8 homeopathic remedies for neck pain

Suffering from a twisted neck? Homeopath David Needleman shares eight remedies to help ease the pain and gently restore balance

When I was 18 years old, I was a little too energetic while tenpin bowling once. I twisted my head too sharply to one side and couldn’t center it again. It was extremely painful, and what began as a moment of harmless fun quickly turned into a lesson on how debilitating neck strain can be.

Thankfully, my neighbor at the time was a doctor and kindly examined me. He used a short, sharp maneuver to put my neck back into place, and that was the end of the problem.

I still don’t know to this day what exactly he did to me, but I do know that what I experienced was torticollis, or wry neck. It’s a typically temporary twisting of the neck that causes the head to tilt to one side and the chin to point in the opposite direction. It happens when the muscles supporting the neck go into spasm.

Some 90 percent of people will experience at least one episode of torticollis during their lifetime, researchers estimate.¹

It’s often caused by muscle strain, an awkward sleeping position, poor posture while looking at a screen, carrying heavy or unbalanced loads, or, as in my case, sudden rotational movements. It can also be a result of infections, neurological conditions and certain medications.

Torticollis is common in babies, especially congenital torticollis, which is when the condition is present at birth. This is frequently due to birth trauma or intrauterine positioning.

Depending on the type, treatment for torticollis can range from gentle stretching, repositioning, physiotherapy and massage to neck braces, Botox injections and even, in extreme cases, surgery. Medications such as muscle relaxants, painkillers and anti-inflammatories may also be prescribed.

While torticollis is usually temporary and often resolves on its own, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor if you find yourself with a twisted neck, especially if symptoms are severe or persistent or if they follow an injury.

And if your stiff neck is accompanied by a high fever, severe headache, sensitivity to light, vomiting and a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure, seek urgent medical attention. These are red flag symptoms for meningitis.

That said, in most cases, torticollis is a muscular problem that can be eased with gentle, natural therapies like physiotherapy and osteopathy alongside homeopathy.

Homeopathy for torticollis

Homeopathy can be a useful natural therapy to relieve the pain of torticollis and speed recovery. Here are the top eight remedies for treating torticollis and neck pain in general, along with the particular symptoms they work best for.

Arsenicum Album

These are key symptoms that suggest Arsenicum is the right remedy:

• Stiffness in the nape of the neck (just below the back of the skull); it may also feel bruised or sprained
• Nerve pain in the left side of the neck
• Swollen cervical glands (lymph nodes in either side of the neck just below the ears), which may feel like hard nodules under the skin

Belladonna

Choose this remedy if you have painful swelling and stiffness of the nape of the neck coupled with brain fog or a feeling of slight intoxication. These are some other symptoms that indicate Belladonna may help:

• Inflammation or swelling of the glands in the neck or throat
• Violent pain in the nape of the neck when coughing, which is made worse by bending the head backwards

Bryonia

Reach for Bryonia if your symptoms get worse with movement. It’s also ideal for painful stiffness in the nape of the neck combined with lower back pain.

Calcarea Carbonica

Opt for Calc Carb if you have stiffness and rigidity of the nape of the neck, with pain in the neck on turning. People often turn their whole body to avoid just turning the neck, as it can be so painful.

This symptom can also be a red flag symptom for meningitis, so it’s best to see a doctor to discount this.

Dulcamara

This remedy tends to be used less often than the others, but it’s worth noting in case any of the usual choices fail to bring enough relief. It’s indicated for those with a stiff neck and painful back, often brought on after suffering a cold.

Lycopodium

This remedy is ideal if the neck pain is one-sided. Usually it will be on the right or will start on the left and travel to the right. The cervical glands may also be swollen.

Nux Vomica

This remedy is ideal if you have a stiff neck with a heavy feeling that gets worse in cold conditions. These are some other symptoms you may have:

• Tension along with a burning sensation
• A feeling of pressure between the shoulder blades, as if a stone is there
• Sudden twitches in the back when turning, even slowly

Rhus Toxicodendron

Symptoms that point to Rhus Tox include these:

• A stiff neck and painful tension when moving
• Inflammation of the spinal membranes, which is made worse by getting wet or sleeping on damp ground (campers take note)

Suggested dosages

For all the remedies mentioned, 200C potency is best for this painful condition. However, 30C can also be used if that’s what you have (if you have a homeopathic remedy kit, this is the potency you’ll likely have in your kit).

Take one dose every hour for four hours, followed by one dose three times a day until symptoms have improved.

Symptoms of torticollis

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Limited movement of the head and neck
• Headaches
• Muscle spasms
• Inflamed or swollen neck muscles
• Numbness or tingling in the neck
• A small visible lump in the neck muscle
• One shoulder higher than the other

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