COLOR THERAPY

Color Therapy: Effect of Color and Your Moods

Even an individual's preference for one color over another may be related to the way that color makes the individual feel.

Clearly, the colors you choose for your clothes and for your home, office, car, and other surroundings can have a profound effect on you. This is where you can use "chromotherapy", or "color therapy" to plan to use colors to your advantage in different environments and situations.

Colors have been known to ease stress, to fill you with energy, and even to alleviate pain and other physical problems. This idea, should be noted, is far from new. In fact, the "color your world" concept is part of the ancient Chinese design and color therapy technique "feng shui".

Color can be described as light--visible radiant energy of certain wavelengths. Photoreceptors in the retina, called cones, translate this energy into colors. The retina contains three kinds of cones: one for blue, one for green, and one for red. We perceive other colors by combining these colors.

According to Dr. Alexander Schauss, director of the American Institute for Biosocial Research in Tacoma, Washington, when the energy of color enters our bodies, it stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands. This in turn affects the production
of certain hormones, which in turn affect a variety
of physiological processes.

This explains why color has been found to have such a direct influence on our thoughts, mood, and behavior. (an influence that many experts believe is distinctly separate from psychological and cultural factors)

Remarkably, color seems to have an effect even on blind people, who are thought to sense color as a result of energy vibrations created within the body.

Color Therapy Guide

Another of nature's most abundant colors, green, like blue, has a soothing and relaxing effect on the body as well as on the mind. People who are depressed or anxious can benefit from green surroundings. Green also helps nervous disorders, exhaustion, heart problems, and cancer. Green may also be a good environmental color for the dieter.

Soothing green color therapy: Green promotes harmony. Special effects: According to Leatrice Eisman, author and founder of Colors for Your Every Mood, studies as far back as the 30's show that green induces calm by relaxing muscles and quieting nerve impulses.

Like blue and green, violet creates a peaceful environment. Violet also suppresses the appetite and is good for scalp and kidney problems and for migraine headaches.

Get creative with purple: Purple reigns as the shade of imagination. Color Therapy Effects: Boosts intuition, enhances spirituality. Da Vinci believed meditation benefits tenfold in violet light.

The red color stimulates, excites, and warms the body. Red increases the heart rate, brain wave activity, and respiration. The color of passion and energy, red is also good for impotence and frigidity, as well as for anemia, bladder infections, and skin problems. Those who have poor coordination should avoid wearing the color red. In addition, people suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure) should avoid rooms with red decor, as this can cause their blood pressure to rise. Conversely, red has good effect on hypotension (low blood pressure).

Red color therapy is energy!: The perennial power hue is associated with physical strength. Special effects: Crimson gets your adrenaline flowing (red affects the pituitary gland).

Pink has a soothing effect on the body, relaxing the muscles. It has been found to have tranquilizing effect on aggressive and violent people, pink is often used in prisons, hospitals, juvenile and drug centers.
Those suffering from anxiety or withdrawal symptoms can benefit from pink surroundings. Pink is also a good color for the bedroom, where it can help evoke feelings of romance.

Orange is the color of choice for stimulating the appetite and reducing fatigue. Use this color in place mats and table cloths, for instance-to encourage a finicky eater or to pique the appetite of a person who is ill. This color should be avoided by those who are trying to lose weight.
If you are feeling tired or run down, try wearing an orange garment to lift your energy level. General weakness, allergies, and constipation may also improve.

Yellow is the most memorable of all colors. Whenever you want to remember something, jot it down on yellow paper. This color also raises the blood pressure and increases the pulse rate, but to a lesser degree than red does. As the color of sunshine, yellow's color therapy has a energizing effect; it can help relieve depression.
A chromotherapist may use this color to treat muscle cramps, hypoglycemia, overactive thyroid, and gallstones. (That's why the first (original color of) "sticky notes" were yellow")!

Get going with yellow: Sunny shades work to boost mental energy. Effects: Yellow is considered a stimulant; it's associated with daylight and prepares the mind and body for activity.

Black is the "power" color. Try wearing black clothes for a feeling of strength and self-confidence. Black also suppresses the appetite. If you want to lose weight, cover your dining table with a black tablecloth.

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