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Colour is everywhere! We are fortunate to live on a
planet where the colours of Nature are so varied and
vibrant. Think, for instance, of the diversity of colours
in flowers, trees, birds, the sky, the sea, a sunrise or
sunset. The range is spectacular.
Add to this our own contribution of inks, paints, dyes
and coloured lights, and we can appreciate that our visual
sense is bombarded by colour every day.
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believe that it is possible to use colour to treat a
variety of conditions, and this has given rise to the
practice of Chromotherapy, also known as Colour Therapy.
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Colour is important to us all in many ways, for
example as guides or warning signs and signals. Where
would we be without our traffic lights?
But colour also plays a
large part in fashion, home decor, advertising, ... the
list is endless! However, is our individual choice of
colour purely a matter of personal taste or is there a
greater significance to our preferences?
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We often feel better
surrounded by the greenery of plants and open spaces. The
warm summer sun lifts our mood, and the blue of the sky is
very calming. We decide on a certain colour of dress or
shirt on a particular day. Can colour be having a deeper
effect on our mind, body and spirit?
Theory of colour therapy
Colour therapists certainly think so! They believe
that light can be used to correct an imbalance in any of
the seven chakras or energy points of the body, which if
left untreated would lead to ill-health. The
theory is that different colours vibrate at different
rates and when the right colour of light is applied to the
'out of kilter' chakra it helps restore the balance and so bring about healing.
It is
thought, however, that colours can have both a positive and a
negative effect on the body, so it is important to get the
right amount of exposure during treatment to encourage
healing.
Using
colour therapy to bring balance and harmony into our
everyday life need not be limited to coloured light
treatment. Practitioners believe that wearing certain
colours can have a positive effect on our mood as well as
relieving many everyday ailments (see Colour
Therapy Guide). Very
often we are instinctively drawn to a particular colour,
which turns out to be beneficial to us in some way, or
else can be used as an indication of an underlying
problem. Interestingly, the renowned romance novelist
Barbara Cartland was always seen wearing pink chiffon
outfits. In colour therapy terms, 'Pink' is the colour of
love, romance and nurturing!
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Its history
Using colour for health benefits is not a new idea.
Evidence has shown its practice in the Ancient Worlds of
China, Egypt and Greece. This generally took the form of
using naturally coloured minerals and dyes. Treatment also
used coloured glass, which the sun would shine through
onto the patient. It was believed that colour restored the
balance to the four main organs of the body - the heart,
liver, brain and spleen, thereby improving health.
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Research
Since then physicians through the ages have been
experimenting with colour therapy, many achieving apparent
success. More recently, Max Lüscher's investigations led
him to believe that our colour choices reflect our
physical and psychological state. He devised a test, using
eight colours, now known as 'Lüscher's Theory', which is
widely used in the diagnosis of stress-related illnesses.
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Modern
research has found that red light increases blood pressure
and that flashing red lights can relieve migraine attacks.
Blue light has the effect of lowering blood pressure and
has also proved effective in pain relief from rheumatoid
arthritis. With results like these, along with much
positive anecdotal evidence, there is obviously the need
for more scientific research.
Colour
therapy is rapidly increasing in popularity and many would
wish to see it added to the list of complementary
treatments, alongside reflexology and acupuncture.
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Is colour therapy another
example of Mother Nature pointing the way to a happier,
healthier life?
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Try it for yourself with our Colour
Therapy Guide
and see if it works for
you. |
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