Brief Answer:
Practical solutions to smart problems.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

It's been nice knowing you. :)

Your questions are systematic, smart and practical.

I know I can feel free to use medical terms because you can "get" the big picture easily.

Well, let's get started.

The human neck is the most complicated piece of engineering in the world.

When you look to the left, your "sternocleidomastoid" muscle that is shaped like an oblique triangle (slightly ovoid) pulls your right mandible (jaw) to the left. Keeping vascular (blood) and neural (electrical) circuits apposed (perfectly balanced). In addition to this, critical glands (chemical reactors) like your thyroid and your cervical verterbra (the steel beams and girders - like a sky scraper - in fact they are stronger than steel or any known metallurgical technology) are balanced perfectly.

Therefore the best way to sleep is ***without*** a pillow.

1. Your neck will naturally relax.
2. More oxygen will reach your lungs.
3. More rich blood will reach your brain.

Initially, you will feel "oops! I'm missing my pillow.", By the third night, you'll feel great.

If you really need a pillow. Then...

1. Get a pillow that is filled with water.
2. There are water beds, and water pillows.
3. Order it online if necessary, they are really affordable.

Why?

Water (H2o) is not compressible AT ALL. Simple Physics.

This "auto adjusts" your neck into the perfect ortho position. Like an digital cam auto adjusting to ambient light when a pic is clicked.

Why not any other pillow?

Because this puts your neck into an unnatural position. It feels comfy, but not
all that glitters is gold. It's like having a powerful shock absorber on your vehicle and driving it roughly up a stony mountain.

The pillow feels comfortable, at the expense of your neck.

So what now?

1. I agree with you, Go with Baba Ramdev. :) See how he practices "Yoga Nidra"
2. Do the "Jaladhara Bandha". "Bandha" - "lock" (Sanskrit).
3. Do the Uddiyana Bandha.
4. Do the Triloka Bandha.
5. Do only UJJAYI (Sanskrit - Breath of Victory) Pranayama. You must do it with both XXXXXXX kumbhaka (inner breath block) and bahya kumbhaka (outer breath lock).
6. Start slow. keep a 20:2:4:10 ratio (perfect for visvamavritti yogic style).
7. NEVER EVER DO THIS ON A FULL STOMACH.     
8. This strengthens HFN musculature.

By the way, this has not been copy-pasted from a website, and neither am I a Baba Ramdev fanatic. You had a genuine problem, and wished a solution that did not involve tonnes of drugs with tonnes of side effects. In fact, he (Ramdev) had personally visited our state and shared the ashtanga yoga way with the medical profession. Thus what I have written up there is to be taken highly seriously.

1. However, if the pain really is bothersome, then I'd ask you to apply Bifenac gel to your neck. No Prescription required. Don't settle for Volini or Vicks or Balm from the pharmacist. Insist on Bifenac gel. Argue if necessary. Apply till satiety.

2. If you have trouble sleeping, Spot jog till exhaustion. Lactic acid accumulation
in your muscles is the best sedative.

3. If YOU REALLY CANNOT SLEEP AT ALL, GO TO A DOCTOR AND ASK FOR ZOLPIDEM 5 MG TABLETS. NON ADDICTIVE, AND ZERO SIDE EFFECTS AT THIS DOSE FOR A WEEK TILL THE YOGIC EXERCISES KICK IN.

Since you wished a natural solution, sprinkled with allopathic medical technology here and there, I have given it to you.

You are free to ask more questions. However "silly" or "irrelevant" they may sound, they sound pretty practical to me.

Best wishes,
Practice makes perfect.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar.

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