Change The Colour of Your Day
Author: Chloe Taylor
While it might be still considered a pseudoscience, Chromotherapy (or simply put, colour therapy) is a form of therapy that uses colour and light to treat certain mental and physical health conditions, and it is gaining momentum.
Colour has been investigated as medicine since 2000 BC, with the Egyptians utilizing sunlight as well as colour for healing. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, the art of chromotherapy was discovered by the god Thoth. In the hermetic traditions, the ancient Egyptians and Greeks used coloured minerals, stones, crystals, salves and dyes as remedies and painted treatment sanctuaries in various shades of colours. The ancient Ayurvedic physician Charaka, who lived in the sixth century BC, recommended sunlight to treat a variety of diseases. (1)
Avicenna (AD 980) advanced the practice of chromotherapy. He made clear the vital importance of colour in both diagnosis and treatment. According to Avicenna, ‘Colour is an observable symptom of disease.’ He also developed a chart that related colour to temperature and physical condition of the body. He used colour treatment with the view that red moved the blood, blue or white cooled it and yellow reduced muscular pain and inflammation. (1)
Differing to Chromotherapy, is the more commonly accepted Colour psychology, where colour is observed to have an influence on human behaviour and emotions.
One prominent researcher in the field was Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who is quoted saying: “colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious.” His studies led him to develop art therapy, as he believed that expressing oneself through images and colours could help patients recover from trauma or distress.
Either way, colour can play a significant role in how you show up in the world.
When asked, many people don't know why they love the colour blue, but subconsciously it may actually be because it can have large positive effects on your mental and physical well-being.
Chromotherapists use blue to try and influence depression and pain. Darker shades of blue are also thought to have sedative properties and may be tried for people who experience insomnia or other sleeping disorders.
In colour therapy, it is believed that different colours are able to impact the body differently and colour psychology can impact the mind and emotions.
Red:
Is believed to increase circulation and stimulate the body and mind.
Red can be used to energize or invigorate a person who might be feeling tired or down. However, red may also trigger people who might already be tense.
Green:
Green is the colour of nature, and according to chromatherapists, it can help relieve stress and relax a person. Nature therapy is another fascinating field.
Yellow:
Is thought to purify the body and helps the nerves.
Yellow can be used to improve your mood and make you happier and more optimistic.
Think sunshine and bright, happy days!
Orange:
Orange, much like yellow, can be used to elicit happy emotions from people. The bright warm colour is also thought to be able to stimulate appetite and mental activity.
Although colour therapy doesn’t serve as a definitive treatment for any mental or physical health conditions, it certainly can’t hurt to start paying attention to how your mind and body respond to different colours.
For example, you might be feeling a little meh, and then you realise you are wearing all grey or dark clothes. Switching your top to a lighter or brighter colour can actually help you to stand up taller and energise your mood and posture.
Exploring colour can be fun and interesting, however, it is also important to remember that reactions to colour can also be highly personal. Past experiences can shape how people feel about and respond to different colours, this is ok, we are all different people all with different preferences and personal histories.
Colour psychology plays a huge role in marketing and buying trends also. Think for a moment about some of the big players in this arena.
Coke and McDonalds are both extremely successful brands, who always stay on point. The fun yellow curves of the golden arches were not created by accident. The strong, bold ‘leader of the pack’ colours used in all of Coke’s branding has been built on the back of emotional desire- energy, pick me up, and confidence. Many banks use blue to illicit trust and a sense of calm.
Have you noticed how you are drawn in by different colours? Have you experimented with your wardrobe or your surroundings by changing up the colours?
We invite you to play around with colour and take note of how it affects you, who knows- you might be able to make some pretty impactful changes with very minimal effort.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The author and publisher make no guarantees or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this article, and any reliance on the information is strictly at your own risk. You can find our full Disclaimer here.
1. Azeemi ST, Raza SM. A critical analysis of chromotherapy and its scientific evolution. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 Dec;2(4):481-8. doi: 10.1093/ecam/neh137. PMID: 16322805; PMCID: PMC1297510.