Typically characterized by soreness and pain, making head movement difficult. It resembles rheumatic pain or a disc problem.
Cause:
Invasion of wind and cold into the local channels and collaterals, or problems with Qi and blood.
Most patients feel like their neck is locked, and experience muscular soreness and pain in the morning. They cannot turn their head to the side or back and forth. The soreness and pain may also radiate down into the shoulders and arms. There is tenderness, but no swelling or redness of the local skin. Stool and urine are normal. Thin white tongue coating and wiry, tense pulse.
Treatment:
Eliminate wind and cold and ease the tendons and collaterals by using points mainly from the Du channel, the small intestine channel of hand taiyang, and the bladder channel of foot taiyang.
Gb20, Du14, Bl10, Si14, Gb21, Si3.
Explanation:
Gb20, Du14, Bl10, Si14, Gb21 promote Qi circulation and eliminate wind and cold. Si3, together with the Du channel (Du20), stops tendon pain. Treatment lasts 20 minutes. Cupping on the tender point (very effective). Moxibustion (nianying or pure moxa) on GB20 and Du20. Auricular therapy: Neck on the rising helix, jaw point, shoulder point, and head point. A very effective but not commonly used exercise is to lie on a bed with the head over the edge, looking at the floor. Pull the head straight back while still looking at the floor, as many times as you can before getting tired. (IT SHOULD NEVER CAUSE PAIN; IF IT DOES, STOP, AS IT CAN DAMAGE NERVES AND CERVICAL DISCS.) This exercise strengthens the neck muscles, preventing the pain from returning, allowing Qi and blood to flow freely, and eliminating tenderness.
