If you’ve been starting at a smart phone or a computer all day, then you will have experienced a stiff neck.
There are several natural remedies that can be tried at home to alleviate that stiffness and possibility pain.
Neck Pillow
The first thing is that sleeping in an awkward position will make the pain worse. It will throw your neck posture off and put pressure on the nerves that contributes to pain.
A good neck pillow like a cervical traction pillow will help correct posture while you sleep. Getting a good nights sleep often means alleviating nerve pressure that contributes to unwanted spinal stressors.
Neck Massage
Another approach is a neck muscle massage. This can be easily done on your own by massaging in a circular motion with your fingertips.
A great massage tip is to run down the neck muscles with your knuckles. This can sometimes work better with a massage cream or oil. Make a fist and run your knuckles down the muscles where it hurts.
Essential oils can be a great pain reliever and worth using to speed healing.
Stretching Muscles
Another thing to do is to stretch your body and then your neck. While the neck is being stretched, run the knuckles down along that muscle. Repeat this 2 or 3 times. If you find a particular knot you would like to work on, press and hold for 7-10 seconds. This is an acupressure technique that can work to relieve tension.
Heat or Ice Pack
The last thing to do is using a heat or ice pack. Use ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat after that.
Ice packs are typically good for reducing inflammation of a particular muscle. Put an ice pack on for 10-20 minutes, take it off for the same amount of time. Repeat this process a few times. This seems to work well for getting rid of inflammation and relaxing the muscles. The key is really to get rid of the inflammation, which will put pressure on the nerves that cause pain.
Heat can be applied with warm showers, hot compresses or a heating pad.Herbal heat compresses can be made that work to alleviate the pain. Specific essential oils can also help, be sure to dilute them with a base like sweet almond oil or a cream.
Do not fall asleep with the heating pad or compress, which can damage the skin.
Discover how to use herbal remedies, supplements and more for sore neck and back in the Herbal Collective Aug’19 issue. A subscription gives you unlimited access. TRY IT FOR ONLY $8.
