There are hundreds of different cold viruses. What's worse, many of them routinely alter themselves, posing new threats at every turn. With no cure in sight, the same remedies administered by our forebears remain our first line of defense: chicken soup, hot lemonade, tea with honey. None of these will cure a cold, but anything that eases the agony even temporarily is just what the doctor ordered.

Over the years the basic advice to cold and flu sufferers has not changed: Stay home in a warm (but not overheated) room, increase the moisture in the air with a humidifier if it makes you feel better (it will not help you get better faster), drink plenty of fluids, and get lots of rest. To relieve a sore throat, gargle with a solution of one teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water. Doing so will also inhibit the growth of bacteria, which can lead to strep throat. To keep a cold from spreading, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash your hands frequently.

Does chicken soup offer any real medical benefits? Most likely. Studies show that, for some reason, hot chicken soup is more effective at clearing nasal passages than other hot liquids are. It has also been shown to inhibit the movement of white blood cells, which contributes to inflammation of the lining of the respiratory tract. And, of course, the soup offers plenty of nutrition and fluids.

Hot lemonade, like any hot drink, decreases congestion, and it also provides a healthy dose of vitamin C, believed by many to help relieve the symptoms of a cold. Tea with honey also helps break up congestion and soothes a sore throat. Steam inhalations, to which camphor or eucalyptus may be added, help loosen the mucus in the respiratory tract.