INTRODUCTION
Night terrors, also called pavor nocturnus, are a sleep disorder that mainly affects children. They are very different from ordinary nightmares and can be frightening for parents to witness.
Nightmares happen during REM sleep. The child usually wakes fully, feels afraid and can clearly remember the dream.
Night terrors happen during non-REM (deep) sleep, often about 90 minutes after falling asleep. The child may suddenly scream, shout, sit up, or leave the bed, appearing terrified and confused. They may not recognise parents, may speak nonsense, throw objects or even wet the bed.
Afterwards, there is little or no memory of the event.
Although night terrors usually pass with age, homeopathic remedies may help reduce their frequency and intensity, especially when emotional, developmental or constitutional factors are present. (Dr. Hussain Kaisrani)
It is useful to differentiate night terrors from nightmares. Nightmares occur during REM stage of sleep whereas night terrors occur in NREM sleep, usually 90 minutes or so after falling asleep. In nightmares the child is alert and can completely recall the dream on waking, on night terror the child may scream or shout and tends to be confused, disoriented, may hit/throw objects and leave the bedroom accompanied with nonsense or indistinct speech and sometimes bed-wetting. In night terrors there is little or no subsequent recall of these events.
Main remedies:
KALI BROMATUM
Night terrors during dentition.
After mental exertion or worry.
Sleeplessness.
Grinding teeth in sleep.
Sensation of guilt and having done something wrong; child may see nightmares that is being persecuted because of having committed something wrong. May confess imaginary mischiefs or during role playing games take the part of the villain.
BELLADONNA
Extreme agitation, fear and restlessness.
Talking in sleep.
Shining eyes, pupils dilated.
Red cheeks, hot skin.
Child difficult to wake.
STRAMONIUM
Awakes from fear, or screaming, recognizes no one.
Child clings to those near him, even strangers.
Fear of dark; in children who always want the light on and the presence of someone until they fall asleep.
Somnambulism.
Aggressive and violent behavior.
Says sees ghosts, or hear voices.
CALCAREA CARBONICA
Children with multiple fears and anxieties.
Wake up with fright with little noise.
Nightmares of the dead, of monsters, especially if seeing horrible faces in the dark.
Children scream after nightmares and cannot be pacified.
CARCINOCIN
Chronic night terrors.
Child sleeps on genupectoral position.
In children with chronic sleeplessness since birth, sometimes without cause and other times from grief and excessive mental activity.
Other remedies:
HYOSCYAMUS
Picking of bedclothes.
Grasping things that do not exist.
Talking and crying during sleep.
Involuntary urination during sleep and from running water sound.
PAEONIA OFFICINALIS
After bad news.
In nervous children, depressed and irritable.
Nightmares with ghosts or spirits.
PHOSPHORUS
In children with short naps and frequent waking.
Nightmares as if “something creeping out from every corner”.
Dreams of fire.
In children with lots of fears including dark, being alone, ghosts, thunderstorms or their health.
Oversensitive to external impressions.
AURUM BROMATUM
Somnambulism with night terrors.
Also helpful in migraines and attacks of fainting with coldness.
CINA
Child sleeps on genupectoral position.
Night terrors with daytime hyperactivity and irritability.
Can be associated with parasitic infection.
KALI PHOSPHORICUM
After prolonged mental work.
Sighing and moaning during sleep.
Awakening with fright and screaming.
Restlessness and heat during sleep.
SULPHUR
Disturbed sleep; changes frequently position, talking jerking and twitching during sleep.
Nightmares.
Best quality of sleep is late in the morning.
