NIGHT TERROR – just the name sends a cold shiver down my spine.
To my great relief, only one of our four children was affected by this sleep disorder, because the night terror, known in medical terminology as pavor nocturnus, is a burden for the whole family.
Helen's story will serve as an example...
The 'cold season' had only just begun and with the first sniffle came the first sleepless night accompanied by piercing screaming.
Thirty minutes felt like an eternity. Helen's mother Melissa tried everything to wake her little daughter. She comforted, rocked and patted her, but all efforts were in vain. Helen was unresponsive and simply kept screaming.
The following night there was a runny nose and a slight cough.
The nights that followed were no less exhausting: Helen coughed, screamed and flailed about in her cot. Only around 3 a.m. did the little one calm down again.
It went on like this for a week before the young mother, visibly exhausted and at the end of her tether, consulted their paediatrician. She and her husband had not had an hour's sleep at a stretch that week. The night-time screaming attacks had by now also woken Helen's 18-month-old sister.
The paediatrician examined Helen but could find no pathological changes apart from a mild cold. The night-time screaming fits of their daughter were probably a pavor nocturnus, which she would 'grow out of' sooner or later. Melissa felt helpless.
Helen's cold eventually passed, but the night terrors remained.
On a visit to the town library, Melissa happened to meet her old schoolfriend Lee, who was all too familiar with this problem. Lee advised her to try a homeopathic treatment. That way she could save herself many trips to the doctor.
Melissa was initially sceptical; she had never really considered alternatives before.
Lee also told her about a homeopathy course she was taking and offered to find a suitable remedy for Helen's daughter.
That very night Lee sent an e-mail with a selection of homeopathic remedies that might be suitable for Helen and let Melissa know where she could obtain them.
The next morning Melissa, to be on the safe side, bought all three remedies her friend had listed:
Calcarea carbonica C200 is particularly suitable for children prone to infections and for allergy sufferers. If the child frequently suffers from colds, flu, middle ear infections, suppurative tonsillitis or allergies, then Calc. carb. C200 could be the right remedy. It should be taken every three days for several months.
Stramonium D6 is helpful for children who react aggressively during a night terror and flail about wildly. This intense behaviour can often also be observed during daytime play, or whenever the child becomes angry. The remedy should then be taken twice daily for a week until the night terror subsides.
Ignatia amara C200 is my personal favourite for nightmares of any kind. Give Ignatia twice daily for a week.
Melissa decided on Calc. carb. C200, because Helen caught colds more frequently and more easily than her siblings. She gave it to her every three days.
After just two doses Melissa noticed a clear improvement; a week later the night-time panic attacks had disappeared.
Today – some 12 months later – Melissa can only vaguely remember that time.
And Helen's susceptibility to infections is gone; indeed she now seems less ill than her sisters and friends.
Melissa and Lee now share not only their friendship but also their enthusiasm for homeopathy. They treat themselves and their families themselves, entirely without chemicals. And of course Melissa has also taken a homeopathy course.
Please bear in mind that choosing the right remedy is not always as straightforward as in this case. In recent years I have increasingly noticed that neurological and psychological disorders in particular occur in connection with allergies and food intolerances. In such cases we must also investigate this problem homeopathically. I am responsible for that. I will keep you informed.
Disclaimer
Joette Calabrese is not a licensed medical doctor and does not prescribe medication in the classical conventional medical sense. Joette advises on health and homeopathic matters; the client assumes responsibility for his or her own decisions. Homeopathy does not treat 'diseases' but represents a holistic approach intended to advise and inform clients. For a conventional medical diagnosis and treatment, a doctor who works holistically should always be consulted in addition.
In order to make information available to a wide audience, the author may receive financial support or sponsorship. No liability is accepted for recommendations and/or links to other offers or products.
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Photos: Shutterstock: crying baby in bed © Twin Design, little girl in bed awakened by nightmares, lying frightened © Ilike
