Chromotherapy – How Color Therapy Works
Color therapy relies on hues and light to treat mental and physical ailments. The therapy is believed to be beneficial for humans. The treatment is based on the idea that colors affect a person’s health and mental well-being.
Humans react immediately to colors. Each color influences your body, physically and mentally. Color therapy applies a holistic approach to curing illnesses. It doesn’t rely on prescription medication.
There are nine frequencies, and each has nine colors. Each color addresses a physical and psychological ailment.
Interior designers believe color affects emotions. According to Frontiers in Psychology, color influences cognition, or knowledge processing through thoughts, experiences, and the senses.
What Is Color Therapy?
Color therapy, also known as “chromotherapy,” is used to cure mental and physical ailments. It dates back to ancient Egypt when people sat in sun-filled rooms with colored glasses for therapeutic purposes.
Chances are you’ve felt a mental boost after gazing at colors. The centuries-old theory employs visible colors emitted by electromagnetic radiation to cure physical and psychological conditions.
In 1958, US scientist Robert Gerard found that color affects blood pressure, appetite, and irritability. He also found that red excites and worries us while blue encourages calmness.
Many medical professionals dismiss this therapeutic model because they believe it just delivers a placebo effect. “When I recommended light as a therapeutic method, I was met with a lot of hostility,” says Mohab Ibrahim, Ph.D., MD, associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson.
Chromotherapy isn’t recognized in the West as a serious medical treatment option.
Color Therapy in Walk-In Tubs & Showers
Most high-end walk-in baths and showers are fitted with LED lighting. Brands like American Standard, Safe Step, and Kohler make walk-in tubs with chromotherapy features. Through pre-programmed settings, these lighting systems can enhance the whole spa experience with chromotherapy. Chromotherapy in walk-in bathtubs works by restoring internal energy balance to create natural healing.
The feature helps relax our minds and provides stress relief. Seek the advice of a professional color therapist for better outcomes. They will assist you in determining which colors will be helpful to your treatment.
What Evidence Backs Up Color Therapy?
Color therapy is safe and non-invasive. Ancient cultures in China, India, and Egypt utilized it to treat skin cancer, psoriasis, and rickets. When Swiss psychologist Dr. Max Lüscher devised the Lüscher-Color-Diagnostic test in the twentieth century, color therapy became more widespread.
During the assessment, the participant must choose eight colored bottles in the order of their preference. The outcomes are claimed to show your concerns and their remedy.
“Bright light therapy treats mood and emotional illnesses like depression, while green light reduces migraine symptoms,” says Padma Gulur, MD, an anesthesiology professor and population health executive vice chair at Duke University.
Color therapy specialist Denise Turner explains, “Its effects are sometimes surprisingly obvious: we feel invigorated by bright, warm colors and calmed by our favorite cool hues.”
Turner says it’s safe for adults, children, newborns, and animals. You can use it alone or alongside mainstream therapies. According to psychologist Ingrid Collins, chromotherapy impacts our energy.
“We know that human cells are formed of atoms and that each atom has moving energy particles,” she says. “We are made of energy and information; therefore, when we add color to our life, we add energy.”
Color Therapy Types
Blue
Blue light exposure at night boosts alertness and improves reaction time by suppressing the release of melatonin, which delays the circadian cycle.
Because blue lowers blood pressure and pulse rate, we associate it with calmness and relaxation. “We sleep better, think straighter, and have greater energy when we’re not in fight or flight mode,” says Turner.
According to research, blue light may also enhance your mood during the day. Blue is believed to reduce depression and pain. Darker blues also have sedative properties and may be used to alleviate insomnia.
Green
Green is the color of nature. It’s a stress reliever. Studies suggest that green is beneficial to the heart and respiratory system. Yellow and blue combine to make green.
Green sits in the middle of the color wheel. It promotes serenity and healing. It also helps with creativity while balancing emotions.
Yellow
According to research, yellow has the most psychological influence. It’s among the colors that help with anxiety and depression. Yellow boosts your mood and makes you happier and more cheerful.
Turner describes yellow as “the happiest of colors.” “Yellow is also the first hue that the human eye detects, which is why school buses and traffic signs are painted yellow.”
The color promotes self-esteem and creativity. Yellow has a revitalizing influence that stimulates consciousness. It strengthens the nerves while reducing confusion and depression.
Orange
In color therapy and art, orange heals sexual energy and the sacral or second chakra. It’s connected with appreciation, creativity, and happiness.
Orange increases productivity. The color is associated with inventiveness and self-assurance. It’s also energizing and inspires people to be more social.
Red
Red stimulates those suffering from exhaustion or depression. Red activates the Root Chakra at the spine’s base. It enables the adrenal glands to release adrenalin, creating additional strength.
Red represents healing and restores energy to low blood pressure patients. Red, also aggravates tense people.
Getting Started With Color Therapy
Color infiltrates the human body via skin and eyes. Warm colors are stimulating. Cold colors have a calming effect. Color therapy is viable in two ways.
You can apply chromotherapy by looking at a color, which will trigger a physical response. As a second application method, use different hues on specific body parts.
Color therapy relies on frequencies and wavelengths. Each frequency impacts people differently and is used for various purposes.
Color therapy remains scientifically unproven. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. Color therapy offers short-term relief and is not a cure-all.
When starting color therapy, avoid blue light at night. According to research, the blue light emitted by phones or laptops interferes with sleep quality.