Suffering from neck pain? You’re not alone. Neck pain can greatly impact your day-to-day life and can be frustrating to treat using conventional methods. Let’s explore the different causes of neck pain, what other symptoms may accompany your pain, and how to treat neck pain naturally.



What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck strain or injury

Poor posture or being hunched over your computer

Common infections/viruses that cause swollen lymph nodes

Fibromyalgia

Stress, which can cause you to hold tension in your neck

Pinched nerves

Degenerative disk disease

Sleeping in an uncomfortable position


Symptoms of Neck Pain

Stiffness in the neck and surrounding areas
Sharp, shooting pain near the neck
Sensation of tingling, numbness and/or weakness
Persistent headaches
Difficulty holding and lifting anything

See a doctor immediately if:

There is difficulty in moving or turning your head
The stiffness is very severe and unbearably painful
There is difficulty in swallowing or breathing

What Other Symptoms Can Accompany Neck Pain?

Because your neck is such a complex structure between your head and back, neck pain can radiate to other areas and cause other symptoms as well. For most conditions, neck pain is described as a “dull ache,” but the type of pain can vary depending on which condition is causing it. Depending upon the cause, you may also experience headaches, shoulder pain, facial pain, back pain, or tingling along with your neck pain. If you have a chronic condition such as fibromyalgia, your neck pain will present with symptoms typical of fibromyalgia, and the same goes for other chronic conditions.



If your neck pain is the result of an underlying medical condition or serious injury, it’s important to check with your doctor to decide on a treatment plan that may include physical therapy or medication. However, if your neck pain is caused from day-to-day stress, poor posture, or exercise, here are nine simple things you can do to start feeling better. While medication is often a treatment for neck pain that’s caused by specific medical conditions, you can also try these nine natural ways to treat your neck pain.

Accupuncture



Studies have shown that the ancient practice of acupuncture can be more effective at treating chronic neck pain than more traditional remedies like medication or physical therapy. Acupuncture is based on the belief that there are over 2,000 points on the human body that connect with 20 meridians. These meridians or “pathways” conduct energy or “qi” throughout the body. Acupuncture uses extremely thin needles and places them in specific combinations of these 2,000 points to correct the body’s flow of energy and alleviate pain. It can take a few acupuncture visits to start feeling relief, so give it a little time.

The Proper Pillow
It could be that your sleep habits are causing your neck pain. Sleeping in an uncomfortable position or on an uncomfortable pillow can quickly throw your neck out of alignment. The two best sleeping positions for your neck are on your side or on your back, and the type of pillow you use can also contribute to neck pain. Try these tips to find a better pillow and alleviate neck pain for good:

Use a feather pillow or memory foam pillow that easily conforms to the contour of your head.
Avoid using too high a stack of pillows, which will inadvertently keep the neck flexed and stiff overnight.
If you sleep on your side, keep your spine straight by choosing a pillow that is higher under your neck than your head.

Hydrotherapy or water therapy exercise



Hydrotherapy or water therapy exercise can greatly reduce neck pain, especially if you suffer from osteoarthritis. Aquatic exercise like water aerobics is gentler way to increase your range of motion and ease pain than land-based exercise.

You can also add Epsom salts to your bath to help treat neck pain. This is because the magnesium found in Epsom salts decreases inflammation and muscle pain. Simply add two cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath, and soak in the tub as your muscles relax.

Massage Therapy

Procedure:

Heat 3 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil or Olive oil gently and add some camphor.
Apply the camphor + oil mixture on the painful areas.
Massage the areas gently with a rotating motion.
Repeat the process whenever required.

Massage therapy has recommended extensively for alleviating pain in the muscles and joints. If get yourself a massage at the hands of a trained masseuse it should be a good option, however, you can have someone at home do it as it is not very difficult.

Massaging the body inhibits the production of the stress hormone cortisol and also boosts the production of serotonin that works as a mood enhancer. Regular massaging also helps in controlling the production of neurotransmitter substance P, which is linked to the sense of pain. A good massage is one of the best home remedies for stiff neck.

Pilates



A study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies found that patients with chronic neck pain found significant relief after a six-week Pilates program.Pilates moves like the head nod help to stretch out the neck and spine, while the full-body roll up increases strength throughout your spine, neck and ab muscles. Pilates helps you realize that everything in your body is connected, and even small movements can become meaningful when they help strengthen and lengthen the neck and surrounding muscles to alleviate pain.

Yoga Asanas

Procedure:

Performing certain Yoga Asanas regularly gives relief from pain.
Practicing Trikonasana helps relieve pain in the neck and shoulders.
Practicing Veerasana, the one leg squat, tones the muscles.
Perfecting the Gomukhasana (cow face pose) is good for the spine, elbows etc.
Performing the Vrikshasana (one-legged tree pose) is good for joints.

Yoga Asanas have been advocated for curing several ills, and there are several asanas that help get relief from neck pain. While practicing Trikonasana (sideways bend) daily offers relief from pain in the neck and shoulders, practicing Veerasana regularly helps tone the muscles in the body.

Ice and Heat

There’s a lot of confusion over whether you should apply ice or heat to ease pain. The truth is that ice is better for injuries, while heat is ideal for muscle sprains or spasms. If you’ve pulled a muscle in your neck, try heat after any initial swelling has gone down; if you have an injury like whiplash, try icing it with a cold pack.

Rosemary Essential Oil



Procedure:

Rub a few drops of undiluted Rosemary Essential Oil on the affected neck part.
Massage gently for about 10 minutes.
Repeat the process twice or thrice daily for a week or so.

Essential oils like Rosemary, Lavender or Thyme help enhance the blood flow to the muscles and create warmth in the specific area that is affected with pain. Apart from massaging Rosemary essential oil it can be added to the bathwater in the bathtub and one can soak for an hour or so to get relief from neck pain. Rosemary Essential oil is one of the safest home remedies for stiff neck.

Neck Exercises



Procedure:

Sit with your back straight and rotate your neck in a circular motion.
Do the same exercise clockwise and anti-clockwise alternatively.
Similarly, move your head upwards and downwards slowly.
Move your head to touch both shoulders alternatively.
Repeat these simple stretching exercises as many times as possible.
Continue the exercises daily, making it a regimen.

Giving regular exercise to the neck muscles helps remove the stiffness in the neck region and helps get relief from neck pain. In addition to strengthening the muscles in the neck region, exercising helps enhance blood circulation as well.



While strengthening the neck muscles, exercising simultaneously works on the back and shoulder muscles, and removes all stiffness and helps get relief from the pain. Neck exercises are one of the easiest home remedies for neck pain.