Another thing I use for sore throats, scratchy throats and associated symptoms is chewing a little chunk of raw, peeled ginger root. It's pretty firey but it REALLY cuts the symptoms. They're scared to come back, even.
LJ, I eat Red Pickled Ginger (over a little hot rice) and Dried Sweet Ginger (straight out of the bag) and it really does wonders for a scratchy throat.