Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (Osteochondrosis) is a degenerative-dystrophic damage to the intervertebral discs, which results in damage to the discs themselves, the vertebrae and joints of the spine, and a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs. When left untreated, the disease progresses and can cause headaches, circulatory problems, and even tears.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the cause of acute pain, which is poorly treated with medication. The use of folk remedies allows you to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of this disease and will not harm the body. They are used in addition to conservative therapy, physiotherapy, massage and increase the chances of recovery.
Features of the non-traditional approach
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with folk remedies is carried out under the supervision of a specialist. The disease itself is considered dangerous, so it progresses rapidly without qualified medical care and causes a number of complications. An unconventional approach is used by doctors when severe contraindications or acute intolerance to anti-inflammatory drugs are detected. Thus, the main features of the treatment are:
- Minimum number of side effects and accessibility for all segments of the population.
- As part of proven recipes, only natural ingredients increase the safety of their use.
- High effectiveness of treatment with the right approach.
- Opportunity to combine traditional therapy, massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy with traditional medicine.
- Given the dose and duration of the course, the development of side effects is unlikely.
- Successful elimination of inflammation and pain, elimination of muscle spasms, stabilization of the central nervous system.
- Ability to cook everything yourself from high quality ingredients, the whole process is easy and does not require special knowledge and training.
- Treatment is carried out at home.
Alternative methods allow to achieve a stable remission and stop the progression of the disease, increase immunity, improve the overall condition of the patient. Due to its natural composition, side effects or complications are unlikely to develop.
Basic methods and means of treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself with a number of unpleasant symptoms. Many patients complain of inability to perform simple exercises due to decreased vision or hearing, the appearance of tinnitus, increased fatigue, muscle, toothache and headaches, and stiffness. Different methods and recipes of traditional medicine are used to combat them, namely:
- ointments,
- friction,
- tinctures,
- decoctions,
- compresses,
- baths.
All ingredients for proven recipes can be found at any pharmacy and they are usually inexpensive. This applies not only to herbal preparations, but also to bee products (bee venom, propolis, perga), snake venom, aromatic oils, etc.
The best compresses for neck pain
Treatment of cervical chondrosis with folk remedies is better to start with the use of various types of friction and compresses. Local exposure will warm the area, reduce the appearance of pain, improve blood circulation and eliminate inflammation. Perform the procedure several times a day, usually no more than five. In this case, the prescribed exposure period should not exceed. The best recipes for compresses are:
- Need to find fresh horseradish leaves, pour boiling water over them. After the solution has cooled down a bit and is brewed, it is soaked in gauze and applied to the painful area. It is better not to do all this at night. Thanks to special components, such an effect relieves pain well.
- Take fresh cottage cheese, knead well and add a little vinegar. As a result, the mass is applied evenly to the neck area. You need to put a scarf or a warm cloth on the compress. All this is stored for at least 12 hours, so it is recommended to do it at night.
- Ordinary turpentine has proven to be effective in combating cervical osteochondrosis. Water is added to 200 g of rye flour and a solid cake is made. It is brewed for two days, after which turpentine is applied to the sore spot, covered with dough and wrapped in a scarf. Although it is tolerant of discomfort, all of this should be caught, then removed, and the area should be washed with warm water.
- Honey and potatoes effectively eliminate inflammation and pain. To do this, peeled tubers are rubbed in a coarse grater, mixed in half with natural bee products, and all this is applied to the sore spot. Put paper and a clean cloth on it. Leave for 2 hours, then rinse with water and pat dry. Rub poppy oil on the skin.
Eggs, vodka, aloe juice with honey, garlic and kerosene are also used as main ingredients for compresses for osteochondrosis. With some products, it is especially important to monitor the dosage and duration of exposure, as they can cause burns when used carelessly.
Friction for the neck with osteochondrosis
Alternative treatments also suggest using a good rub with compresses. They can consist of various components to solve the problem of neck pain, pinching or other pathological processes. The following recipes are very popular for this:
- Take half a packet of natural butter (72%), mix it with a tablespoon of flour, beaten egg and 25 g of vinegar. The mixture should have a homogeneous consistency, after which it is sent to a dark place for infusion. The resulting composition is washed on the painful area, covered with a film for several hours and then washed off with warm water.
- Roasted radishes are rubbed into a frying pan, at the end you should get about half a cup. The same amount of vodka and honey is added, ordinary salt is added to them, 2 tablespoons are enough. Once a homogeneous mass is obtained, the composition can be used as a friction. The mixture perfectly heats and relieves pain.
- For severe pain, it is best to use a mixture of ethanol, iodine and camphor alcohol. They are mixed in a ratio of 300 ml, respectively: 10 ml: 10 ml. 10 tablets of analgin in crushed form are added to the resulting composition.
If there are cuts or open wounds where friction is applied, they cannot be used. It is better to use compresses or other proven methods. Their use is unacceptable even in the presence of chronic skin pathologies, the exacerbation of which can lead to such treatment.
Popular ointments
Osteochondrosis cannot be treated with ointments alone, but they are an important part of complex therapy. Different compositions can anesthetize the problem area, eliminate inflammation and improve the overall condition. The following proven recipes are very popular:
- Take half a packet of high-quality butter (you can replace it with pork fat), add mint, coriander and maple buds. Apply the ointment to the problem area 23 times a day.
- In little or no oil, add St. John's wort, snake climber root, maple buds. The resulting mixture insists a bit and is used only for its intended purpose.
- Take calendula flowers, mint grass, hop seedlings, meadow flowers, eucalyptus leaves and mix them all with oil. The resulting composition is applied to the painful area.
- Take 6 large bay leaves, mix with juniper needles (about 1 teaspoon), add 70 g of butter. Mix well until a homogeneous consistency is achieved and rub on the sore spot. The composition perfectly relieves pain and soothes the affected area.
Ointments can also be used as a compress if you wear a scarf on them. It is important to fix everything firmly with a bandage, and a plastic bandage is placed on it so that the fabric does not absorb the mixture.
Decoctions of useful plants
Traditional medicine not only has a local effect on neck pain, but also offers many home remedies. While ointments, compresses and rubs help to solve the problem of inflammation and pain locally, decoctions, infusions perfectly stimulate the immune system, improve metabolism from the inside.
The most popular recipes are:
- Take about 400 g of cornel and peeled garlic cloves, a few medium-sized is enough. Finely chop or finely chop them and leave in a clean bowl for a day. Then add 800 g of honey to the mixture and mix until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The drug is used one teaspoon 3 times a day.
- Take a sunflower root (it is difficult to find out of season), wash it well and dry it, chop it. 150 g added to 3 liters of water will suffice. All this is set on fire and brought to a source. The resulting broth is infused for two days, then take a tablespoon 30 minutes before eating. It is advisable to prepare a new part of the drug in advance so as not to interrupt the course.
- Take 250 g of peeled needle, pour a liter of water. All this is put on fire and cooked for half an hour. The resulting broth is cleaned of twigs and divided into equal parts to form 6 servings, which should be drunk for three days at intervals of 8-12 hours.
- Dandelion root (about 15 g) is cleaned of dirt, dry shoots and poured half a liter of boiling water. The resulting solution is infused for an hour, then filtered and taken one tablespoon before meals.
Such decoctions remove salts well from the body, which is easy to understand by changing the color of urine. At the beginning of the process it becomes almost orange, after which all the harmful components become more transparent after leaving the body. However, we must not forget that spicy and salty foods are strictly forbidden during treatment. Gentle works well with other more conservative methods and helps to support the body in the fight against pathology. Medicinal plants such as burdock, thistle, wire, violet and herbs are also used.
Therapeutic baths
With cervical osteochondrosis, warm water with the addition of various components relieves tension, pain and spasms. The procedure is performed using a temperature in the range of 37-39 ° C, a higher rise in the thermometer is unacceptable. We must not forget that this is a medical procedure, so it should not be exceeded. You can use it as a useful addition:
- maple leaves,
- horse chestnut,
- chamomile,
- bishofit,
- needle branches.
Even if the procedure is performed for prophylactic purposes, the duration of immersion in water is 10-20 minutes. Due to the optimal temperature and the presence of phytocomponents in the water, muscle tissue relaxes, inflammation is reduced and pain is practically not felt. Such baths are also useful for dizziness, frequent aches and pains, to improve mood and psycho-emotional state.
herbal teas
You can test the effectiveness of a particular tool by examining the opinions of other patients with a similar disease. Patients usually share recipes, which tools help the best, and it is completely ineffective. One of the most popular remedies is herbal teas. The following payments are used in the fight against osteochondrosis:
- Calendula + chamomile + strawberry + maple leaf + St. John's wort.
- Licorice root + yarrow + mint + marigold.
- Lingonberry + thyme + plantain + lemon balm + wild rose + cinquefoil.
- Nettle + chamomile + dried flowers + calendula + dandelion.
- Strawberries + motherwort + pine shoots + lime flowers + lavender.
Such payments are sold in pharmacies or herbal stores, and usually do not need to choose the dose yourself during infusion, it is indicated on the package. In most cases, a teaspoon of 350 g of boiling water is enough. Drink without adding sugar. Payments are especially effective in the early stages of the disease.
Other treatments
Traditional medicine uses various methods to combat pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Not only products and herbs, but also mud, paraffin, wax and other compounds are used. Experience has shown that they also help to stop the pain syndrome, eliminate inflammation, improve blood flow and prolong the remission period.
Therapeutic mud is used in various ways. The procedures are usually performed in a sanatorium or special medical room. Exposure time is determined individually. The technique is well suited for preventive purposes.
Possible errors
Folk remedies, despite their safety and naturalness, can be harmful when used incorrectly. Treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of specialists, as self-medication often leads to rapid progression of the pathology. To avoid this, the most common mistakes should be avoided:
- In the acute phase, the use of heating pads or hot compresses is not allowed. Temporary relief does not mean relief, because exposure to heat only causes the spread of inflammation and aggravation of tissue damage.
- If the patient has frequent increases in pressure, baths and steam rooms with cervical osteochondrosis are contraindicated for him. When you have a cold, when your body temperature is very high, you can't even walk for people who don't have hypertension.
- Traditional medicine, which has proven to be effective in removing salts, will not work as the vertebrae grow.
- Self-massage or other direct effects can not be performed on the pathological process, they will only worsen the health condition and cause complications.
These are the most common mistakes made by patients who treat themselves at home or use traditional medicine prescriptions. Therefore, it is better to deal with the pathology of the cervical vertebra together with the attending physician.
How can this be prevented?
The fight against cervical osteochondrosis can take a long time, and the patient is required not only to follow all the doctor's prescriptions, but also to exclude all factors that cause inflammation. You can protect yourself from getting worse in the following ways:
- In daily life, you should avoid stress on the spine, sharp turns of the head, squats, bends or rapid changes in posture.
- To prevent hypothermia of the neck and shoulder girdle, dress warmly according to weather conditions, always wear a scarf.
- Perform regular physiotherapy exercises, do not miss classes, follow the technology and sequence of movements.
- If professional activity is associated with sitting in a position or at a computer, you need a short break and a simple warm-up every 1. 5 hours to restore blood circulation in the neck.
- Stop drinking alcohol and smoking, as they reduce the body's defenses, cause complications and worsen the condition.
- Treat acute respiratory diseases and viruses in a timely manner, follow all doctor's instructions.
- Control your body weight, avoid harmful foods and overeating in the evening.
- Avoid hot baths or bath trips.
- Get a high quality orthopedic mattress that is stiff enough.
Patients should also visit a massage therapist to undergo a course of therapeutic effect on the neck area, usually for a period of 10 days. It is equally important to refrain from carrying weights not exceeding 5 kg in one hand, otherwise there is a risk of provoking deformation processes in the spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue, which leads to a number of unpleasant consequences. If you don't start the fight on time, it can cause nerve endings to constrict, blood vessels to constrict, and efficiency to decline. Pathology can be treated not only with drugs, but also with folk remedies. For this, the most effective methods and recipes that are safe and will not cause an allergic reaction are selected.