(U-WIRE) COLLEGE PARK, Md. — As the temperature falls and the countdown to final exams begins, more university students are depending on alternative methods to avoid illness.

Regardless of rapidly improving technology in the field of medicine, students are using acupuncture, yoga and herbal supplements to prevent colds and other serious illnesses.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Americans contract more than 1 billion cases of the common cold each year, with adults catching between two and four colds a year.

College students are especially susceptible to colds, which are easily spread in crowded spots such as residence halls, classrooms and dining halls. There is no vaccine for the common cold, as it can come from over 200 viruses.

The Center for Health and Well-being, a satellite office of the University Health Center, sees an increase in students interested in alternative medicine during this time of the year, according to nutritionist Jane Jakubczak.

“The Center has its up times and its down times, and this is certainly an up time,” Jakubczak said. “Because of the holidays and exams, students want to stay well, especially to perform academically. Students are generally proactive, taking preventative measures.”

Acupuncture, a procedure that treats pain by piercing parts of the body with needles, is an increasingly popular way to prevent sickness.

The university is the first school to offer full-time acupuncturist coverage, said Pamela Gandy, a licensed acupuncturist who has worked for five years at the University Health Center.

“We are always booked, five days a week,” said Gandy. “I see mostly undergraduates during times when the seasons change.”

Gandy said students rely on acupuncture to help them make the transition from different weather conditions.

“Students especially have a tough time going from fall to winter, as exams come up and they begin to suffer from the ‘winter blues,'” she said. “I think acupuncture helps people maintain balance in their lives and feel better about themselves, so it can prevent colds and other illnesses.”

Jane Kim, a senior criminology and criminal-justice major, has used acupuncture in the past for injuries and plans to undergo the therapy for her winter allergies.

“I don’t know what it is, but ever since I came to college, my allergies are so much worse,” Kim said. “I think acupuncture will help clear my sinuses, or at least make them bearable.”

Although the price of acupuncture, which is not covered by all insurance plans, prevents some students from using it, others say it’s worth the cost. At the Health Center, it costs $45 for students and $60 for non-students.

“I know some people may not want to spend the money, but I think it’s totally worth it,” said Kim. “When you add up all the money I spend on different conventional allergy medications, tissues and my time spent in the doctor’s office, the cost of an acupuncture procedure is barely anything.”

Some students who seek alternatives to traditional medicine but don’t have the time or money for acupuncture may combine one method, yoga, with advancement toward their college degree.

KNES161T: “Physical Education Activities: Coed: Conditioning: Yoga,” which teaches students a mixture of exercise, breathing methods and meditation, can be taken at the university for one credit.

“I take yoga for credit, as a class, and I love it,” said senior English major Christina Braganza. “I feel so relaxed and energized. I usually get really sick at least once each semester, and I haven’t so far. I’ve been feeling really good.”

Sophomore Rachel Klein, a letters and sciences major, takes Echinacea, an herbal supplement, which she said keeps her immune system boosted.

“I don’t use conventional medicine, mostly because if I get sick, I don’t realize it until I’m already sick, and by then it’s too late to take anything,” she said.

Others, like senior mathematics major Rachael Via, said the key to staying healthy throughout cold season is sticking with a consistent routine.

“I drink plenty of water. I think that’s most important,” she said. “Other than that, I drink orange juice and take a multivitamin. I don’t feel that anything else really helps to keep me healthy or to make me feel better if I’m sick.”

However, some students prefer using conventional medicine to prevent and ease colds.

“Sudafed Cold and Sinus is the cure of all ills,” said junior communication major Jessica Wieder.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommends those hoping to avoid colds get plenty of rest and wash hands frequently.