Neck Pain Causes And
Chinese Herbal Treatment

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes various neck pain causes. Neck pain is often non-serious, involving only the muscles and soft tissues and responds quickly to treatment. However some cases are chronic, involve the spine and require longer treatment. Certain cases may not respond well to treatment whether Chinese herbal, acupuncture, massage or Western medical treatment.

Neck Pain Causes:

• Muscle strain from poor posture, overuse, etc
• Exposure of the neck to cold and wind
• Muscular tension due to emotional stress
• Degeneration of the neck vertebra
• Narrowing of the intervertebral spaces
• Inflammation due to bone spurs

There are other possible causes of neck pain but these are some common ones. Cases involving neck shoulder arm pain with numbness or tingling in the upper extremities usually indicates a problem with the neck vertebra and related nerves. Neck muscle pain, stiff neck and headache can simply come from sleeping in the wrong position, or over-straining your neck, or from emotional stress.

Neck X-Ray

Unless you are sure of the cause, e.g. a bad sleeping position, you should get your neck pain checked, especially if it doesn't improve within a few days. An x-ray may be needed to check the state of your upper spine. If nothing shows up on the x-ray or other Western medical diagnostic tests then your problem may just be a muscular one.

In this case I highly recommend traditional Chinese herbal remedies as well as massage, acupuncture and neck exercises. If Western medical tests do show a problem with your upper spine TCM can still help you. Pain typically responds very well to TCM therapies such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage. Outlined below are examples of herbal remedies for neck pain.

Chinese Herbal Remedies For Neck Pain

In TCM a very common cause of neck pain and general stiffness and tension in the upper back is emotional stress. When we feel stressed these are the areas that commonly hold the tension. One of the most often prescribed Chinese herbal remedies for emotional stress is Bupleurum and Danggui formula. Taken in combination with upper back and neck massage it is very effective for this type of neck pain.

Po Sum On herbal oil can be applied to the upper back and neck prior to massage. This oil is outstanding for relaxing tight, sore muscles due to emotional and physical stress. Chinese herbal pain patches can also be applied to the skin at the sore spots. These are sticking plasters impregnated with herbs to stop pain, move the blood and relax the muscles.

As mentioned there are various possible causes of neck pain and various treatment methods. The above 3 Chinese herbal remedies work very well and can be tried in most cases of neck pain including:

• Neck muscle pain
• Stiff neck and headache
• Upper back muscle pain
• Neck shoulder arm pain...

...virtually any kind of neck shoulder back or arm pain whether it involves the muscles or spine.

If you often have neck pain and stiffness including headaches and shoulder or arm pain, I suggest you consult both a Western medical doctor and a Chinese herbalist or acupuncturist.

For self-help with neck pain including stiff neck and headache and upper back pain I recommend traditional Chinese exercises.

Any questions about neck pain causes and treatment in TCM let me know. I'll be happy to help.

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