Neck Pain

Symptoms

Constant or recurring neck pain is a common problem today. It is often related to bad posture combined with tension and stress that is unloaded onto the shoulders. Neck pain is felt in the muscles, causing aching, soreness, and stiffness. Tense, stiff neck muscles are the cause for other complaints, especially headaches, as well as dizziness and light-headedness. Spasms put pressure on a nerve, causing either overfunction or underfunction, resulting in numbness and tingling in the arms and hands. This can also signal a prolapsed disk. If the neck is twisted to one side, and is painful and stiff, the condition is called torticollis.

Causes

Chronic neck pain is often related to poor back posture, from sitting in one position all day, tilting the head for a long period or repeatedly. Sitting at a computer all day usually causes stiffened, bunched shoulders, which lead to neck problems. Anxieties and stress can often settle in the shoulders and neck, causing muscular tension and cramping. Being aware of the tension you carry on your shoulders can make you relax them. Pain related to an injury is often the result of a pulled muscle or whiplash. Sometimes, a cold draft or sleeping in a cramped position causes the neck muscles to spasm severely on one side for a few days. A slipped disk should be investigated, especially if there is pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or fingers.

Food allergies are often the cause of pain. The chemical reaction to a food sensitivity can lead to inflammation or irritation of nerve tissue. Neck stiffness and headaches are part of generalized aching from the flu, but if they are severe and accompanied by a temperature, nausea, and light sensitivities, have a professional eliminate meningitis. Neck muscle spasm and tremor are associated with excessive caffeine or sugar intake. This torticollis or tremor is also caused by mercury excess in the body. Sources may include contaminated seafood and the erosion of the common dental silver mercury filling.

Nutrition

Whole grains, seafood, dark green, leafy vegetables and nuts are valuable foods for combating stress that causes neck pain. They provide the B- complex vitamins essential for nerve health, and the magnesium, which relaxes tense muscles. Avoid caffeine and sugar. Common sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, chocolate, carbonated soft drinks and over-the-counter medications for pain, flu, colds, headaches and weight loss. Sugar causes a variety of biochemical changes leading to muscle spasms and other nervous system abnormalities referred to as “reactive hypoglycemia.”

Nutritional Supplements

A magnesium deficiency can cause muscle rigidity and spasming, and general nervousness which leads to tense muscles. Calcium is an effective supplement for this condition, since it helps control muscle growth and contraction, and works to prevent muscle cramps. Oral chelation with high doses of selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced L-glutathione can help rid the body of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, aluminum, arsenic and copper. High doses of vitamin B complex, especially vitamin B3 relieves pain. Other supplemental nutrients that help include potassium, zinc, brewer’s yeast, lecithin and vitamin E.

In people with low or absent stomach acid secretion, injections of B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, may dramatically improve nervous system function.

Daily dosages:

Magnesium, 500 mg

Calcium, 1,000 mg

Vitamin B12, sublingual, 1,000 mcg

Vitamin B3, 100 mg

Vitamin B complex, 100 mg

Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg

Selenium, 100 mcg

Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU

Reduced L-glutathione, 75 mg

Helpful

Zinc, 15 mg with 3mg copper

Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 400-800 IU

Potassium citrate, 30 mg

Herbal Remedies

For muscle stiffness causing neck pain, herbal remedies offer effective relief.

Use Swedish bitters to massage the neck.

St. John’s wort oil, arnica oil and hops salve mixed with beeswax speed pain relief and healing when massaged into stiff muscles.

Use camomile, hops, lady’s slipper, passion flower, skullcap, wood betony, hypericum and valerian in tea, capsule or tincture form also help in some cases.

Homeopathy

As homeopathy is specific to every person, below is a sample of the many prescribed remedies for neck pain. Take the 6c strength every four hours for up to three days. If the condition does not improve within seven days, consult an experienced homeopath for further treatment.

Take Bryonia for neck pain worse at the slightest touch or movement.

Causticum is recommended for a dull pain at the top of the nape, with stiffness between the shoulder blades and less aching in wet weather.

Take Cimicifuga for a stiff neck when the chin is fixed in a raised position. The spine is very sensitive.

Tissue Salts

Take 4 tablets under the tongue four times daily for several days as necessary.

Ferr phos often relieves neck stiffness and lameness worsened by motion or brought on by cold. It is also useful in all inflammatory conditions.

Calc phos is useful when the discomfort is relieved by rest and warmth and the neck muscles feel cold and numb and the pain is worse at night and in cold, wet weather.

Mag phos is an antispasmodic remedy and will help neck pains that cause shooting or stabbing sensations, which are relieved by warmth and aggravated by cold. Muscle contractions and associated twitching will also be helped by this remedy.

External/Physical Therapies

For quick relief, warm the neck with a hair-dryer.

If you have chronic neck pain, try exchanging your usual pillow for a neckroll, and check yourself for bad habits when you are sleeping and your posture when you are sitting.

Exercise, massage, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, heat therapy, electromagnetic therapy and warm baths help to alleviate pain.

To massage a tense neck, slightly turn head to the right side and, with your right hand, grip the large muscle which goes from the head to the collar-bone between thumb and fingers and massage with pressure along the length of the muscle. Repeat the same on the other side.

To relax muscles, take a hot half-hour bath. Add 1-2 cups of Epsom salts to bath to withdraw toxins from muscle tissue. After the bath, rest in bed for at least an hour.

For neck pain without inflammation, warm up coarse salt in a frying pan, put in a linen sack and place warm on painful area.

Magnetic cloths are designed for phantom pain of amputated legs or arms. They are also excellent in cases where the person cannot sleep because of neck pain or rheumatic pains. Wrap the cloth around the painful area and rest for fifteen minutes to alleviate pain.

Acupressure

Apply deep thumb pressure for eight seconds to points, as illustrated.

Reflexology

Work the reflexes of the neck, especially the seventh cervical, tops of shoulders and the solar plexus, as illustrated.

Other Suggestions

Take the ELISA/ACT test to detect hidden or unsuspected food allergies. (For more information, see Appendix 1.)

Getting a hair mineral analysis is a good way of determining whether or not toxic heavy metals are present in the body above acceptable levels. (For more information, see Appendix 1.)

Available Brand Name Products

Nutritional Supplements

Calcium and Magnesium Citrate (Natural Factors)

Glucosamine Sulfate (Natural Factors)

Herbal Remedies

Joint Ease (Natural Factors)

Muscle and Joint (Natural Factors)

St. John’s Wort Extract (Natural Factors)

Swedish Bitters-Extra Strength (Natural Factors)

Camomile Flowers (Nature’s Herbs)

Herbal Calm (Nature’s Herbs)

Hops-Valerian Combination (Nature’s Herbs)

Scullcap (Nature’s Herbs)

St. John’s Wort-Power (Nature’s Herbs)

Valerian-Power (Nature’s Herbs)

White Willow (Nature’s Herbs)

External Therapies

Olbas Oil (Flora)

Basil Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Camomile Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Clary Sage (Karooch Essentail Oils)

Lavender Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)

Rosemary Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)