Honey is the most natural

For simple symptom relief try Aspergum.

I have been too poor to afford this so I have purchased fluffy type bubblegum and put half of an aspirin in it and chewed it instead.

I find that a teaspoon of lemon and honey is good also for cutting phlegm and soothing a mild sore throat. The aspergum is for a bad one.

Sipping theraflu also helps for a bad one, along with helping other flu symptoms.

That is not going to help whatever caused your sore throat. You have to let whatever illness go its course and, if you need, go to the doctor. If your sore throat persists past a week, call your doctor.

First you have to determine if it is a viral or bacterial infection. You can do this at the doctors office or there are home testing kits that you can get from medical supply.

If it is bacterial you probably need antibiotics. Some untreated bacterial infections can spread to the heart and become very serious.

If it is viral then there is no true cure. Only things that bring relief. Drink lots of hot liquids, eat a soft diet, rest a lot, and try not to strain your voice. Throat lozenges can help but some say that sucking on hard candy has the same effect. Some lozenges don't contain any medication anyways.

if i knew i would tell you

The best cure I've found yet is a kumquat. (I'd grab more than one.) Starts working as soon as the juice touches your throat. Much more effective than orange juice.

I just drink hot tea. I know it's probably horrible advice, but ever since I was a kid I imagined that the hot tea was burning the soreness out. I know now it doesn't work like that...but I still do it.

Shammer has the best general advice, but everyone who has answered so far has forgotten one thing that helps more than anything else: rest. If your throat is too sore for you to talk comfortably, then don't.

This is a layperson's caution . . . when you look in the mirror with your tongue out as far as you can get it (a flashlight helps here), check to see if you have any cottage cheesy looking stuff in the back of your throat. If you have that and a temperature, you may have strep throat and you need to get to the doctor right away and take all and every last one of the pills you're given because it can come back and it can do real damage to your heart. If no temp and on white stuff in your throat, then gargle with salt water, like a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Vinegar can be good to . . . warm water and vinegar.

I just take cough drops.