I did it! I made the ultimate fool of myself, but in the interest of good health, I really don’t mind. I began an introduction to yoga class earlier this week with my husband. I spent an hour assuming various poses that initially felt awkward as I tried to steady myself on the mat beneath me. I looked at the girl in front of me who had no business being in this class at all. She could literally bend herself into a pretzel. Show off! I can barely reach behind my back to scratch an itch! However, during the class, the instructor indicated that yoga is a great way to relieve neck pain. That was enough to grab my husband’s attention, as he has had a nagging ache in his neck for several weeks. Once I confirmed that nagging pain truly wasn’t me, I agreed to continue with these yoga sessions.
In doing yoga, or even Pilates, your core strength can be increased, and you can improve your balance and posture, thereby reducing stress. These are things that can help with neck pain, and may even prevent it!
There are several other natural remedies to neck pain, and even though I don’t suffer from neck pain at this time, all of these approaches seem like perfectly good things to do from a preventative aspect.
For example, massage can release tension and muscle inflammation. Since a lot of neck pain is induced by stress, overuse, and misuse – like sitting hunched over the computer for too long – a good massage can alleviate all of that tension and stress. You can now begin to convince yourself that massage is more of a necessity than a luxury reserved for the rich and famous. If it can potentially improve your overall health, why not consider it?
Acupuncture is another great natural alternative to treating neck pain. Those who practice acupuncture believe that our bodies have an energy force called the Qi or Chi (pronounced as “chee”). They assert that when your Chi is blocked, physical illness can result. Acupuncture can restore a healthy, energetic flow of the Chi. I tentatively experienced acupuncture once for stress purposes. Surprisingly, all of those tiny needles that are inserted into the skin do not hurt at all. I did, however, initially feel like a science experiment, but it all turned out well. To me, it is really interesting to see the differences between Eastern approaches to pain relief and the traditional Western approaches by which I was raised. These days, I do not necessarily reach for an ibuprofen right away when pain strikes. I consider an alternative, like meditation, relaxation, and light exercise. It really works!
Herbal remedies are another means by which to treat neck pain, or other sorts of aches and pains. However, before you begin taking herbal supplements, be sure to consult your doctor first. There can be side effects of which you are unaware, and certain herbal remedies may interfere with any prescription medicine you might be taking.
For neck pain, you may try capsaicin cream. Capsaicin is the stuff that makes those chili peppers so dang hot! However, it can also relieve your pain. You will need to continually re-apply the cream, however, as its effects are only temporary.
Devil’s claw, from southern Africa, has been used for centuries to reduce fevers, treat arthritis pain and even gastrointestinal issues. Now, it is commonly used for inflammation and pain.
Another herbal remedy is white willow bark, which is what actually led to the creation of aspirin in Europe. If aspirin irritates your stomach, consider taking white willow bark. It is great at reducing pain and inflammation.
In short, you have to determine what works best for you. Some people prefer a more traditional approach to pain relief as guided by Western medical practices. I, for one, am gravitating towards the more natural approaches that exist within Eastern philosophies. After all, most of these remedies have been used for centuries, and they don’t seem to be disappearing any time soon. The only thing disappearing for me is the pain!
(Information for this article was found at http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/neck-pain/alternative-treatments-neck-pain-acupuncture)