Struggling with a stiff neck? Try these 4 remedies

1. Stretching exercises

If you wake up with a stiff neck, try these gentle exercises to restore flexibility. First, nod your head up and down ten times while keeping your gaze straight. Then, turn your head to look over each shoulder, repeating ten times. Finally, tilt your head to bring your left ear toward your left shoulder, then the right ear to the right shoulder, ten times each. These movements coordinate neck muscles and joints. Important: do not force any motion. Stretch only as far as comfortable, and move slowly.

2. Temperature therapy

Applying heat or cold can ease stiff neck pain. Heat or cold reduces inflammation and boosts blood flow to the brain, speeding relief. Use a warm cherry pit pillow or an ice pack. For a quick fix, rub tiger balm on your neck or apply a heat patch. Pain should subside within about 20 minutes.

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