Whiplash injuries tissues beneath the neck muscles causing pain to be present in some cases for weeks at a time. Common Neck, shoulder and back stiffness and pain are common as well as dizziness and headaches. There are natural remedies for pain as well as inflammation, two symptoms that tend to be a part of whiplash in many people who experience it.
What is Whiplash?
First, let’s define whiplash which can also be known as a neck sprain. Whiplash is when there is a sudden blow to the neck on any side causing it to jerk back and forth, side to side or up and down in a forceful way. It leaves the neck in much pain, pain that isn’t always felt until days after the accident.
Whiplash injuries tissues beneath the neck muscles causing pain to be present in some cases for weeks at a time. The rate and speed at which whiplash heals and the pain is completely gone, depends on the level of damage done to the nerves.
Whiplash is many times accompanied with inflammation to the muscles. The inflammation is a main part of what causes whatever level of pain. Medications, stretches and braces are many times used to help keep the neck pain stable and the neck itself stable. The less movement to the neck during the healing process the better. Therefore preventing further pain, jerks or pressure being placed on the neck and surrounding areas.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
- Neck stiffening
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Difficulty moving neck
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Low back pain
- Fatigue
- Trouble remembering
In order to properly be diagnosed with whiplash it’s best to go to a doctor and let them diagnose you. Generally, it takes the symptoms being described and recent traumatic incidents being relayed to the doctor in order for the diagnoses to be done.
An x-ray or MRI are not able to see the damage done to the tissues and all beneath the skin and muscles. An x-ray can reveal damage done to any bone but never muscles, ligaments, joints or nerves.
Can I Use a Natural Remedy for Whiplash?
There are natural remedies for pain as well as inflammation, two symptoms that tend to be a part of whiplash in many people who experience it.
Pain relief is a part of any injury that the body experiences. There is always a need for pain medications when a body is healing from an injury. Some pain worsens after the trauma has taken place, for example after surgery, after an accident where whiplash occurs, and even in cases where one experiences a severe concussion.
It’s important to keep in mind that herbal remedies for pain management are meant to work along with other medications one has been prescribed. They will never work best alone, and to use them as a replacement isn’t recommended.
Examples of Pain Management Herbs
Feverfew – A flowering plant known to be a part of the daisy family, the scientific name is Tanacetum parthenium. This particular herb is used for fever, arthritis, allergies, pain, dizziness and more. This herbal remedy is known to increase blood flow to the brain due to its effects of contracting blood vessels.
Ginger – The scientific name for this herb is Zingiber officinale, known for its treatment of inflammation and pain. This particular herb is proven to be safe with long-term usage.
Boswellia – This herb is also known as Indian frankincense. The scientific name for it is Boswellia serrata. It’s also stated that studies show this particular herb to be helpful in treating asthma, irritable bowel disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
White Willow Bark – The white willow is a tree with the scientific name of Salix alba. The bark of the white willow contains a chemical called salicin, which is similar to the drug known as aspirin. This particular herb is known for being used to treat arthritis, pain, fever and inflammation.
How are Herbal Medicines taken?
There are various forms in which herbs come in. A few of the different forms in which herbal medicines come in include powdered form, dried, capsules and even liquid.
With the various forms there are different ways in which it can be ingested such as being brewed as a tea, swallowed as a pill, or even placed in a bath.
Doses vary and it’s important to always be sure to take the recommended dosage and nothing more. Some natural medicines can be taken more than once a day, while others can’t.
While there is much controversy regarding the use of herbal remedies, many still choose to take advantage of the new age option of treatment.
Can Herbal Remedies be Potentially Harmful?
Natural remedies just like traditional medications have precautions and side effects also. It’s very important to be aware of what you’re using and how often you are to use it, and what the potential side effects are.
When using other medicines such as traditional medicines health issues can come up if used together without being sure the medications are able to work together without causing harm.
According to Lorraine W. Bock, MSN, CRNP, CEN through Clinical Advisor, it’s not safe to combine natural medicines with traditional medicines (they can affect the way the other medications work), but it’s typically safe to take one multi-vitamin along with natural medicines, granted all ingredients have been checked out.
Things to Know
- Unlike traditional medicines herbal medicines haven’t been tested and don’t have to be tested. In other words us them at your own risk, but be sure to talk with your doctor about what you’re planning to implement into your health, pain management and healing regimen.
- It’s easy to believe that herbal remedies are medicines but they aren’t medicines and should not be used in that manner. They are to complement medications one may be taking already, being mindful of all ingredients. Herbal medicines are considered to be dietary supplements.
- While pregnant or breastfeeding it isn’t safe to take natural remedies without consulting with your doctor first. During pregnancy though there are precautions some pregnant women do in some cases use natural remedies.
Along with herbal remedies, there are also many home remedies that can be done while healing from the pain and complications associated with whiplash.
Some of those home remedies include:
- Essential oils
- Heat packs
- Ice packs
- Daily stretching
All of these home remedies can be used and implemented on a daily until symptoms diminish.
Are Essential Oils considered to be Herbal Remedies?
Essential oils are another form of alternative medicine, just as herbal medicines are. They are both derived from plants, flowers and with the oils they can also come from certain seeds.
Both forms of alternative medicine are on the rise as many are seeing them both as new ways to better help their households remain pain-free and in some cases sickness free.
Essential oils can be rubbed into the skin or used in something known as a diffuser. Essential oils and herbal medicines alike both are shown to help treat many health conditions.
Essential oils are not approved by the FDA either, meaning they aren’t to be used in place of traditional medications, the same going for herbal treatments. The oils are to also be used alongside other medications and remedies given by doctors.
When using essential oils or herbal remedies it’s extremely vital that education is provided prior to engaging in any use. It’s also vital that talks with your provider are had being sure nothing you’re already taking will clash with the herbal remedies you decide to ingest. There are top Wasilla chiropractic clinics or local chiropractors near your area that can help you find herbal remedies to help with whiplash.
There are still precautions that must be taken when using natural medicines seeing that using them outside of proper instructions and doses can cause serious health conditions. There are indeed side effects to overusing even natural remedies.
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- Herbal Remedies for Whiplash - November 10, 2019
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