Natural remedies to treat Cervical Pain without drugs in 2022

Natural remedies to treat Neck Pain without drugs

More than 20 Natural Remedies
for Inflamed Neck

Cervical Pain (or"cervicalgia") is an extremely commonmusculoskeletal disorder among the Italian and world population. Cervical pain, which is precisely concentrated at the level of the cervical spine (the axis that supports the head and neck), affects all the structures of the neck: muscles, nerves and vertebrae of the spine.

Chronic neck pain depends essentially on incorrect posture, cold strokes or stress. The acute variant, on the other hand, is related to more serious neck trauma , such as: whiplash, cervicalhernia, back hypercosis, lumbar hyperlordosis, osteophytes (bone spurs), spondylosis, and overloaded power sports.

1 What to do for painful neck

First, to relieve and prevent neck pain, it is important to assume and maintain correct posture at all times.
At work: perfectly adjust the position of your office chair and computer screen . By doing so, you avoid bad postures and turning your head or constantly shifting your gaze up or down the monitor.
Regularly perform the specific exercises for neck pain recommended by the physical therapist in our dedicated article. It is recommended to exercise daily and slowly, avoiding fast movements and sudden jerks, which could exacerbate the problem.
Undergo targeted physiotherapy massage to relieve neck inflammation.
In bed: to sleep with neck pain, it is recommended to rest the head on an orthopedic pillow specifically for neck pain during the night's rest.
After achieving a fair amount of pain improvement with conservative therapy (massage, orthopedic collar, and pain medications), it is recommended to undertake a specific rehabilitation procedure aimed at maximizing overall back health.

In Case of Trauma

To reduce neck pain resulting from trauma, cold compresses at the cervical level are recommended. Cryotherapy is particularly suitable for creating a kind of analgesia on the site affected by the pain. After 2-3 days after the injury, replace the cold packs with hot showers and warm water compresses on the neck.
Wear a soft cervical collar to protect the cervical spine. This remedy is indicated for neck pain dependent on whiplash or cervical muscle tears.
Observe a rest period of at least 30-40 days.

Medical Therapies

Seek immediate medical attention if there is neck pain associated with continuous tingling in the arms, inability to touch the chest with the chin, loss of strength in the lower limbs and hands, or persistent and unrelenting pain.
After any surgery to relieve trauma-dependent neck pain, regular routine checkups are recommended to ensure that the surgery was successful.
Even after surgery to remedy neck pain resulting from acervical hernia, a recovery period of 30 to 40 days (or more if so directed by the surgeon) should be observed.

WARNING:

In cases of "idiopathic" (of unknown cause) high fever associated with neck pain, seeking medical advice is strongly recommended. These symptoms could conceal an ongoing meningococcal infection.

Section

2

What NOT to Do to Prevent Cervical Pain

Assuming malicious positions.
Staying in the same position for too long.
Lifting heavy loads on occasion of neck pain.
Apply ice directly to the skin of the neck-this attitude could create cold burns. Instead, it is preferable to apply an ice pack wrapped in a cotton cloth to the neck area.
Sleeping in a prone position, with the head bent to one side. Such a posture during rest can in fact originate or accentuate neck pain. If you suffer from neck pain, it is best to use an appropriate orthopedic pillow.
Perform neck pain exercises quickly and with sudden movements: such behavior can even aggravate cervicalgia!
Excessive rest: too much rest also does not benefit neck pain. In fact, too much rest promotes stiffness in the already weakened joints and muscles . Rather, assume a restful position for 30 minutes ; after that, walking or light physiotherapy exercise specifically for neck pain is recommended.
Stalling. When neck pain suggests a herniated cervical disc, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention to begin possible conservative or surgical treatment as soon as possible.
Drive immediately after surgery performed to heal cervical pain dependent on cervical herniation.
Engaging in power sports (e.g., weightlifting), which may aggravate neck pain.

3 What to Eat and What NOT to Eat

There is no scientific evidence that relates food to the improvement or worsening of neck pain. However, it is recommended to eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low in fat. After any corrective surgery (e.g., discectomy for cervical hernia treatment), it is still recommended to follow a light and balanced diet, suggested by the nutritionist or a competent and qualified health care figure.

4

Natural Cervical Cures and Remedies

In most cases, neck pain requires pharmacological treatment. Otherwise, "grandmother's remedies" and natural remedies used as first-choice therapy prove to be ineffective as remedies for neck pain, because neck pain is generally bothersome and intense.

In any case, considering that stress and tension can exacerbate neck pain, the affected patient can take relaxing and anxiolytic herbal teas, formulated with active ingredients such as:

Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) → mild anxiolytic and sedative properties.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) → hypnotic, anticonvulsive, central nervous system sedative properties.
Lemon bal m (Melissa officinalis) → antispastic, sedative properties.
Eschscholtzia (Eschscholtzia californica) → sedative, hypno-inducing, analgesic, relaxing, antineuralgic, and spasmolytic.
Linden (Tilia cordata) → relaxing, anxiolytic properties.
Zinc → stress remedy (to be taken in tablet form).

In addition to relaxing herbal teas, creams or ointments formulated with active ingredients with rubefacient action can be applied to the skin of the neck:

Chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) → rubefacient, antibacterial, analgesic properties.
Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) → rubefacient properties.
Arnica (Arnica montana) → anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, revulsive, analgesic properties.

5

Prevention of Cervical Pain

To prevent neck pain, adopt these simple good habits:

Do not lift heavy loads during neck pain: such behavior increases the risk of hernia, either cervical or abdominal (e.g., inguinal hernia).
Stretch and strengthen cervical muscles involved in prior trauma. This remedy is especially good for preventing possible future cervical damage.
Observe rest in cases of severe neck pain in order to prevent strains or sudden movements that could promote the onset or worsening of cervical hernia.
Before starting any targeted exercise program for the neck (read the dedicated article) or strenuous sports activity for the neck (e.g., weight lifting), it is recommended to consult a physician, physical therapist, or qualified instructor in order to prevent possible muscle strains or injuries, which are responsible for neck pain.
To sleep, use an orthopedic pillow specifically for neck pain. It is best to choose a Ministry of Health Approved Medical Device such as our Pharmaflex Cervical,instead of a cheap, untested pillow.

→ Read more in our article "Cervical Pillow: which one to choose?"