P. Sze 
During my life, I have suffered from health conditions such as chronic neck pain, muscle tension, and shoulder pain. I tried everything from physical therapy to products for neck pain, but very little helped – until I was told to try an acupuncture pen for stiff neck.
I decided to pursue Chinese medicine, as many people had told me of its effectiveness and benefits. Through my research, I learned more about integrative medicine, which included traditional acupuncture.
Since then, I have used this treatment for neck pain to overcome my stiff neck, allowing me to go about my day without muscle tension or chronic conditions. If you suffer from different kinds of neck pain, then you may need to consider using an acupuncture pen.
In the following article, I will teach you how to use an acupuncture pen for stiff neck, so that you can learn more about the treatment and its uses. Just take a look down below, and you will find everything you need to get started.
Causes Of A Stiff Neck
Neck pain is a particularly common complaint. However, the good news is that neck stiffness is very rarely a sign of any sinister health condition. Rather, it usually happens as a consequence of poor posture.
For instance, it could have been caused by one of the minor incidences below:
- Sleeping in an awkward position.
- Slouching or sitting for a long period of time.
- Constantly looking down (e.g., at your phone).
- Sustaining a sports injury.
- Falling over.
- Dealing with muscle tension because of stress or anxiety.
However, a stiff neck can be caused by more serious experiences and conditions, such as those listed below:
- Whiplash.
- Arthritis.
- Meningitis.
As such, it is important that you visit your health care provider if you are experiencing a particularly stuff neck to ensure that there are no serious underlying health conditions at play. It is especially important to consult your doctor if you plan to begin an alternative treatment whilst you are already receiving some kind of medicine or physical therapy.
Why Use Acupuncture To Treat Stiff Neck?
Before we can show you how to use an acupuncture pen for a stiff neck, we must first take a look at the science behind acupuncture and pressure points. Since its conception, acupuncture has been used and studied as a treatment for sore or stiff necks.
Some researchers have theorized that the use of acupuncture pens helps to stimulate chemicals in your body, which work to relieve pain and stiffness. In fact, many clinical trials, randomized studies, and other forms of research have shown positive results.
For instance, this clinical study showed acupuncture to be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain. Similarly, this evidence suggests that acupuncture is potentially more effective than sham acupuncture in reducing many different types of neck pain.
If you’re still feeling skeptical about the effectiveness of acupuncture and acupuncture pens, take a look at this article titled Do Acupuncture Pens Work. After reading you’ll be rushing to purchase an acupuncture pen!
How To Use Acupuncture Pen For Stiff Neck
When it comes to using an acupuncture pen around your neck, you will need to locate the correct acupoints to begin.
The following video shows how to use your acupuncture pen around the neck.
You can refresh your mind and relieve your neck stiffness by stimulating the neckline, back of the head, and around the ears.
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Here is another video. Just skip to 00:34 and get started. It stimulates the muscles on the side of the entire neck.
Push it so that it is perpendicular to your neck. Press about 3 times per second, and press about 10 to 30 seconds per place.
If your neck becomes stiff due to the prolonged usage of your smartphone, it is important to apply acupressure to the side of the 7th cervical vertebra every day for about 90 seconds to loosen it.
The GV-14 acupoint, which is effective for stiff neck, is located under the 7th cervical vertebra, so it is effective to press it together.
With the Acupuncture pen, you can easily stimulate the neck area, which is difficult to press firmly with your fingers.
Acupoints For Stiff Neck
When it comes to treating your stiff neck with acupuncture, there are various acupoints you can use.
In the section below, we have outlined these points and their locations on your body:
Acupoint: GB-12 (Other Names: Gallbladder-12/Wan Gu/Mastoid Process)
Neck stiffness is said to be caused by a large muscle called the sternocleidomastoid, which is located in the neck.
When you lean forward for long periods of time, the muscle begins to stiffen, which can result in a sore neck.
To help relieve any pain from this area, it is best to release the tension from the root of the muscle itself rather than approaching it without any prior treatment.
The sternocleidomastoid muscle is connected to the clavicle and sternum, which protrude from behind the ears. The acupoint is in the depression below the mastoid process behind the ear on the head.
By massaging this pressure point in the neck using a circular or up-and-down motion, you can help to relieve neck pain, headache, and eyestrain.
Acupoint: Bl-10 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-10/Tian Zhu/Celestial Pillar)
Bl-10 is one of the best pressure points to increase energy. It is also said to be effective for straight necks, especially those that have eliminated the curvature of the cervical spine, which helps to support the head and reduce neck stiffness.
By treating this particular pressure point, you can also relieve stress, fatigue, and autonomic imbalance.
The acupoint is on the posterior hairline, in the depression of the outer edge of the trapezius muscle, 1.3 cun lateral to the middle of the posterior hairline.
Acupoint: TE-17 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-17/Yi Feng/Wind Screen)
This particular pressure point can help to improve the flow of blood around the body, which can have a positive impact on organs such as the heart and small intestine.
Because of this, the pressure point also helps to relieve headaches, stiff shoulders and swelling around the face.
You can find the acupoint at the base of the ear behind the earlobe, the depression between the mastoid process of the temporal bone, and the posterior border of the mandibular ramus of the mandible.
To massage this point, you will need to place the middle fingers of both hands on the left and right acupoints, while applying enough force to stimulate the muscle.
However, you must remember not to push too hard, as the neck is a delicate area that is prone to damage.
Other Uses Of Acupuncture Pens
If you thought that acupuncture pens were only good for chronic pain relief, then you’d be very mistaken. In fact, acupuncture pens are super versatile therapeutic tools that can be used to relieve the symptoms of hundreds of different ailments.
Whether you’re suffering from blocked sinuses (look here to learn how to use an acupuncture pen for sinus drainage) or you are plagued with constant tinnitus (look here to learn about acupuncture pens for tinnitus immediate relief), an acupuncture pen can help make you feel better!
