I would like to know any alternative medicine treatments that I can do for relief. I would like advice on specific, incident related treatment, not long term prevention. Also, I can not go to a doctor about the pain right now because I have no insurance. What ever you advice, it needs to be cheap, if possible.

I’ve been treating it with Benadryl and Advil, but neither one has helped too much. Other information: I am a smoker (~1 pack a day). I don’t drink alcohol or caffeine very often.

Thanks.

What’s an allergy headache and what’s a migraine?

Most people don’t know the difference between a migraine and an allergy headache. Pay attention if you have the following symptoms after you eat or drink something: headache, breathing problems, hives, swelling or problem to breath run to the doctor! You’re having a severe allergic reaction to something you’ve just eaten.

Even people who usually have allergies in the Spring, called seasonal allergies, may suffer from allergy headaches as well. The main differences an allergy headache and a migraine have are the symptoms. A migraine causes a painful, intense headache, usually in just one part of the head. If the migraine is severe it may cause sensibility to light and sound, last several hours or even a day or two and sometimes people who suffer from it vomit or feel dizzy. Regular medicine is not enough to stop the pain.

On the other hand, allergy headaches are caused by the allergy itself, therefore, by the element that causes the allergy. If your head aches when the season or the weather change and you’re allergic (sometimes, you’re allergic and don’t know it) then you’re having an allergy headache. Since they’re caused by the allergy itself, an OTC painkiller won’t do the trick. Try an allergy reliever instead.

Ways to deal with an allergy headache

Try to discover what element or elements are causing your allergy. If you think it may be caused by food, see your physician immediately since food allergies can be deathly. If your allergy is due to seasonal changes, then you can just find relief in an over the counter allergy medicine.

Allergy headaches are quite common and having some allergy relief medication in your medicine cabinet will ward off your allergy headaches. If you can’t make your allergy headaches go away, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor and she will order any exams you need to find out what’s causing your headaches.

Many people mistakenly believe that sinuses are limited to nasal passages. However, sinuses are located in the forehead, on each cheekbone, and behind the bridge of your nose. Healthy sinuses are filled with air and their secretions drain freely into the nose. In addition to a sinus headache, when sinuses are blocked you have other symptoms like fever mentioned above and feelings of pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead.

Colds and other respiratory viruses leave sinuses vulnerable to infection. Bacteria causes your mucous membranes to swell which effectively blocks your sinuses, which in turn blocks normal drainage. Bending over or standing back up too quickly is excruciating. In addition, sinus infections can actually cause a feeling of toothache in some patients! In any event, because the causes of sinus headaches differ radically from the causes of other headaches, it’s best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment – never try to diagnose your own medical problems.

When you do have a sinus headache, there are some steps that you can take at home to relieve your pain.

* Humidify your air with a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier. Even vapor from a steaming basin of water or hot shower can help. Eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and thyme oils are additives that can be added to hot steam treatments to help relieve the sinus headache in a gentle and enjoyable manner.

* Use a normal pain killer like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, or plain aspirin. Many people make the mistake of using a decongestant for sinus headache. Antihistamines in decongestants can further dry out nasal passages and actually make a sinus headache worse! Use them only on your physician’s direct recommendation.

* Herbal tea may help relieve sinus headache. In any event, herbs are a generally safe way to supplement nutrients your body needs. Herbs may also be purchased as capsules, tablets, or tinctures at health food stores and many pharmacies. Some herbs that are taken for sinus headache relief include Wild Indigo, Eyebright, Licorice, Coneflower, Goldenseal, Jamaica Dogwood, and St. John’s Wort.