Thursday, March 28, 2024

Top 5 This Week

Related Posts

Neck pain relief naturally through lavender oil and hydrotherapy

Our neck, with its intricate structure and wide range of mobility, needs to remain in good condition to support healthy functioning and movement of our body; when there is neck pain, then it is made difficult to move our head in any direction and it can be hard to carry out daily activities. Neck pain results in a dull or sharp aching in the neck, shoulder, and other nearby muscles. This can cause swelling, difficulty swallowing, tenderness, stiffness, tingling, numbness, and headaches in the neck. There are many reasons why we can suffer from neck pain.

The main cause of neck pain is muscle tension and strain which can be due to jerking the neck during exercise, sleeping with your neck in a bad position, working at a desk for long hours without taking breaks, and poor posture. But also there are other causes of neck pain such as fibromyalgia, cervical spondylosis, nerve compression, neck injury, nutritional deficiencies, etc. There are rare cases when the neck pain can be caused by infections of the spine or even cancer which involves the spine.

In most cases, neck pain is not a serious condition and it can be treated very easily by using safe and natural methods. You should practice good posture to maintain the head and spine balance in relation to gravity. Also, you should maintain a healthy weight. If you are a smoker, then you should stop smoking because this can delay the healing process. You should avoid driving until your neck stiffness and pain are gone. You should always sit on a comfortable chair while you are working.

10 Home remedies as a natural treatment for neck pain

Lavender oil

This oil can be used as a natural treatment to get relief from neck pain [1]. This is a very effective home remedy when it is used along with massage therapy. Massage will help you to ease the tense muscles and also it can help you to sleep better. You should take a hot shower or bath to your sore neck muscles. You should rub some lavender oil on your neck and shoulders. You should apply gentle pressure in small circular motions to massage the affected area for a period of ten minutes. You should repeat this natural treatment daily as you need. Also, you can dilute lavender oil with olive oil or coconut oil. You should not massage the neck area if it causes you pain.

Neck exercises

There are many motion exercises which can help you to reduce neck pain [2]. Exercise will strengthen and stabilize your neck muscles as well as your upper back. Also, it can help you to reduce your stress. There are two types of exercises which can help to ease and prevent neck pain. You should apply moist heat to your neck before performing the exercises. You should slowly rotate your neck in a circular motion, clockwise as well as anti-clockwise to help stretch out the agitated muscles. This can cause you a little pain at the beginning but also it can help your neck loosen up and heal. Also, you can move your neck slowly back and forth as well as from side to side. Each exercise should be done five times per session and you have to do 3 sessions per day. If these exercises hurt you too much, then you should not do these exercises and you should talk with your doctor.

Epsom salt bath

This type of bath can give you relief from muscle tension, reduce stress, and also it can give you instant pain relief. Epsom salt has magnesium sulfate which works as a natural muscle relaxant and it can help you to reduce the pain and swelling. In a warm bath, you should add 1 – 2 cups of Epsom salt. You should soak your body in it, especially the neck area in this natural cure. Soak it for fifteen to twenty minutes. You should do this natural treatment once per day until your neck pain is healed completely. You should avoid this natural treatment if you suffer from diabetes, heart problems, or high blood pressure.

Ice pack

This is one of the simplest home remedies for neck pain. The cold temperature will help reduce the inflammation and also alleviates the pain [3]. Also, a bag of frozen peas can work well as your natural treatment. In a plastic bag, you should put some crushed ice cubes. You should wrap the plastic bag in a thin towel. You should put the ice pack on your neck for not more than fifteen minutes at a time. You should follow this natural treatment every 2 to 3 hours for the first 24 hours. You should never apply ice directly to your skin.

Turmeric

You can use turmeric as your natural treatment for neck pain. It has curcumin which is an important phytochemical and it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and it eases neck pain [4]. Also, this natural cure will help you improve your blood circulation which can help you to speed up the recovery process. In a glass of milk, you should add one teaspoon of turmeric powder. You should heat it over low heat for 5 minutes. You should remove it from the heat and then you should add a small amount of honey to it and allow it to cool. You should drink this home remedy 2 times per day until the pain is gone completely.

Blackstrap molasses

Blackstrap molasses is a great natural treatment for neck pain if it is caused by nutrient deficiency, especially a lack of calcium and potassium. It has an abundance of potassium and calcium which are essential for maintaining strong joints, bones, and muscles. In a glass of warm water, you should add one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses. You should drink this mixture 2 times per day until you get relief from the neck pain.

Natural cures for neck pain

Cayenne pepper

This natural cure has capsaicin which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help you to reduce neck pain [5]. You should mix 2 tablespoons of lukewarm olive oil with one teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder. You should mix it well and then you should apply this natural cure to the sore muscles in your neck area. You should follow this simple home remedy 2 times per day until the pain is gone. Also, you can get a capsaicin cream and you should rub it gently on your neck and back muscles if you want to get relief from it. You can use this cream a few times per day.

Apple cider vinegar

This home remedy is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which can help you to get relief from neck pain in a very quick way. Also, it has many nutrients which can help you to eliminate the possibility of nutrient-deficiency-related pain. You should soak a paper towel in apple cider vinegar. You should place it over the affected part of your neck. You should let it stay there for a couple of hours. You should repeat this natural treatment two times per day until the pain is gone. Also, you can add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to lukewarm bathwater. You should soak in it for at least fifteen minutes. You should do this natural treatment once per day until you recover completely.

Hydrotherapy

This is also a very effective home remedy for neck pain. You can easily do it at your home in the shower. The force of the water on the affected body part will help you to reduce soreness and pain [6]. You should target the neck area with warm water for 3 – 4 minutes in the shower. You should switch to cold water and target the neck for thirty to sixty seconds. You should repeat this natural treatment as many times as necessary. The hot water will increase blood circulation and ease off stiff muscles. The cold water will help reduce the inflammation. While you are in the shower, you should keep your neck straight and you should not turn your neck in any direction.

Ginger

This natural anti-inflammatory agent improves circulation and blood flow affected area. This will reduce inflammation and pain [7]. You should cut a small piece of ginger root into small slices. You should boil the ginger slices in 2 cups of water for ten minutes. Strain it and add honey to it. You should drink this ginger tea. Also, you can mix ½ teaspoon of powdered dry ginger in a glass of water and you should drink this home remedy 3 times per day for a few days. Also, you can make a ginger compress. You should wrap 3 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger in a piece of cheesecloth. You should put this cheesecloth in hot water for thirty seconds. You should allow it to cool and then you should place it on your neck area for fifteen to twenty minutes. You should repeat this neck pain natural treatment a few times per day until you get complete relief.

References:

[1] Ou MC, Lee YF, Li CC, Wu SK. The effectiveness of essential oils for patients with neck pain: A randomized controlled study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2014;20(10).

[2] Louw S, Makwela S, Manas L, et al. Effectiveness of exercise in office workers with neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 2017;73(1):392.

[3] Garra G, Singer AJ, Leno R, et al. Heat or cold packs for neck and back strain: A randomized controlled trial of efficacy. Academic Emergency Magazine. 2010;17(5):484-89.

[4] Gupta SC, Patchva S, Aggarwal BB. Therapeutic roles of curcumin: Lessons learned from clinical trials. The AAPS Journal. 2013;15(1):195-218.

[5] Sarabon N, Lofler S, Cvecka J, et al. Acute effect of different concentrations of cayenne pepper cataplasm on sensory-motor functions and serum levels of inflammation-related biomarkers in healthy subjects. European Journal of Translational Myology. 2018;28(1):7333.

[6] Mooventhan A, Nivethitha L. Scientific evidence-based effects of hydrotherapy on various systems of the body. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;6(5):199-209.

[7] Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, et al. Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: Review of current evidence. International Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42.

Vijila
Vijila
Dr. Emil Sarsath (aka) Vijila, a licensed naturopathic doctor (BSMS) who always ensures his patients receive compassionate, and individualized care. He has extensive experience in primary care, digestive health, mental health, nervous system disorder and more.Area of Expertise – Naturopathic Medicine, Whole Foods-based Nutrition, Siddha, Panchakarma.She is always available through [email protected]

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Popular Articles