The torticollis is also known as a wry neck. It is a painfully twisted and tilted head. The top of the head tilts to one side while the chin tilts to the other side. Torticollis can be acquired or congenital (present at birth). Also, torticollis can result in damage to your neck muscles or blood supply. There are some cases when the wry neck goes without treatment. But there is a chance of relapse. The chronic wry neck can cause debilitating pain, which can make it difficult in performing everyday tasks. There are some therapies and medications which can give you relief from stiffness and pain.
There are some cases when surgery can correct the torticollis. This treatment should be started in the early stages because, in this case, it is most helpful. This condition can be inherited, and also it can develop in the womb. It can happen when the baby’s head is in the wrong position [1].
Also, when there is damage to the blood supply to the neck or damage to muscles, then torticollis can happen. Every single person can develop torticollis after a muscle or nervous system injury. In most cases, the cause of torticollis is not known. There are five types of torticollis, known as temporary torticollis; fixed torticollis, muscular torticollis, Klippel–Feil syndrome; cervical dystonia.
Talk with your doctor if you suffer from torticollis before you start using some of the below mentioned home remedies because along with other medical treatments.
11 Home remedies for torticollis
Contents
You can manage stress and pain with natural muscle relaxers
It is a known fact that excessive stress leads to tension around the neck, shoulders, and head. This pain is causing even more stress which is creating a vicious cycle. In the first 72 hours when you experience pain, you should ice the neck using homemade or store–brought ice packs several times per day. You should follow this natural treatment with targeted heat therapies after the first 3 days to treat the neck and muscle pain.
Also there are other natural muscle relaxants that you can do at your home, such as using essential oils, acupuncture treatments, professional massages, and exercising, which can be very beneficial for treating nerve-related problems. It is known that massaging and heating the painful areas can help to relax muscles, increase blood flow, loosen up tight tissue and even increase the production of painkilling calming chemicals which we are naturally producing.
These chemicals include endorphins which are the same feel-good chemicals that are unleashes during the exercise. Also, there are other factors that can help to reduce the body’s inflammation, such as avoiding too much alcohol and caffeine, exercising, natural stress relievers and saying no to recreational drugs and smoking.
Proper sleep
After you have done the exercise, you should get a good night’s sleep. This means 7–9 hours of sleep at night for most adults. You should give yourself enough time to recover with proper rest between workouts and you should limit the repetitive motions which you have noticed that have increased your pain. You should take a break from the exercise for several days if you have a lot of pain, and when your pain subsides, then you should start to stretch the neck gently to speed up the healing process.
Doctors are highly recommending sleeping on your side because this is one of the best sleeping positions for a wry neck. If you want to sleep on your back, then you should try to keep your knees slightly bent upward by using pillows underneath your knees for support. When you are sleeping on the side, then it keeps the spine in the best alignment, but you should be sure not to curl yourself too much. Also, it is helpful to use a pillow between your knees in a side–sleeping position. Also, you can use a small rolled–up hand towel right under your neck because this will add support to your pillow if it helps.
Exercise
Regular exercise is a very important way in which you will keep your hormones under control. Also, regular exercise will support healthy body weight, help you sleep better, lower inflammation, and improve muscle strength.
All of the mentioned things are some of the biggest benefits of exercise, and they can reduce the risk of further injuries [2]. When you are inactive, then this can lead to the weakening of the muscles around your neck that hold your head in place.
When you are physically active, then this will help to circulate the oxygen to the soft tissues throughout the spine which is promoting the healing process. You should do safe exercises because they can reduce your risk for muscle sprains or strains. If you have experienced injuries in the past, then you need to talk with your doctor or physical therapist to get advice on the best types of exercises for you.
Homemade muscle rub
The homemade muscle rub is safe and pain–reducing treatment which you can easily make at your home. This home remedy penetrates the stiff muscles and reduces inflammation.
You should pour ½ cup of coconut oil and ¼ cup of grated beeswax into a jar. You should place a saucepan with two inches of water over medium-low heat. You should place the jar in a saucepan and then allow these contents to melt. You should stir to combine. You should add two teaspoons of cayenne powder and two teaspoons of ginger or turmeric powder. When these ingredients are combined, then you should allow cool slightly, and then add 15 drops of lavender essential oil and 15 drops of peppermint essential oil. You should mix them well. You should pour this mixture into metal tins or storage containers and allow setting the mixture.
Arnica
This is a homeopathic home remedy that can help to heal the affected area quickly. You should keep some arnica in your home because it is a very effective home remedy for pains and aches. You can apply arnica cream topically every few hours because it will give you temporary pain relief. [3]
Magnesium
This is a very important nutrient for the function of the body. It can help to regulate blood pressure. It controls heart rhythm and supports strong bones. Magnesium is also controlling the movement of Vitamin C and calcium, which are very important in maintaining effective nerve function. This mineral will allow your muscles to relax, and you will avoid spasms. [4]
Iodine
This is a vital trace element that is composed of normal growth and development. This nutrient aids in the removal of toxins in the body which can be a reason for torticollis. Also this nutrient aids the body in the utilization of the important minerals like silicon and calcium which can help in the effective nerve function.
Chamomile
You can use chamomile as your home remedy for your wry neck because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Also, it can help to relax and improve muscles. [5]
Black cohosh
This home remedy can be used for wry neck because it is good for muscle spasms, hot flashes and other hormonal issues.
Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
When there are high levels of inflammation, then they make the muscles more susceptible to injury and pain. The inflammation is weakening your bones and joints while, at the same time, it can reduce the range of motion and your ability to heal injuries naturally.
If the overall range of motion, flexibility and strength are compromised, then you are having increased risk of neck problems. Also, the inflammation is making it harder for you to recover from injuries. Also, you can help control inflammation and speed up your ability to heal by eating a nutrient-dense diet that is filled with anti-inflammatory foods. This means that you should eat less “empty calories” such as processed meats, added sugar, refined grain products, chemically sprayed crops, packed snacks and alcohol.
Your anti-inflammatory diet should include healing foods, such as coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, healthy fats, green leafy vegetables, sources of protein (such as wild-caught fish, grass-fed meat, and cage-free eggs), and probiotic foods and fermented foods (such as yogurt and cultured veggies).
Lysine
This is an important amino acid which functions in many ways to treat the spasmodic torticollis. There are some studies which are shown that this compound can reduce anxiety by increasing the serotonin levels in people, which can help to reduce the strain of this condition. Also, this component can help to rebuild, and repair muscle damaged muscular and skeletal tissue, which can lead to this condition. [6]
References
[1] Boyko N, Eppinger MA, Straka-DeMarco D, Mazzola CA. Imaging of congenital torticollis in infants: a retrospective study of an institutional protocol. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. 2017;20:191-195.
[2] Cheng JCY, Wong MWN, Tang SP, et al. Clinical determinants of the outcome of manual stretching in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis in infants: A prospective study of eight hundred and twenty-one cases. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2001;83(5):679-687.
[3] Stevinson C, Devaraj VS, Fountain-Barber A, et al. Homeopathic arnica for prevention of pain and bruising: randomized placebo-controlled trial in hand surgery. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2003;96(2):60-65.
[4] Kirkland AE, Sarlo GL, Holton KF. The role of magnesium in neurological disorders. Nutrients. 2018;10(6):730.
[5] American Chemical Society. Chamomile tea: New evidence supports health benefits. Science Daily. 2005.
[6] Smriga M, Ando T, Akutsu M, et al. Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans. Biomedical Research. 2007;28(2):85-90.
