There is no cure for the common cold, but here are some things you can do. grandma was right—chicken soup actually is good for a cold! one serving of soup every 4 hours. zinc lozenges could you get better sooner. one lozenge every 6 hours. aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen to relieve some symptoms: two tables every 2 hours. if in addition to the soup (every 4 hours), the lozenges (every 6 hours), and the aspirin (every 2 hours) you take a 12-hour nasal spray and you start your medications at 12 p. m., in how many hours will you have to take all four medicines again?