Just a few puffs into each nostril, and you're protected against infection from nasty cold viruses - that is, according to claims made for many nasal sprays. Can they really do this?Well, not directly ...

Expensive branded nasal sprays cut the length of a cold by at least three days, a major trial found — but a cheap homemade alternative can be just as effective. Scientists compared Vicks First ...

But an FDA advisory panel found that it doesn’t work to clear congestion when taken by mouth, and has proposed removing it from oral OTC cold products. It may still work in nasal sprays.