Good for what ails you- what works (and doesn't work) for the common cold

For decades and in many cultures, chickens have held a special place on grandma's shopping list - especially when anyone in the household started to cough, sniff of sneeze. Grandmothers from Nairobi to Jerusalem to Saskatoon have called on chicken soup, also called "Jewish penicillin," of the cure for a common cold.

But tradition means little to scientists. Many dismiss the idea of soup as a remedy. They say it's an old wives' tale, and many have endeavored to debunk it.

Dr. Stephen Rennard, a pulmonary specialist at the University of Nebraska's Medical Center in Nebraska, actually put the theory to the test, adding his wife's homemade chicken soup to cells called neutrophils. They are the inflammatory white blood cells that rush to attack an invading virus that can cause the buildup of fluids in the chest.

Rennard's study found that the homemade soup slowed the neutrophils, but so did several store-bought chicken soup varieties. He also noted that the aromatic seasonings in the soup enhanced opening and removal of purulent mucous. The active ingredients in traditional recipes include celery, onions, carrots, parsley, mushrooms and parsnips.

"Without doubt there are biologically active compounds in the chicken soup that can slow neutrophil migration," Rennard said. His chicken soup study, formally titled "Chicken Soup Inhibits Neutrophil Chemotaxis In Vitro," was published in the scientific journal Chest in 2000, volume 118, pages 1150-1157.

But scientists agree that a single report published in a scientific journal is not the final word on any issue. Some say it's just the steam that's the real benefit.

Feed a cold, starve a fever

In other words, eat plentifully to fight a cold, and resist food if you have a fever. The practice dates to a medieval practice of fasting to combat fever, but like many other medical practices from the Middle Ages, like bloodletting to treat a variety of diseases, starving yourself when you're sick seems to be a pretty questionable tactic.

One thing is certain: Your body needs proper nutrition at all times. Infection disease specialist James Whitehouse, MD of Asheville Infectious Disease Consultants, suggests that cold sufferers try to maintain good nutrition and consume plenty of liquids (not alcohol) when you have a cold.

And since the typical cause of fever is the onset of infection, which may make your stomach queasy, you still need to have plenty of liquids on hand to prevent dehydration. Sipping hot chicken soup and water may give you the energy to fight what ails you.

Other remedies: Do they work?

Americans spend billions each year on cold preparations that are advertised to make you feel better. Painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are common ingredients in cold products designed to relieve aches and pains and reduce fever. Antihistamines meant for runny noses don't do much for the common cold, but could help you feel better. Antibiotics are not effective.

And according to recent warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, over-the-counter cough and cold medications are too dangerous for children younger than two. For kids ages 2-11, says Whitehouse, the findings aren't clear, so you should go with the minimum dose. Sudafed, which can raise blood pressure, can cause problems in older adults. Cough suppressants are usually fine at lower doses.

Echinacea - Most doctors are not sure echinacea, which comes from the purple coneflower, helps. In research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), echinacea was found not to work in shortening the duration of a cold or in improving its severity. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, has funded some well-designed studies on the herb, but has found nothing convincing so far.

Zinc - The mineral zinc, available in over-the-counter lozenges, nasal sprays and gels, may work by preventing the formation of proteins needed by a cold virus to reproduce, but scientific studies are scarce. A daily multivitamin may be more helpful in preventing colds.

Vitamin C - Lab studies have found that vitamin C affects resistance to viruses in animal studies. One 2007 study showed that if vitamin C is taken after a cold begins, it doesn't shorten the cold or make it less severe. But when it is taken daily as a preventive treatment - not just after the first sniffle - it can very slightly shorten cold duration.

Green and black teas - Green and black teas are touted as a way to prevent cancer, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, cavities and bad breath. The key to these teas, some scientists say, is the powerful antioxidants that mop up free radicals, which are natural but damaging substances made by cells. Researchers from the University of Kansas measured the antioxidant content of green tea and found that it is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E at protecting cells. Like chicken soup, one of the benefits of tea, including herbal teas, is that it is warm, soothing to the throat and thins nasal secretions.

Garlic - Modern research has shown that garlic may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is unclear whether or not it actually wards off viruses. Many who favor this natural "antibiotic" suggest eating it raw, which should ward off vampires and everyone else.

Saline Sprays - They're great for your nose and won't hurt you. They help wash out your nostrils and may bring some relief from that awful stopped-up feeling.

Heated, humidified air has also been shown to reduce symptoms.

Preventing a cold: Does anything really work?

Hand washing has long been touted as a way to prevent a cold, and experts agree that it's wise.

• Wash hands after contact with cold sufferers and objects and surfaces they may have contaminated.
• Keep your fingers out of your eyes and nose.
• Limit contact with known cold sufferers, especially during the first three days of their illness.
• Cover your cough with your sleeve, not with your hands and not with a tissue unless you plan to wash your hands right away.

The bottom line, says Dr. Whitehouse, is to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. "Fluids will help loosen mucus in your nose and chest.

"Get plenty of rest. You feel more tired when you have a cold, and you may need more sleep.

"And wash your hands to prevent infecting others. Tissues are a single-use item that should not be used and then stored in your pocket. Use it, toss it, and wash your hands!"

And try out the chicken soup cure. Even if you have to buy it in a can, it will make you feel warm and cozy and loved. Just like your grandma does.