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Cold Symptoms

Can Chicken Soup Really Treat a Cold?

Lauren Smith, MABrian Clista, MD
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Brian Clista, MD
Updated on November 6, 2025
Reviewed by Brian Clista, MD | November 6, 2025

If your first instinct after waking up to a stuffy nose is to head out to the store to stock up on chicken noodle soup (or get some delivered), you likely learned it from mom or grandma. Chicken soup actually can help treat your cold symptoms, especially if you’re sipping a low-sodium, veggie-packed recipe. In fact, it’s been used as a remedy as early as the 12th century.

Here are more home remedies to help you sleep through a cold.

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Brian Clista, MD
Reviewed by:
Brian Clista, MD
Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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