Color Therapy: The Basics

Color and light healing has been practiced for centuries, but over the years, researchers have discovered the use of specific wavelengths for body work. Some of these “phototherapy” units provide electronic stimulation using monochromatic red light (660 nanometers), which studies have shown is the most effective at sedating pain and stimulating healing. Other devices use different colors to address various health conditions and moods.

At first, this technology could be delivered only with a soft laser, which is restricted to medical supervision. But with recent improvements in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), this technology can be delivered in a form anyone can use. Applications include pain relief, acupuncture point stimulation, meridian point balancing, stress relief and facial toning.

Most people would agree that color is a powerful mood regulator and that certain colors evoke certain emotions, but they probably can’t explain why this is so. There is actually a scientific explanation for color’s effects on your psyche.

Color therapy is a form of vibrational healing, in which various frequencies are used to counteract or complement the frequencies of the body.

Each color of the visible light spectrum (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red) vibrates at a different frequency. Color enters the eyes through the lens and is then sent to receptors in the retina called rods and cones. These receptors send the color frequencies through the optic nerve to the brain and to the pineal glands, which convert nervous-system signals into endocrine signals. The pineal gland regulates melatonin, the primary force behind the body’s circadian rhythms (waking/sleep cycle), and the endocrine system is instrumental in regulating mood. Researchers have also discovered the use of certain wavelengths for addressing physical issues.

There are many ways to experience the effects of color on your body and mind. They can be as simple as staring at a color for a certain period of time, visualizing a color in your mind (color meditation), or drawing with color. There are also devices on the market that combine color and light for a therapeutic effect.

Here’s just a sample of the different color therapy methods:

Colored Glasses. These are plastic eyeglasses of different colors that you wear for a short period of time each day, choosing the color that matches what you want to accomplish. These are a cost-effective way to use color therapy.

Colored-Light Machines. These come in a wide a variety of shapes, sizes, technologies and price ranges. Some are hand-held devices with light diodes of different colors. Others use interchangeable colored lenses on a hand-held unit or in a box that resembles a slide projector. The light is held over the area of the body you want to treat; it can also be used on acupuncture meridiens.

Color Lamps or Projectors. These use colored filters to project light onto a wall. You can also make your own lamp using easy-to-find materials; instructions are available on various Websites and in books.

Color Therapy Oils. These are colored essential oils that you can smell and/or dab onto your skin. The most well-known of these is the Aura-Soma system, but there are others.

Color Meditation. A form of meditation that involves visualizing different colors as they envelop the body.

You can also use the services of a professional. Many practitioners use color therapy on their patients with great success.