Can you imagine living in a world of only shades of black and white?  Who remembers early television shows, the little black and white tube?  The whole idea seems boring, shades of grey.  Color is something most people truly take for granted. Color not only has a visual language of its own, but it also has a very real, scientific psychological and physiologic impact on all living things.  

What does that mean?  

Simply stated, all living things respond to color. Color is made up of different wavelengths of light.  Each wavelength vibrates at different speeds (called frequency), and each frequency carries energy. When light reflects a shade of color to our body (through eyes or skin) an impulse "message" is sent to our brain.  Our bodies react to these different impulses, both physically and psychologically, by releasing hormones and chemicals.  This produces physical body changes such as changes in temperature, sleep habits, or metabolism rates.  

Let’s look at a few colors and see their proven effects.  

RED - Actually stimulates a faster heartbeat, respirations, blood pressure and sexual glands. It escalates the body's metabolism.  

BLUE - Provides a calming effect, because the body produces more calming chemicals.  It reduces blood pressure, relieves pain and nervousness, and even has anti-bacterial and anti-infection relationships.  

YELLOW - A strong stimulant that activates motor nerves. It strengthens the nerves and aids the brain, thus associated with intellect and cheerfulness.  It has a cleansing effect and is very effective in the immune system and digestive tract.  Too much yellow is exhausting.  

GREEN - A sedative, acting on the nervous system.  It relieves tension in the blood vessels, dilates capillaries and produces a sensation of warmth.  Green also promotes growth, and healthy bones.  

PURPLE - Stimulates emotion. Purple provides balance and equilibrium.  It is good for menopause, migraines and is an appetite suppressant.  It promotes spirituality and a peaceful environment.  

ORANGE - An energizer.  Orange signifies generosity, pleasure and a warming feeling.  It stimulates the digestive system, boosts the immune system, increases circulation and raises blood pressure.   

Now we have some idea of how color influences different parts of the body.  This is not a new concept.  Using color to heal and aid the sick is a practice that has been around for centuries.  

Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used colored minerals, stones and dyes as remedies, and they painted treatment sanctuaries in 'appropriate' colors.  During the Middle Ages, those traditional practices were persecuted, and the practices became hidden.  Eventually, by the eighteenth century, science was at the forefront and in the early nineteenth century physical medicine, surgery and antiseptics were by far the accepted practice over healing with color.  

Recent applications of color therapy include subjecting a person or specific parts of the body to a specific 'wavelength' of color. Methods range from staring at a piece of colored art paper to sophisticated use of ultraviolet light and colored lasers.   

Color is used therapeutically in non-medical settings also.  

Many have heard of the findings that because pink has been found to be tranquilizing, suppressing aggressive and anxious behavior, that pink holding cells are widely used to reduce violent behavior among prisoners.  

Color tinted eyeglasses have been found highly effective in treating some learning disabilities, including dyslexia.  

Viewing red light increases strength by 13.5 percent, thus it is used to enhance an athlete’s performance.  The red light approach has served well for short bursts of energy, but blue light therapy supports steady longer term output.  

When you are experiencing an uncomfortable situation, think about taking a short break and find an appropriate colored object to focus on for a few minutes.  Learn how each color affects you personally. Color therapy really can effectively give you the boost you are looking for.  

For more information, our news page contains some suggested reading links.  http://www.colortools.com/news.htm