Cervical osteochondrosis (Osteohondroz) is a degenerative dystrophic disease of the intervertebral disc, resulting in damage to the disc itself, cervical vertebrae and joints, and reduced disc height. If left untreated, the disease can progress and can lead to headaches, circulatory problems, and even hernias.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a cause of acute pain that is difficult to relieve with medication. Using folk remedies allows you to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of this disease without harming the body. They are used with conservative therapy, physiotherapy, massage as a supplement and increase the chances of recovery.
Characteristics of Unconventional Methods
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis with folk methods is carried out under the supervision of experts. The disease itself is considered dangerous, so without qualified medical care it can progress rapidly and lead to many complications. In cases of severe contraindications or acute intolerance to anti-inflammatory drugs, physicians use unconventional methods. Therefore, the main features of the treatment are:
- Minimal number of side effects and availability for all populations.
- As part of a proven recipe, there are only natural ingredients, which increases their safety to use.
- The correct method of treatment is efficient.
- Possibility to combine traditional therapy, massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy with traditional medical methods.
- The likelihood of side effects is low and depends on the dose and duration of the course.
- It successfully relieves inflammation and pain, eliminates muscle spasms and stabilizes the central nervous system.
- The ability to cook everything yourself using quality ingredients, the whole process is easy and requires no special knowledge and training.
- Treatment takes place at home.
Alternative approaches can give you stable remission and stop the progression of the disease, boost immunity, and improve the general condition of the patient. Due to the natural ingredients, the likelihood of side effects or complications is low.
Main treatment methods and means
Cervical osteochondrosis presents with many unpleasant symptoms. Many patients complain of vision or hearing loss, tinnitus, increased fatigue, muscle, toothache, and headaches, and are unable to fully perform simple exercises due to stiffness. To combat them, various methods and formulations of traditional medicine are used, namely:
- ointment,
- wipe,
- tincture,
- decoction,
- compression,
- bath.
All the components for proven recipes can be found at any pharmacy, and they're usually inexpensive. This applies not only to herbal preparations, but also to beekeeping products (bee venom, propolis, perga), snake venom, aromatic oils, etc.
Best Compression for Neck Pain
Treating cervical spondylosis with folk remedies is best started with the use of various types of friction and compression. Topical exposure warms the area, reduces the manifestations of pain, improves blood circulation and relieves inflammation. Do this procedure several times a day, usually no more than five. In this case, the set exposure time must not be exceeded. The best formula for compression is:
- It is necessary to find fresh horseradish leaves, pour boiling water on them. After the solution has cooled slightly and injected, dampen the gauze and apply it to the sore spot. All this is best not to do at night. Thanks to the special composition, this effect provides great pain relief.
- Take fresh cheese, knead it well and add a little vinegar. The resulting mass is applied evenly to the neck area. You will need to wear a scarf or a warm cloth over the dressing. All of these are reserved for at least 12 hours, so nighttime is usually recommended.
- Ordinary turpentine has proven itself in the fight against cervical osteochondrosis. Add water to 200 grams of rye flour to make a hard cake. Infuse it for two days, then apply turpentine to the painful area, cover with dough and wrap in a scarf. While discomfort is tolerable, all of this must be maintained, then removed and the area rinsed with lukewarm water.
- Effective relief of inflammation and pain Honey and potatoes. To do this, rub the peeled tubers on a coarse grater, mix half with natural beekeeping products, and apply all of this to the sore area. On top of this, put paper and a clean rag. Leave on for 2 hours, then rinse with water and dry. Apply fir oil to the skin.
Eggs, vodka, honey aloe vera juice, garlic and kerosene are also used as main ingredients in osteochondrosis compresses. For some products, it is especially important to observe dose and exposure time, as burns may result if used carelessly.
Friction neck osteochondrosis
Alternative treatments are also recommended using good friction and compression. They can consist of a variety of components to address neck pain, squeezing or other pathological processes. The following recipes are very popular:
- Take half a package of natural butter (72%) and mix it with a tablespoon of flour, beaten eggs and 25 grams of vinegar. The mixture should have a uniform consistency and then send it to a dark place for infusion. The resulting composition is washed into the painful area, covered with a film for several hours, and then washed off with warm water.
- Rub the grated radishes on a coarse grater and you should end up with about 1/2 cup. Add equal amounts of vodka and honey, add ordinary salt, 2 tablespoons is enough. After obtaining a homogeneous mass, the composition can be used as a friction agent. The mixture warms and relieves pain perfectly.
- For severe pain, a mixture of ethanol, iodine, and camphorol is best. They are mixed in a ratio of 300ml: 10ml: 10ml respectively. To the resulting composition was added 10 tablets of Dipyrone in crushed form.
Do not use if there is an incision or open wound at the rubbing site. Better to use compression or other proven methods. Their use is also unacceptable in the presence of chronic skin diseases, the exacerbation of which provokes this treatment.
pop ointment
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis with ointments alone, but they are an important part of complex therapy. Different compositions can numb problem areas, relieve inflammation and improve general conditions. The following proven recipes are very popular:
- Take half a pack of good quality butter (you can use lard instead) and add mint, coriander and birch sprouts. Apply the resulting ointment to the problem area 23 times a day.
- In a small amount or fat, add St. John's wort, snake root, birch sprouts. The resulting mixture is a bit sticky and serves only its intended purpose.
- Take calendula, mint grass, hop sprouts, meadowsweet flowers, eucalyptus leaves and mix all of them with fat. The resulting composition is applied to the painful site.
- Take 6 large bays and mix with juniper needles (about 1 teaspoon) and add 70 grams of butter. Grind the mixture well, preferably in a blender, until you get a uniform consistency, then rub into the sore spot. The composition perfectly relieves pain and soothes the affected area.
The ointment can also be used as a dressing if you wear a scarf over it. It's important to secure everything securely with a bandage so the fabric doesn't absorb the mixture, and put plastic wrap over it.
Decoction of useful plants
Not only does traditional medicine have a topical effect on neck soreness, but many homemade remedies can be ingested in it. If ointments, heat packs and rubs help topically address inflammation and pain, then decoctions, infusions are perfect to stimulate the immune system and improve metabolism from within.
The most popular recipes are:
- Take about 400 grams of cranberries and peeled garlic cloves, a few medium sized ones will suffice. Grind or chop them thoroughly and store them in a clean container for a day. After that, add 800 grams of honey to the composition and mix until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. This medicine is used as a teaspoon 3 times a day.
- Take a sunflower root (found out of season to be problematic), rinse and dry thoroughly, finely chop. Adding 3 liters of water is enough for 150 grams. All this is lit and boiled. Infuse the resulting broth for two days, then take one tablespoon 30 minutes before meals. It is recommended to prepare a new medication in advance so as not to interrupt the course.
- Take a 250-gram peeled needle and pour 1 liter of water. All this was cooked on the fire for half an hour. The resulting broth is stripped of branches and divided into equal portions to form 6 servings, which must be consumed within three days of 8-12 hour intervals.
- Dandelion root (about 15 grams) to remove dirt, dry branches, pour half a liter of boiling water. Infuse the resulting solution for an hour, then filter and take one tablespoon before meals.
This decoction is good at removing salt from the body, which is easy to understand from the change in urine color. It turns almost orange at the beginning of the process, after which it becomes more transparent once all the harmful ingredients have left the body. But we should not forget that during treatment, spicy and salty foods are strictly prohibited. The decoction complements other, more conservative methods to help support the body against pathology. Herbs such as burdock, couchgrass, twine, violets, and plants are also used.
therapeutic bath
For cervical osteochondrosis, warm water with various ingredients can relieve tension, pain, and cramps. The procedure is performed at temperatures in the range of 37-39°C, a higher rise of the thermometer is unacceptable. It should not be forgotten that this is a medical procedure, so it is important not to overuse it. As a useful addition, you can use:
- birch leaves,
- Buckeye,
- chamomile,
- siderite,
- Needle branch.
Even though the procedure is performed for preventive purposes, the residence time in the water is 10-20 minutes. Thanks to the optimal temperature in the water and the presence of botanical ingredients, muscle tissue relaxes, inflammation is reduced, and pain is barely felt. Such baths are also useful for dizziness, frequent pain and to improve mood, improve psycho-emotional state.
herbal tea
You can verify the effectiveness of a particular therapy by checking reviews from other patients with similar conditions. Often, patients share recipes, which treatments are most helpful, but turn out to be completely ineffective. One of the most popular treatments is herbal tea. The following costs are used to combat osteochondrosis:
- Calendula + Chamomile + Strawberry + Birch Leaf + St. John's Wort.
- Licorice + Yarrow + Peppermint + Marigold.
- Lingonberry + Thyme + Plantain + Lemon Balm + Wild Rose + Clover.
- Nettle + Chamomile + Dried Flowers + Calendula + Dandelion.
- Strawberry + Motherwort + Pine Bud + Lime Blossom + Lavender.
Such fees are sold in pharmacies or drug stores, and usually you do not need to choose the dose when brewing, and it will be stated on the package. In most cases, one teaspoon per 350 grams of boiling water is sufficient. Drink beverages without sugar. Fees are especially effective in the initial stages of the disease.
other treatments
Traditional medicine uses a variety of methods to combat pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Not only products and herbs but also mud, paraffin, wax and other compounds are used. Practice has shown that they are also great at stopping pain syndromes, reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and giving you extended periods of remission.
Therapeutic muds are used in a variety of ways. Usually, procedures are performed in nursing home conditions or special medical rooms. The exposure time is determined individually. This technique is very suitable for preventive purposes.
possible errors
Folk methods, while safe and natural, can be harmful if used incorrectly. Treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist, as self-treatment often leads to rapid progression of the pathology. To prevent this from happening, you need to avoid the most common mistakes:
- No heating pads or compresses are allowed during the acute phase. Temporary relief does not mean relief, as exposure to high temperatures only leads to the spread of inflammation and increased tissue damage.
- Baths and steam rooms are contraindicated in patients with cervical osteochondrosis if they experience frequent pressure surges. During a cold, when the temperature is very high, you can't even walk for someone who doesn't have high blood pressure.
- If the vertebrae grow, traditional medicine recipes that have been shown to be effective at removing salt won't work.
- In terms of the pathological process, self-massage or other direct effects cannot be performed, they will only worsen the health and lead to complications.
These are the most common mistakes made by patients who self-medicate at home or use traditional medicine recipes. Therefore, cervical spondylosis is best managed with the attending physician.
How to prevent deterioration?
The battle with cervical osteochondrosis can go on for a long time, requiring the patient not only to comply with all doctor's prescriptions, but also to rule out all factors that predispose to exacerbation. You can protect yourself from deterioration by:
- In your daily life, avoid putting pressure on the spine by turning your head, squatting, bending over, or changing positions quickly.
- Dress warmly, depending on the weather, and be sure to wear a scarf to prevent hypothermia at the neck and shoulder straps.
- Continue to do the exercises prescribed in the physiotherapy practice framework, without missing classes, following the technique and sequence of movements.
- If your professional activity involves sitting in one position or sitting in front of a computer, you will need to take short breaks and a simple warm-up every 1. 5 hours to restore circulation to your neck.
- Stop drinking and smoking as they lower your body's defenses, trigger complications and make your condition worse.
- Treat acute respiratory diseases and viruses promptly and follow your doctor's orders.
- Control your weight, exclude harmful foods and overeating at night.
- Refusing to take a hot bath or go to the bathroom.
- Buy a quality orthopedic mattress with adequate stiffness.
And patients should also visit a massage therapist to receive a course of treatment on the neck area, usually 10 days. It is also important to refuse to carry weights, no more than 5 kg in one hand, otherwise there is a risk of initiating a spinal deformity process.
Cervical osteochondrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue with many unpleasant consequences. Failure to start the fight in time can lead to compression of nerve endings, compression of blood vessels, and reduced efficiency. Pathology can be treated not only with drugs, but also with folk remedies. To do this, choose the most effective methods and recipes that are safe and do not cause allergic reactions.