Do medicate yourself. Do be smart about what medications you take and when. For example, don’t take non-drowsy Sudafed at 9 p.m., an hour or so before you plan to go to bed, and expect to sleep well through the night. Also, don’t switch medications mid-stream through a cold because you think doing so will have “shock value” for your body and will speed up the recovery time.
Lessons learned. I hate having a cold.
(But seriously, is there a proven cold remedy?)
Martin's Musings 
Chicken soup and rest as my mother would say.