So what is color therapy and how does it work? Let’s have a quick introductory course on color therapy and how it can help you in your everyday life.
Everything in our lives has some sort of power over us. What we hear can be either distracting or inspiring. The same goes with taste, feel, smell, and then of course color.
Because all these things are bombarding our senses every second of every day, it can be quite overwhelming. This is where color therapy comes in.
Today, let’s have a quick introductory course on what is color therapy and how you can implement it into your life.
Let’s look at the effect different colors can have on our attitudes and emotions. You’ll also learn about how colors are used to treat certain issues and how we can benefit from each different shade.
What Is Color Therapy
The Science Behind Color
Did you know that the human eye can detect more than 10 million different shades of color? Even more impressive is that we can distinguish between nearly 1000 shades and tones.
This incredible ability is what gives our world richness and depth. It intensifies the already varied spectrum of colors in our everyday lives.
Black And White
For us to experience color, we must have light. There are two basic principles to light: white and black.
White light reflects all the wavelengths in the spectrum in an equal fashion. It doesn’t absorb any of them.
Remember as a kid when we used to hold a prism up to sunlight? The white light filters out as a rainbow.
Black is the complete opposite of white. It absorbs all the wavelengths of light and reflects none.
Light Rays
Every light ray consists of some type of color. Each color is made up of electromagnetic waves.
The distance between identical points on two consecutive waves is called a wavelength. This is what defines the color our eyes see. The longest wavelength a human eye can detect is red, whereas the shortest is violet.
Infrared is even longer and ultraviolet is much shorter than plain violet. Our eyes are unable to pick up either of these, even though almost all animals can recognize either one or both. We can, however, feel the heat they emit.
How Does Color Therapy Work
Color therapy is sometimes referred to as chromotherapy. It’s a branch of complementary medicine that uses the colors of the spectrum to treat a wide range of health issues.
It can also be used for daily relaxation practice and overall mental wellness.
The science behind it is that each color gives off a different electrical impulse in the brain. Each impulse spurs on biochemical and hormonal processes. In response to these processes, we exhibit different emotions.
This type of therapy is safe and effective for people of all ages. It can be used on its own or along with other types of therapies—both traditional and complementary.
The Chakra System
Chromotherapy has been practiced for thousands of years. Ancient practitioners discovered that the body contained seven main energy hubs or chakras. From there came the chakra system, which matched certain colors to certain chakras, according to their wavelengths.
The chakra system helped shape modern color therapy as we know it today. It’s also helped form the basis for color psychology, which is a great tool used in many industries.
How Colors Affect Our Daily Lives
Studies show how colors affect the way we grasp new information and process thoughts. Furthermore, they can affect our levels of alertness and creativity.
Even slight differences in shades can evoke different feelings. For example, a bright, light shade of blue is used to evoke feelings of relaxation. Think of being at the beach on a clear, sunny day.
Now, close your eyes and picture a shade of deep, navy blue. Did your emotions shift to something more formal and conventional?
That’s the power of color!
Color Psychology
Here’s a quick look at the seven main colors of the spectrum.
Red
The color red symbolizes the first chakra, aka the root. It encourages drive, passion, and warmth.
Red boosts blood flow and energy. The long wavelengths make us feel safe and secure. They also allow us to feel confident enough to do anything.
Orange
The second chakra, the sacral, is linked to the orange. It generates a sensation of warmth, creativity, and sensuality.
Orange encourages us to brainstorm and come with new, innovative ideas.
It’s also used to stimulate joy and vitality.
Yellow
The solar plexus is represented by the color yellow. It signifies optimism, happiness, and positive mental energy.
Yellow is used to boost self-esteem, healthy digestion, and uplifts our moods. Its bright, lively shade brings acceptance and ambition.
Green
Green is the universal color for healing, growth, and rejuvenation. It’s associated with the heart, the fourth chakra.
Almost all the various shades of green help bolster the immune system. It also helps enhance the brain-body connection, which is why it’s considered to be the most therapeutic color of them all.
Blue
Blue is connected to feelings of peace, fidelity, and faith. This is where the fifth chakra resides, or the throat.
In color therapy, blue is applied to improve good communication and trust. It helps create a safe space where ideas flow freely. It also lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
Indigo
Indigo is associated with wisdom, loyalty, and spirituality. It’s the sixth chakra, home of the third eye.
The color indigo is good for developing inner clarity and a sense of calm. It can regulate our circadian rhythms, which is why it’s used to treat insomnia, as well as certain types of headaches.
Violet
Violet is the crown chakra. It’s the color of peace and tranquility.
When used in color therapy, violet can help coordinate between the two hemispheres of our brains. It also reduces stress and anxiety by providing us with a sense of balance.
So it is a good idea to remember color therapy when using color in your home too.
Judging from the information above, a bedroom done in blue will help you to relax, while an office done in orange or red will help you with your passion, drive, and creativity, especially if you are an entrepreneur.
Thanks for sharing this amazing and colorful article with us all. I have to say that I found this to be well written, Informative, and extremely interesting as I was not aware that there was any such a thing as color therapy. It makes you wonder if it could be therapeutical having graphics at raves and stuff.
I would imagine it could be if used in the right way Kwidzin.
Wow, all these facts are super interesting! I hadn’t a clue there was such a thing as color therapy and that the human eye can see so much color! Mind-blowing!
Colour has always been interesting and I knew there was more behind how color can affect our moods so I think I’m going to look into this topic more for sure!
Hi and thanks for sharing this. It is an interesting subject but I could well imagine that there is an art and a skill to using color therapy techniques in a therapeutic setting. Are there any books that you would recommend on this subject? Also is color therapy something that an individual could try on themselves or is it preferable to seek someone who is trained in the area? Thanks and best regards, Andy
Yes, there are many resources available online, both free and paid. I would experiment for myself first by trying it out in a room in your house and seeing how it makes you feel.
Wow, colour therapy, what an eye opener regarding how colour can influence our moods, emotions, relaxation etc.. I can personally relate to this through the clothes I wear. Certain bright colours reflect happiness, joy, fearlessness, confidence. Wearing dark colours reflect a more formal and subdued attitude for me. This is how I see colour and it’s effects in general. I enjoyed reading about each colour and what chakras they eminate from. We learn something new each day. Thank you for this interesting article.
Thanks for a very informative and interesting article. I am familiar with the chakra system and know how important life force energy is to flow throughout the system. I have always been fascinated by all the different holistic healing therapies, I studied crystal therapy and advanced aromatherapy, clearing chakra systems to restore vitality is the best for healing the body mind and soul. I believe in color therapy, what you stated in your article is spot on, I have not practiced color therapy yet but find it very interesting. I am an artist too and work with many different color pigments, they all have a different effect on the brain. Sometimes I feel like creating with soft pastel colors and sometimes I feel like creating with bright colors, some colors are soothing and some colors are screaming, we all have emotional connections to colors, perhaps this is why individuals have different favorite colors. Thanks for sharing a great article.
Thanks for stopping by to comment Carola. It is always great to get more input from the experts in the field.
Could I get permission to post parts of your article on my Blog, if I give you credit for it?
Yes of course, a simple link back to my site would be great.