If you have a stuffed nose, try these concoctions

Popular home remedies gargling, adding ginger to tea or tumeric to a glass of warm milk do have some science behind them

It’s that time of year again, when stuffy noses and irrepressible coughs start to show up everywhere.

There is little you can do once you get sick, beyond managing your symptoms. The flu, common cold and most other upper respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses, so you cannot cure them with antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections.

For generations, countless home remedies — cups of warm tea or soups and spoonfuls of herbs — have helped manage cold and flu symptoms, like a sore throat or congestion.

Here’s what we know and don’t know about some of the most popular remedies that show at least a little promise.

Bolstering immunity