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For Colds: Yes, Chicken Soup.  Mom was right.  Doctors have long believed that drinking any hot liquid eases cold symptoms, but research has proved that hot chicken soup is especially beneficial.  In a study of ways to clear up nasal mucus, doctors at Miami's Mount Sinai Medical Center compared sipping chicken soup, hot water and cold water.  The soup was the most effective.  "Chicken soup has a decongestant effect," says pulmonologist Dr. Bruce Krieger.

For Insomnia: Hot Bath.  It's true-a nice hot soak (not scalding) before bedtime can help you sleep better.  "A hot bath raises your core body temperature," explains Cynthia Dorsey, director of the Sleep Health Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.  "Afterward your body will I cool down, which may be associated with deeper sleep." In one study nine women with insomnia took a hot bath I'/2 hours before bedtime for two nights in a row.  The next week the same group took a lukewarm bath.  The women experienced deeper, more restful sleep after the hot bath than the lukewarm one.

For Yeast Infections: Yogurt. Eating yogurt can help reduce yeast infections, according to a study in the Annals of internal Medicine.  "The acidophilus cultures in yogurt help create a more normal bacterial environment in the vagina," says Dr. Mari-Kim Bunnell, an obstetrician/gynecologist.  She recommends eating a cup of yogurt every day.  "Just be certain it says 'contains live acidophilus cultures' on the label."

For Nausea: Ginger.  Ginger can do more than just add zip to cakes and cookies; the herb can also help relieve nausea.  In one Danish study of 30 women with morning sickness, most of them felt less nauseated after taking ginger. Ginger may also help prevent motion sickness.  Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, chairperson of the U. S. National Women's Health Network, recommends drinking a cup of ginger tea 30 minutes before a trip.  To make the tea: "Take a piece of fresh ginger about the size of your knuckle.  Skin and dice it, and put it in a mug with a little sugar.  Pour boiling water over the mixture and steep for five minutes." Fugh-Berman doesn't recommend ginger ale; its ginger content is usually too low.

For Urinary Tract Infections: Cranberry Juice. Doctors often recommend drinking lots of fluids to flush out bacteria, but there's something about cranberry juice that makes it even more effective.  "Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract," says Dr. Bunnell.  If you're prone to these infections, a Journal of the American Medical Association study recommends drinking ten ounces of cranberry Juice every day to lower your risk. In some people the juice's high acid content can cause irritation, says Bunnell.  If this happens to you, she recommends diluting the juice with water.  "If this doesn't help, stop drinking the juice completely."

For Itchy Skin: Oatmeal or Baking Soda.  Some cereal is good for more than your insides.  Soaking in an oatmeal bath can soothe a myriad of skin irritations, including insect bites and sunburn.  "Fill your tub with tepid water and add one to two cups of oatmeal," suggests Dr. Lenore Kakita, a dermatologist at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.  "Oatmeal will help stop the itch." Baking soda can also calm the hurt of bee stings or skin rashes, adds Kakita.  "To soothe a bee sting, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to skin."

For Overindulgence: Pineapple. If you've eaten too much, a bit of fresh pineapple may make you feel better.  "It's loaded with an enzyme that helps you digest protein," Fugh-Berman says.