Color as a form of therapy is not a new
concept. In it, electromagnetic waves in the form of the visible spectrum (that
we interpret as colors) are used to cure various body illnesses. It is an
ancient mode of therapy that is being reinvented. There are attempts to
elucidate its scientific basis and explanation. This would help to explore and
discover newer dimensions of this old remedy.
Color therapy (Chromotherapy)
Newton talked about solid matter and moving
objects while Einstein found out that mass and energy are dual expressions of
the same universal substance. It is the vibration rate of its molecules that
determines its form. When slow, it is physical matter and when the vibrations
are intense it is energy. Thus, light is an energy and when it interacts with
matter, color is formed. Each color has its own wavelength, frequency, and
energy level. And human eye is adapted to see only this energy that has a
wavelength between 380-780 nm. This is therefore, the visible spectrum or also
called the visible light! These colors are mainly Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green,
Yellow, Orange, and Red.
The main stream of science and medicine
uses surgery or chemicals to treat a person or diseased part of body. But
chemicals have known side-effects. The contemporary medicine only treats
symptoms and tries to suppress them or alter them. But it does not consider a
body as part of the universe that is acting in harmony with it. Thus diseased
life energies are ignored. Color therapy tries to target this part of the
person and disease and thus complements main stream of medicine. |
| Chromotherapy (Source: Glow sauna studios) |
We are surrounded by light and these
electromagnetic waves and cannot ignore them. In fact, with the rise in use of
these energies in the form of cell phones and electronic gadgets their
influence on human health has increased. The balance of the energy around us
has been changed and we need to set it right with chromotherapy.
Science of color therapy
It is believed that we exist in harmony
with the colors around us. Every part of our body has a distinctive color that
matches with it and that part functions well with that color. Its vibratory
frequency is with that color. When the body stops vibrating in its normal
frequency range, it gets diseased and stops functioning well. At that
particular time, external vibrations in the form of color can set it right. And
here the role of the various colors of chromotherapy comes in. The color helps
to restore the normal frequency of the body organ and hence cures the ailment. |
| Color as a form of treatment (Source: Aetherius) |
This light energy lies between the
ultraviolet and infrared wave zones and helps to heal the diseased body part.
It affects not only the physical body but also the etheric bodies around our
own body. Colors produce electrical impulses and also magnetic waves around
them that primarily activate the hormonal and biochemical processes in the
body. They either stimulate or suppress their secretions and cause
normalization of the tissues.
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The evolution of color therapy
All the old and ancient civilizations of
the world have some evidence of use of phototherapy for treatment of various
body ailments. Greece, China, Egypt, and India have been using this form of
treatment but without knowing the exact basis of it. It probably started as a
medicine in 2000 BC. But at that time, only te primary colors namely red,
yellow and blue were used. This was also in the form of gems and crystals of
various colors that were used for healing purposes. But it could not develop as
a proper science.
Avicenna in 980 AD advanced this art of
healing further. His thinking was that red made blood move, blue or white
cooled it and yellow was good for muscles and inflammation. After him, this art
of color therapy remained silent for a while. It was Pleasanton in 1876 who
started using blue as the first aid for injuries, aches, and also burns. He
also suggested that blue and green can help to increase the quantity and size
of grapes and other plant products. Hassan in 1999 also felt the same and used
this color extensively in his practice.
Edwin Babbitt made a comprehensive review
of this therapy. He stated that red was a stimulant for blood and to a lesser
extent for nerves. Yellow and orange were predominantly nerve stimulants. And
blue and violet were cool and soothing for all organs and possessed
anti-inflammatory qualities. He suggested that red be used for paralysis.
Chronic rheumatism, and physical exhaustion, yellow as a purgative and emetic
and for bronchial problems, blue for inflammatory disorders, meningitis,
sciatica, headaches, sunstrokes, and irritability of any kind. He invented
several devices to offer color therapy to his patients. He talked about
reflection, absorption, transmission, and polarization of light and cited
examples of him healing his patients with various diseases. He made elixirs and
also used minerals in his therapy. Thus, he used direct and indirect forms of
color for healing.
Ghadiali (1927) carried forward this work.
He also talked about color treatment in a more scientific way. He said that
color bands are produced when a chemical substance is either burned or
vaporized and this emission are the Fraunhauafer lines. This is chemical
specific and can be used to identify the chemical with a photospectrometer.
Takkata and Ott also contributed towards development of this science.
Overall, color therapy is evolving and is
safe, simple, economical and also effective. But until more studies are done,
it should be kept as a complementary medicine. Gerard (1970) also studied in-depth
of color psychology and used color in treatment of mental ailments.
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