7 Herbal Remedies That Can Help Relieve A Stiff Neck, According To An Herbalist & Acupuncturist

Here are a few tricks that you can use to loosen that stiff neck and move on with your day as much as possible:

First and foremost, it is important to remember the huge role that applying heat has in relaxing muscles1. In between using ice packs to numb the pain and reduce inflammation, you can use heat to bring fresh blood flow to the area and help your pain dissipate more quickly. (It's is a good opportunity to re-freeze your bag of peas, too!)

If you have been subjected to a cold or damp environment prior to your neck stiffness, you may want to try sipping cinnamon and turmeric in warm water to release the muscle contraction and bring down inflammation. Research has found that turmeric can help manage inflammation and muscle soreness, which can enhance recovery2, while the antioxidants in cinnamon have significant anti-inflammatory benefits3.

These cooked herbs can be prepared as a warm compress and used on the muscle (or just wrap the wet herbs in an old pillow case and press on your muscle). If you're in a bind, you can try using chamomile tea bags7.

Try applying fresh horse radish or mustard oil to the muscle to help relieve stiffness, but only leave them on for a few minutes at a time to prevent numbness and burning.

Arnica as a homeopathic remedy or a cream can help heal the area quickly. Keep some stocked in your first aid kit, as it is good for all kinds of aches and pains!8

Celery has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, as research shows that taking celery seed extract can act as an analgesic (meaning pain relieving) and inflammatory agent9. While much more research is needed on the health claims of celery (and celery juice, for that matter), it might be worth trying to see if it works for your body.

A final note: Muscles love to be warm, and they don't like being kept stationary. That said, with the help of a physical therapist or physician, keep trying to move your neck and take deep breaths; you can also use heat pads, warm compresses and warm, steamy baths if possible!