neck pain and how to combat it

The neck, with its intricate structure and wide range of mobility, is particularly vulnerable to stress and strain. The head, which weighs between 10 and 20 pounds, is supported by a stack of seven small bones called vertebrae and held in place by 32 complex muscles.
Attached to and between the vertebrae are pads of fibrous cartilage called discs that act as cushions, or shock absorbers. Eight nerves, which relay sensations (including pain), and four major arteries, which carry blood, run through the neck and connect the head with the shoulders, chest, and arms. The delicate spinal cord runs through the center of the stack of vertebrae and is protected by it. Add to this complex structure the fact that the neck moves more than any other part of the body, and you've got a formula for trouble.
It's a vicious cycle. When our muscles tense, either because of physical or emotional stress, the blood supply to the muscles decreases, causing pain. And that pain causes the muscles to tense further. That's why the best way to relieve neck pain is to try to eliminate or ease the physical or emotional stress in addition to treating the muscles.
The home remedies on the next page can help you break the tension-pain cycle and learn new habits that will keep the tension from developing in the first place.

For more information about neck pain and how to combat it, try the following links:

• To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
• To see all of our herbal remedies, visit our main Herbal Remedies page.
• The knees are also a delicate part of the body. Read about Home Remedies for Knee Pain.
• If you're having trouble walking or running, check out Home Remedies for Foot Pain.
• To learn about easing muscle spasms, go to Home Remedies for Muscular Pain.