and were getting ready to go off to college and live a life of their ...
Read more