A stiff neck is painful and can severely affect you in everyday life. We show you how you can alleviate pain with natural home remedies and prevent a rigid neck.
Stiff neck: symptoms and triggers

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A stiff neck can appear very suddenly, such as overnight. And even if the stinging pain may have come out of nowhere for you, the blockade has usually started slowly before.
The most common cause of a stiff neck and neck pain are posture problems as well as tense and overloaded muscles in the neck, back and shoulders. If left untreated, the muscles shorten and harden. Your body then continues to move into a bad posture to avoid the pain. At some point it only needs a small trigger until your neck completely stiffens. It is enough if you are stressed, incorrectly lifting a heavy object, or lying awkwardly at night.
With a stiff neck, it is almost impossible to turn your head to the side or tilt your neck. The reason: Because the muscles were permanently tense or in a bad posture, they became so irritated that inflammatory processes were triggered. These are even more painful than pure tension – a blockage is the result.
A stiff neck can also be accompanied by other physical symptoms, such as:
- a headache
- Shoulder pain
- Arm pain
- Sleep problems
- dizziness
If left untreated, the symptoms subside after about three to four days. There are some things you can do with home remedies to keep the stiff neck from repeating and relieve pain more quickly.
Relieve tension with heat
Heat promotes blood circulation in the muscles and so relieves tension in the neck and neck. After a few minutes you will notice an improvement. There are many options: cherry stone or herb pillows, a hot water bottle or a warm towel are suitable. A hot shower can also relax quickly. You should repeat heat treatments three to four times a day with a stiff neck.
Peppermint oil: home remedies for a stiff neck



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Peppermint oil has a calming and analgesic effect. The menthol contained in it relaxes the tense muscles, the pain subsides. For a peppermint oil application, add a few drops to about two warmed teaspoons of olive oil or Coconut oil. Massage the oil mixture on your neck and neck in slow movements or ask someone to massage you with it. The mint oil leaves you with a pleasant warmth.
Cayenne pepper against stiff neck
Cayenne pepper contains valuable capsaicin, a substance that is said to have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. How to use the pepper for the pain:
- Give a teaspoon Cayenne pepper olive oil warmed to two tablespoons.
- Spread the mixture over the painful areas of your neck.
- Place a towel over it and let it work for a few hours.
Ginger is pain relieving



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Ginger is one of the all-rounders in naturopathy: it contains numerous essential oils as well as valuable gingeroles – bitter spicy substances that give it its characteristic taste. ginger works analgesic and anti-inflammatory and helps also to stimulate the immune system.
Applied internally, ginger has a pleasantly warming effect:
- Give for a cup ginger tea some thin slices of fresh ginger in boiling water.
- Let the brew steep for about ten minutes and drink it warm.
Ginger tea tastes particularly delicious in combination with a few splashes of lemon.
Targeted exercises against the stiff neck
Even if your neck hurts a lot and seems to be immobile: small movements are now important. If you move your neck, the neck muscles become less tense and you counteract your bad posture.
Neck exercises also give your muscles more blood, which helps your stiff neck heal faster. A few minutes of targeted neck exercises a day are enough to make him completely agile again. You can find recommended exercises here: Relieve tension: So you get rid of pain in the shoulder, neck and back.
Prevent a stiff neck



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So that a stiff neck does not reappear, there are a few things you should consider and adjust if necessary:
- Straight posture: Try to straighten yourself up in between and in everyday life to sit properly. A crooked back or a crooked posture can lead to renewed blockages in the long run.
- Exercise: Regular exercise of your choice is the best way to prevent a stiff neck. A sports unit in combination with targeted exercises for the back and neck is ideal.
- Proper sleep: Be careful not to put your head too high at night. For a relaxed neck muscles, it is best to use a pillow that is as flat as possible.
- Right job: design yours Ergonomic workplace. Place the screen of your computer at eye level if possible and get an ergonomic seat pad (for example at **Amazon). Always keep your back in an upright position when sitting.
- Avoid drafts.
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