What is Color Therapy & Healing?

What is color therapy or color healing? This article is an introduction into color therapy, going into the general principles, and a brief look into its history.

History of Color Therapy

Color therapy is a form of therapy or healing which dates back thousands of years and across cultures, which spans into almost every corner of the globe.

There is evidence of forms of color therapy being practiced in Europe, the Middle East and Far East Asia. There is also evidence of colors being used for healing purposes for at least two millennia. However, it likely dates back much further than that.

What is Color therapy?

Color therapy is also known as Chromotherapy. Each color of the spectrum red, green, blue, yellow, orange, violet, and indigo has different wavelengths, and emits different energies or chakras. The different energies or chakras relate to different areas of the human body.

It’s believed that certain issues with our health can arise when those energies go out of balance. The idea of color therapy is to expose an individual to certain colors to regain balance to their chakras, and overall energy.

Different Colors relate to Chakras

• Red – Base Chakra
• Orange – Sacral Chakra
• Yellow – Solar Plexus Chakra
• Green – Heart Chakra
• Blue – Throat Chakra
• Indigo – Brow Chakra
• Violet – Crown Chakra

See here for more on the 7 Chakras.

The energy from color is believed to be absorbed by the body in many ways. Our auras, or magnetic field, skin, and eyes absorb this energy which can affect us emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Examples of how Color is used

Blue can be used to calm and relax, lowering blood pressure and heart rate. It may also help those people that suffer with insomnia, and even reduce anxiety. Yellow can be used to increase a person’s energy and optimism, and to fight off negative energy draining emotions which can cause depression. Green can be used to balance a person’s emotions, and help to create emotional stability.

Types of Color Therapy

• Painting rooms certain colors.
• Using crystals to manipulate the sun light and draw out specific colors.
• Gemstones.
• Different colored clothes or fabrics can be worn.
• Different colored artificial lighting can be used.
• Colored fluids or water for bathing.

Modern Day Experiments

Some prisons in Europe have painted their walls pink, as pink has been shown to reduce aggressive behaviors. In a limited number of prisons across America, inmates have been made to wear pink to achieve a similar effect. The research suggests that these experiments were successful.

Some cities have also experimented with blue street lighting, as blue has a calming influence. The experiments were believed to be a success, with reduced recorded incidents of crime and anti-social behavior after the blue street lighting was installed.

While much research has been done, and many books have been written on the influences of color. There is still a fair amount of skepticism on the subject, particularly the healing ability of colors.