I Didn't Know That - Sore Throat & Cough Remedies

Sore Throat and Cough Remedy - Best

Garbling with warm saltwater not only helps alleviate sore throat symptoms by drawing moisture out of swollen glands and bacteria, but it may also help prevent upper respiratory infections if done regularly, according to National Institute of Health.

To calm a cough, reach for the sweet stuff.  Honey soothes the back of the throat, contains free radical-fighting antioxidants, breaks up mucous and has even been shown to be more effective than over-the-counter cough suppressants, according to a study by the Penn State College of Medicine.  However, due to the risk of infant botulism, remember that honey should never be given to children under on year old.

Sore Throat and Cough Remedy - Worst

It might be hard to believe, but over-the-counter cough suppressants actually do very little to alleviate coughing due to a cold, according to The American College of Chest Physicians.  Essentially, the drugs previously thought to help reduce the severity of a cold-related cough - suppressants such as dextromethorphan or expectorants such as gualifensein - don't appear to effectively loosen mucous in the airways, according to multiple research studies.

If you're coughing up a cold-related storm, use a humidifier, take that spoonful of honey, and maybe add some of Grandma's chicken soup to your get-well regimen.