Night Terrors in Children

How Chinese medicine differentiates night terrors in children, the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs, and using gentle pediatric technique.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Needling in children uses gentle technique (light stimulation, minimal retention, sometimes acupressure/Shonishin instead) from a practitioner experienced with pediatric care. Frequent or worsening episodes should also be assessed medically.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for night terrors in children — 7 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
HE-7	Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices, nourishes Heart-Blood.
P-6	Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, regulates Stomach-Qi.
ST-44	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin, calms the Mind.
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Heart Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A bright red, flushed face; mouth or tongue ulcers with red edges; thirst with desire for cold drinks; irritability and anxiety during the day; sudden fearful screaming at night.

Tongue: Red body with a markedly redder tip, swollen red points or prickles at the tip, yellow dry coating. Pulse: Rapid and forceful, strongest at the left front (Heart) position.

Treatment principle: Clear Heart-Fire, nourish Yin.

HE-7 ↓ P-6 ↓ EX-HN16 (Anmian) ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Heart-Fire blazing.

2. Food Stagnation in the Stomach View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Upper abdominal bloating and distending pain; sour, rotten-smelling belching; worse after eating, especially heavy meals; loss of appetite; foul-smelling flatulence or loose stools.

Tongue: Normal body, thick greasy or curd-like coating, thickest in the centre. Pulse: Slippery, especially forceful at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Promote digestion, resolve food stagnation, harmonize the Stomach.

ST-36 ⊥ Ren-12 ↓ ST-44 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Retention of Food in the Stomach.

3. Spleen Yang Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dull abdominal pain improving with warmth and pressure; cold hands and feet; poor appetite with abdominal bloating; loose, watery stools or undigested food; tiredness and listlessness.

Tongue: Pale, puffy, tender with scalloped edges, white slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, slow, weak, especially at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Warm the Middle Burner, disperse Cold, tonify Qi.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ HE-7 ↑

Note: gentle moxa applicable. Direct match with Spleen-Yang deficiency.

4. Liver Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sudden night terrors with screaming and a flushed face; intense daytime irritability and a quick temper; red, painful or burning eyes; a bitter taste in the mouth; a dry mouth and throat craving cold drinks; constipation and dark yellow urine.

Tongue: Red body with redder sides, dry yellow coating, possible red prickles. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, often forceful at the left Guan position.

Treatment principle: Drain excess Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder, clear Heat from the Liver channel.

LR-3 ↓ HE-7 ↓ EX-HN-3 (Yintang) ↓ EX-HN16 (Anmian) ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Liver-Fire blazing.

Related conditions

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