Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Stiff Neck

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Magnesium Oil for a Stiff Neck

Dutchie (Toronto/Amsterdam) on 01/26/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Magnesium oil for stiff neck

Apply it 3 times a day and your stiff neck will be gone within days.

You can buy magnesium oil on Ebay, Amazon or health food store.

Make sure you buy 100% magnesium oil.

Expect flaky white stuff on your neck that you need to wash off after a few hours.

Alkalize and Heat for Neck Pain

Mama to Many (Tennessee, US) on 01/28/2015
5 out of 5 stars

This morning I woke up with a miserable pain in my neck. I had gone to sleep with damp hair in a cold room. Perhaps I slept wrong. I was figuring it was going to be a day of hanging out on the couch feeling yucky.

I forced myself to fix Ted's Lime/bicarbonate alkalizing drink and a rice sock before setting up camp on the couch in front of the woodstove.

Lime drink - 1.5 cups water - 1 T. lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) This may not be Ted's exact recipe, but it is based on his recipe.

Rice sock - fill a sock 1/2 full of white or brown rice. Tie a knot in the end. Sprinkle with 1 T. water. Microwave 90 seconds or so. (I keep a microwave for this purpose! If you do not have one, you could steam the rice sock in a vegetable steaming basket on the stove until it is warm.)

I sat on the couch and drank my drink and put the rice sock on my neck. After about 45 minutes, I realized my pain was 90% better! I was not expecting that. I didn't drink the lime drink thinking it would help, I just knew it was a good thing to drink. But I think it and the rice sock both helped.

Dehydration definitely makes pain worse, so it would stand to reason that hydrating would improve pain. But I suspect that being in an acidic state would also make pain worse, which is why I am guessing the drink helped. Based on past experience, I don't think the rice sock alone would have caused such an improvement in pain. I know it helps, but I think the alkalizing was key.

The moral of the story is, "Don't underestimate the role of improving alkalinity and hydration of the body for decreasing pain."

~Mama to Many~

Re: TCM and Qi Gong for a Stiff Neck

Sam (Miami, US) on 06/21/2014
5 out of 5 stars

If you tried everything you could and nothing worked to relieve a stiff neck, you should look into TCM and Qi gong. Liver energy imbalances could result in a stiff neck/shoulders. Also, put your palm under your arm pit (keep your elbow down), right on the side of a shoulder blade try to feel with your fingers a muscle that might be stiff. Massaging this muscle or applying a suction cup for a few minutes will release tension in your neck.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Yekara (JP, Ma) on 07/16/2013
1 out of 5 stars

hi, I am experiencing terrible pain in my neck and shoulders, it feels gravelly beneath the skin, and kind of guazey and stringy and the pain feels electric. I have similar pain around hips etc.

I am also absolutely exhausted and do not sleep well at all. My digestion is very bad and not to be gross but my poop really stinks and I have a lot of acid. I have big dumps of poop. I dont seem to be digesting. Enzymes and pobiotics have not helped.

I applied apple cider vinegar and baking soda to the pain and it made it worse, it seemed to make it spread. I don't think it is advisable to take it internally as vinegar makes me feel awful.

I was given a scrip for vit d3, 50,000 mg which I have taken but, no luck so far.

I feel enormously sad and very angry can't shake it and am verly isolated any ideas?

Thank you, yekara

Re: Ted's Cat Purr Recording for a Stiff Neck

Joy (Pensacola, Fl) on 05/15/2013
4 out of 5 stars

Ted's Cat Purr Recording helped my neck pain about 25%. This is what I found online:
http://healing.about.com/b/2008/07/04/healing-vibrations-of-cat-purrs.htm

Veterinarians have long noted that broken bones heal quickly in cats. The vibrations associated with the feline purring is of interest to the holistic healing community. The measurable Hertz of a cat's purr lies between 25 and 150. 20 to 50 HZ have shown great promise in speeding bone injuries in human medicine. Research is currently being done to find out if purring actually accelerates the natural healing process of broken bones in humans. "Here kitty, kitty", says the woman with a broken ankle.

Help Requested for Severe Neck Pain and Swollen Lymph Node

Ash (Chicago, Il, USA) on 02/25/2013

Hi, I'm a 38 years old hair stylist with severe neck pain and swollen lymph node where its swollen due to over streched nerve and too much tilting on one side too painful over streched my neck muscle causing it to swell and pain and my dr said it can be a torn muscle turned into a hard mass. Wanted to know what should I do now.. Too painful and cannot keep my neck straight without support. Neck bone is hard stressed and painful with hard swelling over it.

Apple Cider Vinegar Wrap for a Stiff Neck

Dixon (Twin Falls, Idaho, Usa) on 05/05/2010
5 out of 5 stars

several days ago i had a major stiff/sore/aching neck. i suffered through one day. next morning not good. went on earthclinic with the hopes that someone else might have an answer, and sure enough did. took apple cider vinegar, soaked a cloth with it, wrapped it around my neck. put shrink wrap over top to keep it moist and keep our smelly acv from getting on anything else. soaked about an hour, went to work. after a few hours it was easing up a BUNCH. put some more on that night. next day mild soreness. next day after that i feel good!!! i have never had that kind of success with an aching neck like that before. dont be bashful, and give it a whirl if you have the same kind of prob. i share earth clinic with a lot of people. THANK YOU

Apple Cider Vinegar for a Stiff Neck

Heidi (Charlotte, NC) on 07/30/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I had either slept wrong or strained my right neck/shoulder area and it was excruciating. After a sleepless night in bed, I woke in even more pain than the day before. I had to roll out of bed and off the couch because it hurt terribly to raise up.

I went on the Internet and typed in "remedies for muscle strain" and I came across your website. Someone had written in that cider vinegar worked. I was somewhat skeptical, but I use white vinegar for a variety of things so I was willing to give it a try. I found some cider vinegar way in the back of our cabinet and soaked a paper towel with it. I got it wet enough that I had to wring it out. I placed it partially on my neck and the rest draped my shoulder. I then placed a towel on top of it and sat on the couch for 3 hours. It stank and I immediately thought of Easter eggs, but amazingly within an hour the pain had subsided tremendously. I couldn't believe it! After the three hours, I removed the towel and paper towel. I then preceded to clean my bathrooms. By the end of the day, there was very little indication of the pain I awoke with. My neck was just a little stiff, but cured! I am a true believer in cider vinegar!! (I had tried ibuprofen the day before and it did absolutely nothing).

Apple Cider Vinegar Wrap for Neck Pain

Kate (Atlanta, Georgia) on 07/23/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I threw my neck out of whack two days ago and expected to be in pain and useless for at least a week. This was a combo of both spinal pain and muscle pain. I couldn't move my head at all. I soaked a paper towel in a mixture of 50 percent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and 50 percent water, folded in half, and put it on the worst of the pain. This was then covered with a rolled towel for support, and kept in place for about six hours. I removed it before going to bed.

The next morning the pain that had brought me to tears the previous day was reduced to simply being sore and very stiff. I didn't have to hold my head with my hands when I lifted it off of the pillow! I couldn't believe the difference. I was able to do my regular household chores (for better or worse). I meant to use the compress again last night, but never got around to it. The stiffness has mostly worked itself out, and I am 90 percent back to normal.

DL (USA) on 07/06/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I injured my neck last Tuesday while working out with a personal trainer. I was doing a sit up with an 8 lb medicine ball in my hands and didn't tuck my chin in correctly as I came off the ground. I could feel my neck muscles strain and had a bad feeling at the time that I should stop what I was doing but kept going, ignoring (duh) my intuition. The next morning I woke up with terrible pain on the left side of my neck, just under the lymph nodes. It also felt like something was digging into the side of my throat every time I swallowed. I didn't do much about it except take some apple cider vinegar, figuring it would get better in a few days. 5 days passed, no improvement, and the pain was making me really tired all day so I decided to do something about it!

After debating about going to the ER (since it was the weekend and I couldn't get in to see a doctor for 2 more days), I decided instead to research on the internet exactly what my injury was. It took about an hour of research, but I ascertained it was a strain to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Then I searched more under the term "Sternocleidomastoid strain" and came to a site mentioning "The Trigger Point Manual" by authors Travell and Simons. I remembered seeing this book in my husband's vast health collection, so I grabbed it and studied the section under sternocleidomastoid. The book talked about the importance of using the right pillow when you have this injury, so I decided last night to forgo a pillow altogether since I was waking up in excruciating pain when using my low-fill feather pillow. I also took a heaping teaspoon of turmeric in hot water right before going to bed. Then, before going to sleep (while lying down pillow-less), I decided to massage around the painful area in my neck, rather than touch it directly because it hurt so much. I also gave my ears a good massage and, grabbing the tips with my thumb and index finger bit by bit, pulled them in various directions. I actually found a tiny section on both ear tips that hurt terribly if I pulled it up and out in a certain direction. I figured this one spot might be related to my neck pain and held that position for 30 seconds. I could feel my jaw loosen from that one.

This morning I awoke feeling less pain (about 50% better). The injury was still making me feel really tired all day, so I took a long nap this afternoon -- yes, without my pillow! Now the pain is almost gone. I am excited! I think (but can't say for sure) removing the pillow has really been key, followed by the massage work and extra rest. Obviously I am going to be very careful in the future when doing any weight bearing exercises that trigger the neck muscles!

Stella (USA) on 06/21/2008
5 out of 5 stars

re: Stiff Neck and Headaches. If you have a constant issue with bad pillows as I have had then a Latex Pillow may be the answer.I have invested so much money in bad pillows. I've tried all makes and models, then I finally bought 100% latex pillow. Wow! it's a dream come true, It's not too high, not too low, It's very cushy and doesn't bottom out, which means no more stiff necks and morning headaches. I never cared for memory foam, but I love latex.

Lisa (Stuarts Draft, VA) on 10/15/2007
5 out of 5 stars

There was a terrific posting of a WAV file of a cat's purring that helps in inflammation/pain management. I find that when I listen to this file that I feel great relief from arthritic pain. The problem is that I am only able to play the file while sitting at my computer. I want to make it more mobile-friendly and listen to it while away from home. Is there a way to download this onto my computer as an mp3 file? I could then transfer it to my mp3 player for portability. For those who have not tried this, it has been a great pain reliever.

EC: Download the Purr (.wav file)

Fran (Rocky Face, GA) on 02/12/2007
5 out of 5 stars

Felt you might want to tell people with a stiff neck to try Kudzu as it is great for necks as well as alcohol victims...also, good to stop children from wetting the bed.. God Bless You

Anonymous (USA) on 03/01/2004
5 out of 5 stars

For a stiff neck, take a half vinegar half warm water solution and soak a rag in it, then wring the rag out and wrap it around your neck. Put a layer of plastic wrap (to keep your sheets dry) and finish up with a towel (be careful not to strangle yourself). Leave this on over night and in the morning you will not believe the difference.

Marguerite (Staten island, ny) on 04/29/2007
5 out of 5 stars

hi--maybe you might think im crazy--but i came onto your website just by browsing out of sheer frustration two years ago i pulled neck muscles from lifting a heavy object--finally i went to the doctor after months of suffering he did tests and said i have degenerative arthritis in my 4-5-6 vertebra been there along time with no problem but he gave me a shot of cortisone ok it went away now two weeks ago i again lifted something heavy like my grandchild and bingo--i developed muscle spasms in my neck or pulled tendons-i don't but i refuse to go to the doctor-i don't like medications the pain was unbearable--because it activates my neck arthritis so i come upon the site and i started taking apple cider and honey with grape juice also --soaking a rag in acv and putting it on my neck with a heating pad bingo feels so much better can't believe it--i also want to know--i am allergic to the medication sulphur is that the same sulphur in glucosamine and chondroiton thank you marguerite

Firas (Boynton Beach, US) on 12/25/2007
5 out of 5 stars

For the last 3 years nothing worked to fix my neck spasm. Reason of spasm, most probably, is a combination of stress and heavy physical activity. Tried Botox, muscle relaxant, tons of other injections, chiropractic, acupuncture, tons of other therapies but none worked. What helped are prayers and exercise and physical fixtures I invented by myself and sleeping on the side that my head tilt toward. Among the fixtures I invented are:

1. I used my pant belt to hold a pound or so of weight lifting disc and the other belt side was made round the diameter of my head. When placed on my head was back to normal position. This needs repetition for reprogramming your muscles. Also make sure your forehead blood not stagnating by frequently removing the belt, rubbing your affected area to re-circulate blood and put the belt back on head.

2. I used shower towel and pant belt. Twist the towel until tight, wrap it on your head and hold the lose two ends by hand then remove the towel while still twisted. Now use the pant belt to make a knot and hold the towel to diameter of your upper head. Push belt slightly inward and re-insert on top of your head. It worked like magic for me by removing some pain, fixing my head straight, and gave me feeling of more relaxed head.

3. Use olive oil or Emu oil to rub your neck 3 times a day.

4. Do lots of neck exercises, but need to consult your physician. Not all physicians will give you the proper exercise, some times you have to invent them or accidentally discover them on your own. I invented my own exercises that really worked like miracle for me.

Doctors will not give you the solution to this problem 99% of times, only 1% of times doctors "may" give you the cure. You must be your own doctor to solve your own problems.

Now if you want to publish my invention or mass produce it then remember that I published them here on Dec. 25, 2007. I also have been using them for over a year and saw good results. I hope that you will not be miss-guided by doctors, because it is painful to lose time and money in doctor's pockets without seeing any results my dentist (also did TMJ work for me but didn't work) was stunned when he saw the amazing results.