Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that belongs to the parasomnia family. The sleepwalker performs actions such as walking or driving a car while sleeping. In some instances, the sleepwalker may become violent by attacking those that try to wake him or her up. Stress and alcohol abuse are aggravating factors that may worsen sleepwalking, a condition of which the causes are difficult to define. In addition, some patients may have a genetic predisposition to this disease. In Europe for example, 10 to 20% of the population suffers from sleepwalking. In some countries like Sweden sleepwalking reaches a high proportion of 40%.
Sleepwalking occurs during the first third of the sleep cycle. During REM sleep – the phase during which the subject dreams – the body is asleep while the brain is operating at full capacity. Sleepwalking can be regular, risky or manifest itself through night terrors. Regular sleepwalking rarely lasts for more than 10 minutes, a time frame during which the affected person may perform mundane tasks such as organizing a cabinet or sitting on his or her bed. He or she may use the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to answer questions asked by a third party. Risky sleepwalking is very similar to this type of pathology, although its duration may easily exceed 20 minutes. A patient handling sharp or blunt objects can become dangerous.
In some cases, the sleepwalker may jump out the window. Night terrors usually occur in children aged from 5 to 10 years old. The phenomenon occurs after the first phase of sleep and is characterized by anxiety attacks. The affected person may be subject to a heart episode and start screaming. Unfortunately, this type of sleepwalking is best known for falls from windows.
Sleepwalking is usually caused by external factors such as stress, or the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or drugs. It is necessary to consult a homeopath to determine the causes of the phenomenon. Hypnosis has also proven to yield good results and help alleviate the attacks. Among the recommended homoeopathic remedies, one can include Kalium bromate 9 CH, Natrum muriaticum 9 CH and Silicea 9 CH. Before going to bed, the patient should take 3 pellets of these remedies. It is advisable to drink soothing herbal teas, such as chamomile or passionflower, as they are renowned for their anti-stress properties. By taking homeopathic products, the patient will experience a much more peaceful sleep and the attacks will gradually start to fade away. To treat severe cases of night terrors, the homeopath may prescribe intakes of Natrum muriaticum for a time period lasting nearly six months.
• Cina
• Kalium Bromatum
• Silicea
