Chicken Soup, Rest As Good As Cold Medicine, Expert Says

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's peak cold season and just about everyone is sneezing and sniffling. So what's the best way to cure the common cold?

There's a saying, "Do nothing, your cold lasts a week. Try to treat it, it lasts 7-days." That is reality according to Dr. Neil Skolnik, associate director of the Family Residency Program at Abington Memorial Hospital. He urges sufferers to steer clear of the cold medicines -- they just don't work.

"Simple things often go a long way -- cough drops, getting a good night sleep and for colds you want to avoid -- and don't ask your doctor for – antibiotics, because you don't want to end up treating what is a virus."

He adds homemade chicken soup is always a good idea, even though he admits there's no scientific evidence that it helps.

Reported by Lynne Adkins, KYW Newsradio 1060