Made a believer of me and I have never liked hot/spicy food (still don't, but I still gargle with Jalapeno juice when my throat starts getting sore). You might try mild jalapeno juice if hot is too hot, but the hotter equals more pain relief (hard to believe I know).
Actually, it makes sense. Your body released endorphins to deal with the pain. Coming from a hot food addict. I know a guy that used to gargle bacardi 151 when he got a sore throat.