Hot water, lemon juice and honey. Both can soothe sore throats as well. Gargling with warm salt water also helps in the scratchy throat department. Slurp some soup. Chicken soup is good for the cold.
Studies show that grandma's home remedy helps in much the same way a steam bath or humidifier does.
The mucus starts moving out, decreasing congestion. For super-soup, toss in some garlic or spice it up with hot peppers, chili powder or curry. Garlic boosts the immune system, while spicy foods get the old mucus going even faster. Pop the pills. If you have a fever or headache, ibuprofen and acetometaphine both work well.