Homeopathy for Fright and Night Terrors
Frightful remedies from the homeopathic medicine chest
As we get closer to Halloween, the spookiest time of the year; creepy characters, monsters and ghosts are on display all around. For many children, and especially for those extra sensitive to fright, perhaps already suffering with scary dreams, night terrors and fear of the dark, this month can be quite challenging.
Homeopathy has some very effective remedies available in its medicine chest, to help calm and alleviate most types of fear, including frightful dreams and night terrors. The remedies listed below are just a sample of remedies at our disposal. The best matching remedy in each individual case is chose based on a detailed consultation, where other factors in the child's life and health history are taken into account.
Stramonium
Mancinella
Pulsatilla
Calcarea carbonica
Phosporus
Cina
Night Terrors and Nightmares
Sleep terrors differ from nightmares. A nightmare is a bad dream. The person who has a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details. A person who has a sleep terror remains asleep. Children usually don't remember anything about their sleep terrors in the morning. Adults may recall part of a dream they had during the sleep terrors.
Sleep terrors generally happen in the first part of sleep time, and rarely during naps. A sleep terror may lead to sleepwalking.
During a sleep terror, a person may:
- Start by screaming, shouting or crying.
- Sit up in bed and look scared.
- Stare wide-eyed.
- Sweat, breathe heavily, and have a racing pulse, flushed face and enlarged pupils.
- Kick and thrash.
- Be hard to wake up and be confused if awakened.
- Not be comforted or soothed.
- Have no or little memory of the event the next morning.
- Possibly, get out of bed and run around the house or have aggressive behavior if blocked or held back.
Possible causes of Nightmares and Night Terrors
- Sometimes the ordinary stresses of daily life, such as a problem at home or school, trigger nightmares. A major change, such as a move or the death of a loved one, can have the same effect.
- Nightmares are common after an accident, injury or other traumatic event. Nightmares are prominent in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Sleep deprivation. Changes in your schedule that cause irregular sleeping and waking times or that interrupt or reduce the amount of sleep can increase your risk of having nightmares.
- Some drugs — including certain antidepressants, blood pressure medications, beta blockers, and drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease or to help you stop smoking — can trigger nightmares.
- Scary books and movies. Reading scary books or watching scary movies, especially before bed, can be associated with nightmares.
- Other disorders. Some medical conditions and mental health disorders as well as other sleep disorders can be associated with having nightmares. For instance, anxiety can be associated with a higher likelihood of recurrent nightmares
(Mayo Clinic, 2025)
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