American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper sang True Colours to inspire people not to shy away from showing their true individual selves. But colours can not only figuratively reflect one’s nature, even literally they can be indicative of one’s psychological and physical traits and health, say medical experts.
In fact, there is a branch of holistic treatment called chromotherapy or colour therapy that uses the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to treat various physical and mental health issues.
How does chromotherapy work?
“Colours used in chromotherapy are found in the visible colour spectrum (VIBGYOR) and are perceived as wavelengths. It is composed of primary colours red, yellow and blue and colours derived from them (green, orange, violet, indigo). They are placed between the ultraviolet and the infrared ranges of energy or vibrations. For treatment purpose, these colours with their unique wavelengths, when combined with a light source and directed to the affected organs, provide the required healing energy,” says Dr A Naveen Jyothi, medical officer at the Telangana State Government’s Nature Cure Hospital (TNCH), where chromotherapy is offered as a mode of treatment along with many other therapies.
Explaining further, she says, “As per published medical literature, colours generate electrical impulses and magnetic currents or fields of energy that activate the biochemical and hormonal processes in the body and provide the required stimulants to balance the entire system and organs. Each colour photon has its own wavelength frequency. The body recognizes these waveforms and responds to them. Also the seven chakras (energy flow ducts) in our body are associated with different colours. Each colour gives us a certain amount of energy, manifesting as creativity, motivation, happiness, peaceful sleep etc.”
“All vital organs have direct connection with the skin through arteries, blood vessels and capillaries and colour rays can affect the entire blood stream through circulation and elimination of toxins. When colours pierce the body, they can detect the deficiencies and try to feed the body with the required energy and recharge the cells,” adds the doctor.
Treatment through colours
There are two methods of treating diseases with colour – Application of light through glasses of different colours, and by external or internal use of colour-charged water.
“For treatment, we use seven colours of the spectrum by storing water and oil in bottles of different colours, and exposed to the sun for specified hours. The oil and water are then used to treat various health conditions. We also use a thermolium box with a glass lid made of different colours. The patient is placed inside the box, which is kept under the sun for half an hour. Sunlight trapped by the coloured glasses gets absorbed in the patient’s body, which makes up for a particular colour deficiency in the patient. Each of the seven colours of the light spectrum has a different effect on the human body,” explains Dr Naveen Jyothi.
Diseases where chromotherapy can help
Diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, obesity, acidity, flatulence, heat stroke, sun stroke, headache, dandruff, common cold, cough, flu, leucorrhoea, menstrual irregularities, coccygeal (tailbone) pain, and a variety of psychological issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, etc., can be eased by chromotherapy.
The psychology of colours
Colours are intricately linked to human psyche and moods and accordingly used to treat certain mental health conditions such as depression, stress & anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, sleep disorders and so on.
Dr Koganti Charan Teja, neuropsychiatrist at KIMS and associate professor at VRK Medical College, says, “The colour yellow is associated with happiness, contentment and positivity as it has been found to slightly enhance the serotonin level (the neurochemical responsible for happy mood). Lighter shades of blue colour are associated with peace, de-stressing and calmness. However, darker or stronger tones of blue are linked to sadness and gloominess. Red can be both a colour of stimulation or excitement and aggression, triggering a fight or flight response.”
Effects of coloured lights and paints vary
“One needs to understand that lights have a different effect than colour or paints. For instance green or blue lights at night (usually those from electronic gadgets) can affect sleep by reducing the sleep-inducing melatonin production, whereas in the morning hours, green light as well as colours make one more alert and energetic by slightly enhancing the cortisol level. Constant exposure to blue and green lights also cause oxidative damage and advance the aging process. However, painting the bedroom walls light blue or light green doesn’t have any negative effect on sleep,” clarifies the neuropsychiatrist.
