Hearty or late suppers frequently cause disturbed sleep, and
sometimes sleeplessness. The use of coffee and tea, late rising in the morning,
strong mental emotions, reading, writing, and mental application, during the
evening, are among the chief causes of this derangement.
Treatment
If sleeplessness or disturbed sleep, arises either from
eating too much at supper, or from late suppers, let the patient avoid the
former, and abandon forever the Katter, and take Pulsatilla
about one hour before retiring. Give Aconite
when sleeplessness is caused by mental anxiety, or by alarming events, fear,
fright, or chagrin, especially if there is fullness of the head.
Give Belladonna
one hour before retiring, when the patient feels sleepy, but on sleep follows;
also when he cannot restrain his thoughts; and when frightful visions occur
during sleep.
Nux Vomica is the
proper remedy when the sleeplessness is caused by thinking, reading, or writing
late at night, and when all sorts of ideas crowd upon the patient’s mind; it is
especially useful in the case of coffee-drinkers, and of those who use
alcoholic and fermented drinks.
Ignatia, when the
sleeplessness is caused by grief, sadness care, mental anxiety, and depressing
emotions. Opium will be required for
the sleeplessness of aged people also give it to others if Aconite does not relieve this symptom, when
it is caused by fear or fright.
Give Hyoscyamus
when sleeplessness occurs during the progress of fevers and other disease or
while recovering from them. If it fails, select some other remedy.
For sleeplessness of young children, give Aconite, especially when there is fever or
restlessness, and if the symptoms are not relieved in an hour, give coffea; repeat these remedies if necessary. Belladonna may be given if the child cries
without apparent cause; and if there is sudden starting or twitching which is
not relieved by it, give Chamomilla. Give
Chamomilla when the child is trouble
with colic, or earache, and if it fails give Belladonna.
Repeat the dose of either medicine every hour until relief follows.
