If you have recently been in a car accident or some other sort of accident which whipped you cervical spine like a whip, you are probably suffering from whiplash. Though you are likely under a doctor’s care for treatment, there are a lot of common whiplash symptoms which can and must be treated at home.
We will provide 15 home treatments for whiplash in this article, but want to remind you that these are not all-inclusive cures and you need to continue following the course of treatment and advice of a health care professional.
Whiplash occurs when someone’s head moves backward and then forward suddenly with great force. This injury is most common following a car collision. It can also be the result of a sports injury, physical abuse, or amusement park rides.
Whiplash happens when the soft tissues (the ligaments and muscles) of your neck extend beyond their usual range of motion. The symptoms of whiplash may not appear for a while, so it is important to pay attention to any physical changes for a good few days after any accidents.
Whiplash is considered to be a relatively mild condition, however, it can cause some long-term pain and discomfort.
Symptoms of whiplash usually occur within 24 hours after the incident or accident that caused it. Occasionally, symptoms will take a few days to appear and they can last for several weeks.
Some common symptoms of whiplash include:
A few less common symptoms include:
You should check in with your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
One of the first directives for treating whiplash symptoms is to get plenty of rest. Getting rest and sleeping well is a critical factor in the healing process of any illness or injury. Being able to relax and get comfortable by using the right type of pillows and proper sleeping posture is essential.
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Maintaining good, upright posture is also important for treating whiplash symptoms. Not only will better posture reduce pain and stiffness, but will also help soft tissues to heal more rapidly.
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Stretching and range of motion exercises will also help reduce whiplash symptoms, promote healing and get you back to normal activities sooner. These exercises reduce stiffness and promote circulation and healing to the injured area.
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Thermotherapy utilizes both heat and cold to produce different reactions and aid in the relief of whiplash symptoms as well as promoting healing. Cold therapy reduces inflammation and warm therapy increases circulation and healing. Make sure to follow these guidelines along with those of your health care professional.
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Another great benefit for whiplash symptoms is massage. Massage helps to loosen stiff muscles and get rid of muscle spasms while also stimulating circulation and healing.
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Whiplash symptoms can also be helped through the use of essential oils. One of the best for addressing ligament pain is lemongrass. It is anti-inflammatory and tends to encourage the production of collagen to promote healing.
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Where lemongrass had an infinity for healing ligament damage, marjoram oil helps to reduce muscle pain, which is common among whiplash symptoms. Marjoram has a slight analgesic effect and is an antispasmodic, which helps break up muscle spasms.
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One of the major contributors to pain among whiplash symptoms is inflammation. One of the best treatments for inflammation and pain is turmeric. Turmeric contains curcuma, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound, and rivals the best prescription or OTC pain relievers in effectiveness.
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Relaxation is a major factor in helping heal whiplash symptoms. Chamomile is not only great at helping to reduce stress, but can also help you sleep better at night.
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Alkalizing your body is another way of fighting whiplash symptoms. Blood that is slightly alkaline helps to reduce inflammation. Consequently, consuming alkaline foods can help with inflammation and pain from whiplash and encourage healing.
Drink a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water daily to fight inflammation. Also take lemon juice in water several times a day. Follow an alkaline diet.
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Muscle pain from whiplash symptoms are multiplied through dehydration. Drinking lots of water and maintaining the proper levels of electrolytes in your body will help reduce pain and encourage healing as well.
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Whiplash symptoms can be helped by blackstrap molasses as well. Blackstrap molasses is rich in vitamin B6 and more than six minerals which support enzymes that are essential for healing muscle and tendon trauma.
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One of the important minerals necessary for reducing whiplash symptoms is magnesium. Magnesium not only helps relax muscles, but it also promotes healing.
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Another mineral which is valuable in the process of muscle relaxation and reduction of whiplash symptoms is potassium. Potassium helps get rid of muscle cramps and muscle spasms and is one of the major components of maintaining electrolyte balance.
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The third mineral in the trifecta of muscle relaxation minerals is calcium. Increased calcium is another means of relieving whiplash symptoms and promoting recovery of damaged muscles and tendons.
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Your whiplash symptoms will slow you down and take you out of your regular routine for several days. But you can get back into the regular swing of things a lot faster if you follow some basic home care tips. Make use of several of our 15 tips if you or someone you know is suffering from whiplash and be certain to keep these ingredients and remedies on hand just in case you ever need them.
Be sure to add your questions, comments and remedies to the section below as well.
The images are from depositphotos.com.
