Fight Cold Symptoms Research shows that vitamin C reduces cold symptoms．If a cold is coming on，take two grams （２，０００mg ）of vitamin C right away，another two grams in an hour．If symptoms persist，another gram an hour after that．Good old chicken soup relieves cold symptoms too．

    Freshen Your Breath Parsley is a terrific breath reviver．Chewing a few fresh peppermint leaves also does the trick．If nothing else，rinse your mouth with water after eating to help remove trapped food particles that can cause bad breath．

    Relieve Bug Bites To soothe the itch of a mosquito or flea bite，apply a wet wrung－out wash cloth or a paste of one teaspoon water and three teaspoons baking soda．Treat a bee or wasp sting with an ice pack（a few cubes in a plastic bag wrapped in a clean cloth）for ２０minutes，which will bring down pain and swelling．

    Tame Diarrhea and Constipation For occasional diarrhea the most important thing is rehydration．Sip－－gulping can cause cramps．Follow the BRAT diet（bananas，rice，apple－sauce and toast）of mild，binding foods，and ease back into your normal diet as symptoms improve．If you have a fever of severe cramps，see a doctor promptly．

    Don't fret if you don' t have a bowel movement every day－－“regular” can range from three times a day to three times a week．Treat mild constipation by eating more fiber（try fresh fruit，vegetables，popcorn），drinking lots of nonalcoholic fluids and taking a b risk ２０－minute walk．Watch out for binding foods such as bananas，white rice and cheese．

    Ease Back Pain First step：Get comfortable，which probably means lying down．Apply ice or a cold compress as needed to quell pain and inflammation for the first ４８to ７２hours．After that，most people find relief from a hot－water bottle or a heating pad；use cloths or towels next to skin to avoid burns．Don't stay in bed longer than a day or two unless your doctor advises it．