A stiff neck is no enjoyable. You have restricted upper body language, and pain may radiate to your shoulders and down your back from tensing your upper back and neck muscles. If the stiff neck or neck pain is a result of a head or neck injury, visit your doctor before using alternative methods to minimize the tightness.
Nevertheless, if your neck is stiff due to the fact that you slept incorrect or worked out too hard at the health club, a warm castor oil treatment that may offer some relief.
Castor Oil for Stiff Neck
Oil pressed from the glossy beans of the castor plant, or Ricinus communis, has a history of health use dating as far back as ancient world. Although the entire castor beans include ricin, a fatal poison, the extracted oil does not. Used for centuries as a remedy for constipation or to rid the bowels of tainted food, castor oil is easily available today at organic food stores and some supermarket.
Treatment Process
External treatments with castor oil for muscle and organ conditions are fairly new. The appropriate way to use castor oil to minimize stiff or sore muscles, inning accordance with McGarey, is to make a castor oil pack. This involves using a piece of wool flannel fabric, approximate 16 inches square, folded into quarters. McGarey advises his readers to heat the castor oil up until it’s warm, but not hot, and fill the folded flannel with the oil, gently wringing out excess oil.
The patient then puts the warm and oily flannel over the stiff muscle and covers the flannel with a piece of cling wrap to keep the oil from staining clothing or furniture. The patient then covers the plastic wrap with a towel, followed by a heating pad to keep the oil as hot as possible, without being uncomfortable.
After an hour, the patient gets rid of the pack, waits for future uses, and washes the thick oil from his skin with a mix of baking soda and warm water. The patient might repeat the treatment daily for one hour, if preferred.
Although the heat of the castor oil pack might be relaxing and soothing on a stiff neck, medical studies validating the benefits of castor oil for this function are lacking. McGarey associates the success of castor oil loads to their capability to raise the vibration within injured or infected muscles and organs, bringing them back in alignment with a much healthier vibration.
Cold Compresses for Stiff Neck
Relieve a stiff neck with a cold compress. The cold temperature level will help numb pain and restrict the buildup of lactic acid, a typical by item of muscle metabolic process which can cause pain.
Wrap some ice cubes in a thin towel. Hold the compress versus the stiff area of your neck for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat every 2 hours for the first 48 hours.
Instead of ice, you can likewise use a bag of frozen peas in the same method.
Keep in mind: Do not apply ice directly on the skin.
Hot Compress for Stiff Neck
If you do not get relief after 48 hours of using the cold compress, attempt heat therapy. Heat will increase the blood circulation, which in turn will reduce tightness.
- Apply a hot compress on the neck area for a minimum of 10 minutes. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day till you get complete relief. A hot compress can be through a heating pad, hot water bottle, heat wrap or a hot towel.
- Likewise, stand in the shower and run warm to a little hot water on your neck for about 5 minutes. Do not turn or move your neck while doing this. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend.
