Pain in the throat and the neck may not necessarily be due to the same cause, though sometimes common cold and fever may lead to a sore throat and an aching neck simultaneously. Pain in throat is usually the result of the inflammation of the tonsils. This happens when viral infections occur in the throat cavity and mucus accumulates in the tonsils. A simple yet effective way of dealing with this condition is to add a pinch of salt to a glass of warm water and gargle with this solution thrice a day. This destroys the infection causing germs and reduces the pain and irritation in the throat. Another natural remedy for curing the infection and getting rid of the pain in the throat is to crush a few fresh basil leaves and add their juice to a tablespoon of honey and consume this mixture twice a day. You should also try drinking an infusion of a teaspoon each of black pepper and cinnamon powder mixed in a glass of lukewarm water twice a day. This brings quick relief to a sore throat. Drinking a cup of tea made by simmering sage leaves in boiling water, and then straining the solution through a sieve, is also useful in treating throat pain. You may add a pinch of cayenne pepper to it this solution for better results.
Neck ache is mostly caused due to faulty sitting or sleeping position. If your neck feels stiff, you can take a warm shower and apply a hot compress on the neck for 5 minutes. Alternately, you may also wrap up a few ice cubes in a soft towel and hold this against your neck for 5 minutes. This helps the muscles of the neck relax and reduces the pain. While the pain lasts, avoid too much exertion on the muscles of the neck by restricting activities like reading, writing and working on the computer. Do not carry heavy loads on your shoulders as this creates a pressure on the muscles of the neck and may aggravate the pain. Also, use a firm mattress and pillow so that your neck is firmly supported while sleeping. This helps reduce neck pain to a great extent. Gentle massages also help in reducing muscular stress and neck pain. Ask someone to use move their fingers in circular motions over your neck for 5-10 minutes, preferably after a warm shower. You may also rotate your neck slowly in half-circular motions and then up and down for a few minutes to get relief from pain.