Remedies to ease cold symptoms

The best cold remedies are often the easiest and the most reliable, chicken soup included, according to everydayhealth.com.

Here are 10 that get high marks

1. Drink lot of fluids — eight glasses or water or juice per day=

2. Use an air humidifier — helps keep nose and throat moisturized

3. Try a neti pot — a nose-rinsing device found in drug and health-food stores.

4. Eat chicken soup –— looses mucus

5. Take echinacea — evidence is mixed on the effects of echinacea on the common cold, but some experts say it can be helpful.

6. Reach for some zinc lozenges — there is some evidence zinc nasal sprays or zinc lozenges can

decrease cold symptoms

7. Take vitamin C — some evidence indicates it can reduce the duration and severity of a common cold.

8. Give your nose a massage — research shows that massaging an acupuncture point known as yingxiang, located at the lower border of the nostril, can provide relief from nasal congestion.

9. Gargle with water — recent study in which participants gargled with water three times a day found that the ritual can help prevent upper respiratory tract infections

10. Stock your medicine cabinet — not exactly a home remedy but over-the-counter cold remedies can provide temporary relief. The American Lung Association recommends that these medications be taken as soon as common cold symptoms arise. If you have high blood pressure, though, talk to your doctor about any OTC cold medications you should avoid.