Headaches Come in All Forms - What Is a Tension Headache?

Butalbital is commonly found in the prescribed medications for relief of many types of headaches e.g. tension headaches. Combined with either aspirin or acetaminophen, and some caffeine makes it even more effective.

Acetaminophen serves the purpose of reducing fever and pain while the caffeine de-constricts the blood vessels. The cause of tension headaches are due to constricted blood vessels. Hence, this drug is classified as a barbiturate. By slowing down the nerve impulses of the brain and central nervous system, it makes one relax. Acetaminophen together with caffeine and butalbital are effective for pain and discomfort relief.

For decades, Butalbital is commonly used to relieve mild to moderate headaches, especially tension headaches. In fact, butalbital has been used as a good substitute especially for those patients who are unable to take NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), opioids and other pain relief medications.

Emotional stress has been a major contributor to tension headaches. Statistics show that one in five people experience at least a tension headache every month. Fortunately for most people, tension headaches usually lasts for a short time.

Here are the common symptoms:

- Tight feeling around the head, neck or across the eyes

- Pain (not limited to only one area of the head)

Causes of tension headaches includes the following:

- Bright sunlight

- Extreme heat/cold

- Tense muscles especially in the neck and scalp

- Caffeine

- Noise

- Cigarette smoke

- Depression and

- Unknown reasons

Aside from Butalbital, some patients have expressed that the frequency of their headaches had decreased by almost half through acupuncture.

Acupuncture is one form of alternative therapy based on the principles of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative therapy for a wide variety of illnesses in the United States and other Western nations in the last 25 years.

For tension headaches, key points of the body are pricked with acupuncture needles to help channel energy flow around the main organs of the body.

Some researchers believed that acupuncture may provide the relief because patients expect an improvement, what researchers call a placebo effect. What this means is: patients feel better simply because they expect an improvement in their health.

On the contrary, acupuncturists believed that it is because of the unblocked energy flow that provides the relief from the headache.

Well, the choice is yours: western medicine or acupuncture? As for me, I'll try both and then decide whichever provides me with the quickest relief and reduces the frequency of the headaches.