Color plays an important role in our lives. The colors we surround ourselves with can affect our mood, energy levels, and even our health. With the growing interest in wellness and healthy lifestyles, there has been increased attention on how color can be used to promote health and healing. But what colors are actually considered healthy? And how exactly do colors impact our mental and physical states? This article will explore the connection between color and health, examining the meaning and effects of different hues. Quick answers to key questions will be provided in the opening sections, with more detailed explanations and examples to follow.
What is color therapy?
Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is an alternative therapy that uses the visible spectrum of light and color to affect a person’s mood, physical health, and overall well-being. The basic premise is that different colors evoke different responses in people physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Chromotherapy has a long history, dating back thousands of years to ancient cultures like Egypt, China, and India. While there is limited scientific evidence for chromotherapy, many alternative health practitioners believe in its healing potential.
How do colors affect us?
According to color psychology, different hues can evoke different emotions and physiological reactions. These effects are partly due to societal associations and personal experiences. But some research suggests that certain wavelengths of light may also stimulate production of hormones, alter blood pressure, heart rate, and brain activity. The full mechanisms are still being studied, but many believe color has tangible impacts on mood, stress levels, energy, and health.
Which colors are considered healthy?
While opinions vary, the colors most commonly believed to promote health and healing include blue, green, yellow, red, pink, and orange. Cooler hues like blue and green tend to be calming and stabilizing. Warm colors like yellow, red, and orange often energize and uplift. More nuanced or mixing colors like pink can balance emotions. But all colors on the visible spectrum are thought to have potential benefits. The healthy colors for an individual may depend on factors like psychology, physiology, and intended effects.
Healing Properties of Key Healthy Colors
Now let’s take a deeper look at some of the main colors considered therapeutic, examining what give them their positive qualities.
Blue
Blue is often noted for having calming, relaxing effects on the mind and body. Looking at nature’s blues, like the sky and ocean, can promote inner peace. The color has been found to lower blood pressure and heart rate in some studies. It may also have soothing properties that reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Blue light has antimicrobial effects that can accelerate healing. Overall, blue may help induce tranquility, reduce stress, and stabilize mood and mind. It is linked to improved meditation, better focus, and heightened creativity. Deeper shades of blue are especially peaceful. Blue is a top choice for creating serene, healthy spaces.
Green
Like blue, green has long been associated with health and healing. Green is considered the most restorative color on the eyes and mind. A dominant color in nature, it signals life, renewal, and resilience. Looking at green can relieve anxiety, fought fatigue, and improve vision. Emerald greens are thought to be particularly therapeutic. The color is said to balance emotions, encourage compassion, and promote harmony in spaces. Some also link green with stable heart rhythms, lowered blood pressure, and boosted immunity. Overall, exposure to green tones may nurture mental and physical well-being. Green spaces and green therapies support healing.
Yellow
Sunny, joyful yellow is considered an uplifting, illuminating color. It reflects optimism, intellect, and creative energy. Yellow light stimulates mental clarity, focus, and decision making. It boosts levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin and energizes the spirit. However, very bright yellows can cause eye strain. Warm gold yellows are cheerful but calmer. Yellow helps spark inspiration, build self-esteem, and ward off sadness. It is thought to aid memory, build immunity, and promote digestion. Yellow foods like lemons and ginger also have known health benefits. This sunny hue is linked to clearer thoughts and concentration too.
Red
Vibrant red is known as an excitatory, energizing color that stimulates the body and mind. Seeing or being surrounded by red can raise blood pressure, heart rate, and brain activity. Brief red exposure gives an instant boost of energy and strength. Red light therapy is said to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and speed healing. But extended time in red spaces can cause agitation and anxiety. Pink red is gentler, while crimson evokes a rich, stabilizing energy. Red sparks passion, motivation, and drive when used judiciously. Red foods like tomatoes offer vital nutrients that can promote good health.
Pink
Pink is considered the most tranquil, soothing hue. With red’s passion and white’s purity, light pinks balance emotions and instill inner calm. Pink reverberates love, affection, hope, and relaxation. Its nurturing energy builds self-worth and eases grief. Soft pinks can relax muscles, lower stress hormones, and even steady breathing. Pink tones have a quieting effect that brings comfort and contentment. For these reasons, many hospitals, correctional facilities, and therapy rooms utilize light pinks. The color has also been shown to benefit health and immunity. Exposure to pink may gently lift the spirit and temper tensions.
Orange
Spicy orange invokes feelings of warmth, security, and wellness. This friendly, vibrant color lifts the mood and boosts energy. Orange promotes social interactions and creativity. The color resonates strength, endurance, and vitality. Orange is known to stimulate appetite and immunity too. Its yellow tones activate mental and digestive processes, while red undertones increase confidence and openness. Orange also elevates focus and contentment by increasing oxygen and serotonin. Overall, orange is an optimistic, uplifting burst of color that brings joy and helps release negative attitudes.
Color Meanings and Associations
To better understand why certain colors are considered healthy, here are some of the key symbolic meanings associated with therapeutic hues:
Blue
Trust, wisdom, calm, reliability, peace, order, loyalty
Green
Harmony, balance, refreshment, nature, prosperity, respect, restoration
Yellow
Joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, hope, sunshine, intellect
Red
Love, passion, excitement, speed, strength, stimulation, power
Pink
Compassion, nurturing, love, femininity, playfulness, sweetness, calm
Orange
Enthusiasm, vibrancy, warmth, success, encouragement, sociability
Color Therapy Applications
There are several ways that color therapy principles may be applied to promote health:
Chromotherapy Light Sessions
Special chromotherapy devices use targeted colored light to shine on the body. Different colors are thought to activate and heal specific cells, organs, and systems. Multi-colored light boxes, laser acupuncture pens, and derma-chromatic machines are examples. Exposure sessions are believed to balance energies, release emotions, reduce pain, and restore health.
Colored Light Rooms
Entire rooms can be painted, lit, and decorated in therapeutic colors. Being immersed in colored surroundings is thought to be highly-impactful. These dedicated chromotherapy spaces allow clients to relax in a preferred hue tailored to their needs. Light rooms may promote relaxation, pain relief, detoxification, or mood enhancement through exposure.
Colored Eye Lenses or Glasses
Wearing colored glasses, goggles, or eye lenses filters surroundings to primarily one color. This color immersion targets ocular light absorption. Colored lenses may be prescribed for issues like headaches, anxiety, or SAD. Looking at environments through a colored lens can influence mood, sleep, pain levels, and energy. Ocular chromotherapy aims to deliver emotional and physical benefits through eyed exposure.
Colorpuncture Therapy
Using acupuncture meridians and points, colorpuncture therapists shine particular colored light on key parts of the body through special hand tools or probes. Advanced from traditional acupuncture, this chromotherapy approach may help pain, allergies, insomnia, and neurological issues. Colorpuncture aims to heal organs, glands, and tissues by delivering healing wavelengths of light to deficient areas of the body.
Topical Colored Light Therapy
Using red, blue, and sometimes infrared or ultraviolet light, handheld phototherapy devices apply targeted light to the skin and tissues below. Red light can stimulate circulation and cell renewal. Blue light has antibacterial effects. Different colored light waves impact cellular function in different ways. Direct phototherapy aims to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, ease pain, boost immunity, and more.
Solar Gazing
This traditional practice involves gazing at colored sun rays for short periods during safe hours. Different colors have various therapeutic effects. Looking at the orange-red morning or evening sun is believed to energize and warm. The yellow midday sun illuminates; the blue hue energizes. Solar chromotherapy practitioners believe sun gazing boosts mood, energy, and vision in natural ways. However, eye damage risks require guidance on safe solar gazing.
Colored Foods & Remedies
Naturally-pigmented foods and herbal remedies represent key colors with health benefits. Examples include antioxidant-rich blueberries, heart-healthy pink grapefruit, immunity-boosting orange peppers, and more. Colored foods may be prescribed in chromotherapy to amplify the potency of key wavelengths entering the body. Consuming colors with healing properties provides internal exposure.
Color Visualization
Imagining vivid colors is central to some forms of meditation, anxiety control, and guided rest. Focusing internally on a preferred healing hue can evoke associated benefits. Color visualization may include picturing colored spots, imagining multi-hued lights filling the body, concentrating on a colored symbol, or mentally immersing oneself in a colored field. These mind techniques aim to project desired chromotherapy effects.
Color Breathing
In breathwork, colored breathing involves visualizing breathing in a color that evokes a specific emotional or physical response. For example, breathing in calming blue and exhaling anxiety or pain in gray. Chromotherapy breathing aims to heighten air exchange while promoting circulation and inner peace. This technique intertwines physiological breathing benefits with the psychological effects of color for wellness.
Chromo-Aromatherapy
Essential oils also have associated colors that enhance their effects. For example, blue chamomile and indigo rose oils for calm, orange jasmine and crimson ylang ylang oils for sensuality. Colored bottles can amplify oil energies. Combining scents with color allows for absorption of both complementary color and aroma therapies. This is believed to deepen emotional and physical healing.
Color Attunement
This alternative practice uses colored crystals, gemstones, or light tools to re-balance color frequencies within the body. Each color emanates a specific vibration. Introducing needed colors via stones or wands places those energetic color wavelengths into deficient areas, stimulating healing responses. Attunement realigns natural color frequencies for optimal health and vitality.
Health Benefits of Key Colors
Here is an overview of some of the specific health benefits associated with main therapeutic colors:
| Color | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Blue | Lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, alleviates headaches, calms mind and body |
| Green | Balances emotions, improves vision, quells anxiety, reduces chronic fatigue, aids healing |
| Yellow | Boosts immunity, stimulates digestion, builds mental clarity, lifts depression, increases focus |
| Red | Energizes, stimulates brain activity, increases passion and vigor, improves circulation, speeds healing |
| Pink | Reduces aggression, lowers muscle tension, induces serenity, soothes nerves, promotes self-love |
| Orange | Uplifts mood, increases energy and oxygen, boosts immunity, promotes creativity, encourages joy |
Color Psychology Effects
In addition to potential physiological impacts, colors can elicit psychological reactions due to learned associations, symbolism, and preferences. Here is an overview of key color psychology effects:
Blue
Trust, security, calm, focus, wisdom, productivity, stability, harmony, confidence, loyalty
Green
Balance, growth, restoration, healing, safety, relaxation, focus, resilience, prosperity, peace
Yellow
Optimism, creativity, confidence, originality, cheerfulness, friendliness, vision, intellect, decisiveness
Red
Energy, excitement, action, passion, love, romance, stimulation, power, vibrancy, boldness
Pink
Love, femininity, compassion, nurturing, hope, sweetness, intimacy, gentleness, warmth, affection
Orange
Joy, enthusiasm, vibrancy, warmth, success, sociability, adventure, creativity, encouragement, balance
Color Selection for Spaces
When selecting colors for healthy home or work environments, it helps to consider intended goals, activities, and needs:
Calming Spaces
Blues, greens, purples, white
Bedrooms, spas, meditation rooms
Uplifting Spaces
Yellows, oranges, reds, pink
Living rooms, dining rooms, studios
Concentration Spaces
Blues, greens, grays
Offices, study rooms, libraries
High Energy Spaces
Reds, oranges, yellows
Gyms, game rooms, creative workspaces
Restorative Spaces
Greens, blues, whites, browns
Hospitals, therapy offices, retreats
Conclusion
Color can impact mental and physical wellbeing in many ways. While more research is still needed, evidence suggests certain colors like blue, green, yellow, red, pink, and orange may have therapeutic qualities. These colors promote relaxation, energy, clarity, creativity, calm, and other positive effects. Integrating appropriate soothing or energizing hues through light therapy, visualization, food, and design can support healing and promote healthful environments. A rainbow of natural colors exists to lift our spirits and well-being.