Certain dietary supplements may help treat your neck pain. According to the Spine Health website, most bouts of neck pain are caused by muscle strains or other soft tissue injuries, such as a tendon or ligament injury. Neck pain can be caused by repetitive strain, blunt force trauma and certain medical conditions. The Food and Drug Administration has not sanctioned any herbal supplements for healing neck pain. Before taking dietary supplements to help treat your neck pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Devil's Claw
Devil's claw, also known as Harpagophytum procumbens, is an herbal supplement. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, devil's claw, a member of the Pedaliaceae family, has been used to help treat numerous health problems that include generalized pain, muscle pain and osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Devil's claw is a plant native to South Africa, has a bitter taste and possesses hooked fruit that resembles a claw. The roots of the plant are used for medicinal purposes, including neck pain. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," says devil's claw is an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic to help treat arthritis, tendinitis and spine pain. If you are pregnant or have gastric or duodenal ulcers, avoid taking supplements containing devil's claw.
Cayenne
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," says cayenne, also known as Capsicum frutescens, is a rubefacient. That's a substance that increases blood flow to a specific area. She says it can increase nutrient availability to injured tissue and remove metabolic waste products from the breakdown of damaged cells. Tilgner says elevated blood flow can help your deteriorating joints rebuild damaged tissue and halt further degeneration. Cayenne may also diminish your sensation of pain due to its ability to stimulate the release of certain substances from your sensory neurons. Cayenne belongs to the Nightshade family, has a sweet, hot and pungent taste and has heating and drying tendencies. If you have duodenal ulcers, you should avoid taking supplements containing cayenne. If you're pregnant, you should use cayenne with caution.
Willow Bark
Willow bark comes from the willow tree, a species of deciduous trees that grows in moist soil and temperate regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Willow, also known as Salix alba, is a member of the Salicaceae family. It has a bitter, astringent taste and has cooling and drying tendencies. Practitioners of botanical medicine used the bark of the tree for medicinal purposes. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," willow bark contains aspirin-like substances called salicylates and acts as an anti-inflammatory by blocking potentially inflammatory prostaglandins, or a group of fatty acid compounds in your body that act like hormones. Tilgner says willow bark is an astringent, anti-inflammatory and analgesic that has been used to treat numerous musculoskeletal problems. If you have a bleeding disorder, you should avoid taking supplements containing willow bark.
References
- Spine Health: Neck Pain Health Center
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Devil's Claw
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Plant Medicine in Practice: Using the Teachings of John Bastyr"; William A. Mitchell, Jr., N.D.; 2003
