While nothing stops a cold in its tracks, some of Grandma's remedies really do have the power to make you feel better.

You're sick. Your head is squeezed, your nose locked up and your stomach uneasy.

The bad news: There's still no quick cure for the common cold and flu.

The good news: Doctors say tricks that Grandma brought from the old country or something Mom concocted in the kitchen may make that long slog to recovery a bit easier.

"For the most part, these home remedies are out there because, on the medical side, your doctor doesn't have a cure in a back pocket," says Dr. Brent Bauer, who evaluates alternative medicine therapies for the Mayo Clinic.

Detroit Free Press  by Robin Erb, 10/18/09

Tags: alternative therapy, Complementary/Alternative Medicine, flu remedies