Night Terrors in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different night terrors patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Night terrors, also known as sleep terrors or nighttime panics, are a sleep disorder causing feelings of terror or dread. Typically occurring in the first few hours of night sleep, they involve sudden arousal from sleep with a piercing scream or cry, intense fear, and a state of panic.
Unlike nightmares, individuals experiencing night terrors usually don't recall the episode in detail. Night terrors are more common in children but can affect adults as well. These episodes are distinct from typical nightmares and can be quite distressing to both the individual and their family.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches night terrors as a symptom of underlying imbalances within the body's energy systems. Contrasting with the Western focus on psychological and neurological aspects, TCM considers night terrors a manifestation of disharmony in the body’s Qi (vital energy), Blood, and organ systems. TCM emphasizes identifying the specific pattern of disharmony leading to these episodes, viewing them as a signal of deeper issues that need to be addressed holistically.
Herbal Formulas for Night Terrors
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address night terrors