What Are Nightmares and Night Terrors?
Night terrors and nightmares in children usually happen in the middle of the night, when parents are tired, and the child is difficult to console. We are all familiar with nightmares as bad and scary dreams. Night terrors represent extreme episodes of screaming and distress during sleep, and they are often seen in children who sleep walk. Though it is scary for parents to witness these episodes, night terrors are relatively common and usually pass on their own with time.
There are many herbal and homeopathic remedies that you can use to treat children who are suffering from night terrors, that are easy to use, non-evasive, gentle, non-toxic and without side effects. They can restore healthy sleep patterns in children who suffer from frequent night disturbances.
Make sure to consult your doctor or homeopathic expert for instruction about which remedy to choose, how to prepare it and for dosage instructions.
Tips for Parents Whose Children Have Nightmares
Nightmares and night terrors usually happen in the same place during the sleep cycle; between the first and second hour of sleep. If you can notice the pattern, you can briefly wake your child up 15 minutes before. Also, avoid telling scary stories before bedtime, and also avoid scary movies or discussing stressful things with your child before bed. Try to make sure that your child is getting enough sleep, because prolonged sleep deprivation, especially with children, is a major cause of night terrors.
During the night terror episode, try to be as relaxing, comforting and gentle as possible, without shouting or sudden movements. Make sure that your child’s bedroom is as safe as possible; if he or she has a tendency to get out of bed during nightmare episodes to sleep walk, the child can be hurt if there are tripping hazards. When your child screams in their sleep, gently try to awake them in a soothing voice.
Homeopathic Remedies for Night Terrors
Sulphur is one of the homeopathic remedies you can use when your child is twitchy and jerks a lot in his or her sleep. Other symptoms that indicate this remedy are talking in sleep, vivid dreams or when the child is awakening frequently.
Stramonium is the homeopathic remedy recommended in cases when a child is awakened terrified or screams in their sleep. The child may be feeling sleepy but can not fall asleep, and asks for light in the bedroom and wants company.
Chamomile is one of the most popular remedies. In cases of night terrors, it can be used when the child’s symptoms are emotional and mental. The child is restless, wants something and then refuses it, and she can only be consoled when carried.
Ignatia Amara is recommended for use in cases of nightmares connected with emotional stress, when a child is having hysteria episodes and has a rapid change of moods. A child may also have deep and troubling dreams.
Kali Bromatum is homeopathic remedy recommended for use in cases when a child is feeling depressed, melancholic and delusional during night terror episodes.
Aconitum Napelus is mostly used in cases when a child feels anxiety, fear, and anguish of body and mind. A child may also have fears of crowd, future or when crossing the street.
Other homeopathic remedies that you can use in cases of children’s night terrors are Lycopodium, Cina, Phosphorus, and Calcarea carbonica.
When, after proper consultation, you are starting a homeoopathic remedy to help your child with nightmares and night terrors, it can also be a good idea to tell him or her that this medicine will help them sleep better. That alone could reduce some of the fears your child has.
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