Alternative Treatments for Neck Pain: Acupuncture, Herbal Remedies, Massage, Yoga, and Pilates

In developing your treatment plan, your doctor may suggest alternative treatments such as acupuncture or yoga. Many patients have reported that these alternative ways of dealing with their neck pain have really helped. You may want to try:

• Acupuncture: According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, acupuncture is very effective in treating neck pain. And in early 2008, SpineUniverse ran a survey on treatment options for neck pain patients. Patients reported that they were more satisfied with acupuncture than with traditional spinal injections. You can read more about these neck pain treatment findings.

  Acupuncture practitioners believe that your body has an energy force called your Qi or Chi (pronounced "chee"). They think that when your Chi is blocked, you can develop physical illness. Acupuncture works to restore a healthy, energetic flow of Chi. (This Eastern approach to healing is different from Western scientific concepts. That doesn't make it better or worse; it just makes it different.)

  In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts fine needles into your body at specific points—and it doesn't hurt, honestly.

• Herbal Remedies: Before trying any herbal remedies, do your research and talk to your doctor. There may be side effects that you're unaware of—an herbal remedy could interfere with a prescribed medicine you're taking, for example. Some herbal remedies that neck pain sufferers have found useful are:
  • Capsaicin Cream: Capsaicin is what makes chili peppers hot, and it can also relieve your pain. It just temporarily reduces your pain, though, so you'll need to keep re-applying. Capsaicin cream can help with osteoarthritis and muscle pain-both causes of neck pain.
  • Devil's Claw: Devil's claw comes from southern Africa, where it has been used for centuries to treat fever, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems. Today, it's used for conditions that cause inflammation and pain, like cervical osteoarthritis.
  • White Willow Bark: The white willow led to the development of aspirin in Europe. If you don't want to take the synthetic version (aspirin can irritate the stomach), use white willow bark. It's for conditions that cause pain or inflammation, like osteoarthritis.
• Massage: A lot of neck pain is caused by stress, overuse, and misuse—for example, sitting hunched over the computer for too long every day because you have to meet those deadlines. A massage will help release that tension and relieve muscle inflammation and pain.
• Yoga and Pilates: By doing yoga or Pilates, you can increase your core strength, improve your balance and posture, and reduce stress. Those are all good things that will help you deal with (or even prevent) neck pain.