Discover Zicam and/or Airborne

These non-prescription products (available in spray, liquid, chewable, and/or drinkable forms) work homeopathically and have been proven to shorten the duration of a cold. Simply take them every few hours - beginning at the very first signs of a cold. They have been proven to shorten symptoms by days!

Go zinc!

Walk down the cough and cold aisle of your drugstore and you're sure to find zinc lozenges. Simply sucking on these lozenges (many of them fortified with Vitamin-C) every few hours has also been proven to shorten the duration of a cold.

Drink lots of liquids.

When you have a cold, your body is working hard to get the germs out of your body. By drinking lots of fluids, you'll be helping your body to flush those germs out more quickly.

Eat chicken soup!

There's a reason this tradition is centuries old! Now we know that having chicken soup temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, actually reducing the amount of time that the virus is in contact with the lining of your nose. See, it does work!

Call your doctor.

There are several prescription medications (Tamiflu and Relenza) that if taken in the first 48 hours after flu symptoms begin, can actually shorten the duration of the flu. But because they're prescription medications, you may need to actually go to the doctor and/or drug store. So act fast!'

Take blackberry extract.

Before flu season even begins, you may want to make sure to have a bottle of this handy in your medicine cabinet. Sold under the brand name Sambucol, this extract has been shown to cut the length of flu symptoms in half -- from about seven days to three days. '

Keep yourself hydrated.

Drinking lots of fluids helps to rid your body of germs. But it also loosens congestion and keeps you hydrated - two things that can have you feeling a whole lot better. So drink plenty of water, juice or broth and avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which can make your dehydration worse.

Take care of your throat.

Is your throat sore? Try gargling with a glass of warm salt water. Drinking hot beverages or sucking on throat lozenges may also help ease the discomfort.

Turn on the humidifier.

Cold viruses thrive in dry air - which is why they're so common in the winter. The dry air can also dry out your mucus membranes, making your nose stuffier and your throat more dry and sore. By turning on a humidifier, you'll increase the moisture in the air and simultaneously soothe your nose and create a less hospitable environment for cold germs.

Try saline nose drops.

These may help clear your nasal passages and make you feel less "stuffed up."

Take a pain reliever.

If you're suffering from headaches or general achiness, aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol can help. Many of them can also ease stomach irritation after eating. But be aware that aspirin should NEVER be given to children.

Try an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine.

Whether it's a cough medicine or decongestant, a pill or a syrup, these products all pretty much do the same thing. None of them help to eliminate - or even shorten - a cold or the flu, but they do help ease the symptoms while you're sick. Be aware that many of these medicines also make you drowsy, so avoid driving after you've taken them.