Have you ever been in a room where the colour of the walls or the general colour scheme has made you feel uncomfortable or different? Colour affects us both physically and psychologically, producing changes in the body and mind. It can affect our moods and personalities. Colour is not only experienced through our eyes, it is also absorbed as light pulses to the pituitary glands and hypothalamus, which are located at the base of the brain.
Colour Used For Healing
Colour has been used for healing since ancient times. The Egyptians used different coloured rooms where they would treat mentally disturbed patients and today, hospitals are often decorated in light green because of its calming effect. Light is used to treat SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder) and other mood impairing conditions. Ultra violet light is used to treat psoriasis.
In earlier times, babies were placed in a sunlit position to counteract the effects of jaundice. Nowadays babies are put under a light canopy to cure this condition. Daffodils contain Vitamin A which gives them their yellow colour. Scientists have now found a way to introduce the Vitamin A from the flowers into rice, so that it can be ingested and used to treat sight problems in babies.
The Physical And Emotional Effects Of Colour
- Red – Increases blood pressure and stimulates adrenalin which improves vitality and stamina. It combats negative thoughts and is often used to denote passion, but it can also lead to irritability.
- Orange – Stimulates the digestion and strengthens the immune system. It is a good anti-depressant as it has positive effect on mood and opens the emotions.
- Yellow – This increeases brainactivity and produces alertness and decisiveness. It is a happy, uplifting colour and is associated with intellect, memory, confidence and optimism. A dull yellow induces feelings of fear.
- Green – Good for the heart, it brings equilibrium and relaxation. It is also connected to nature and the natural world. Darker greens and grey-greens can have a detrimental effect on health. Cartoon characters always turn green when they are sick.
- Blue – Has a soothing effect, lowering blood pressure and is linked to the throat and thyroid. It is a cool, soothing colour. Deep blue regulates the sleep pattern but too much can be depressing. Light blues inspire mental control and clarity.
- Indigo – Is used in certain places as anaesthetic in minor operations and the colour has a soothing or numbing effect. In mental disorders it helps keep the balance of mind and reduces obsessions and fears. It works on the right side of the brain and stimulates intuition and imagination.
- Violet – Associated with peace, it balances against shock or fear in emotional disturbances. It encourages sensitivity to beauty and high ideals.
It is strange that red, the STOP colour of traffic lights, is actually a colour which stimulates adrenalin. In combat or competitive games, the participants wearing red (shirts, headbands or bandanas) are often thought to have a better chance of winning. Green, on the other hand, the GO colour of traffic lights, is used for calming and soothing. This could explain why some people have an inexplicable desire to slow down when they see the green light and speed up at the red light.
Colours In Nature
In the animal kingdom, colours are often used as a warning that the creature is dangerous or venomous. Bright patterns or stripes are like hazard symbols. Bees have black and yellow stripes, venomous snakes often have a distinctive pattern – think of rattle snakes or adders. Many birds, like the peacock and birds of paradise, have beautifully coloured plumage to attract the opposite sex.
Rainbow Memories
In myth and folklore the rainbow is seen as a good omen and a precursor of good fortune. We associate certain emotions with each colour and this is evident in our language in phrases such as: “Green with envy”, “In the pink”, “Feeling blue”, “Seeing red”, “Yellow coward”, and many more, all in common usage. The questions ‘when’ and ‘why’ these were colours used to represent abstract emotions remain unanswered.
Food manufacturers add colour to foods to make them more appealing. For example carrots, originally purple in their natural state were modified to make them orange, a more acceptable colour. This did not alter the actual taste but made our perception of the taste of the vegetable more enjoyable. Experiments were carried out to make tomatoes blue, a quirky change to see if sales would differ. It was soon abandoned as people preferred the normal red tomatoes and felt that the blue colour was “wrong” even though the taste remained the same. Although changing appearance does not alter the taste of the food, its colour definitely affects how we perceive that it will taste.
A blind person cannot see a rainbow but can learn to associate colours with sensations and feelings. To describe ‘red’ to a visually challenged person might involve allowing them to feel the heat from a fire. Blue could be described by sensing calmness, peacefulness or freshness e.g. from taking a shower or having a therapeutic massage. Yellow might be likened to the feeling of joy and sunshine sensed during a sunny day in a park or playground.
Colour is all around us. We are mostly unaware of its importance in affecting our health and our moods. Ask yourself what is your favourite colour, and what does it tell you about yourself? Perhaps it’s time to take a look around you at your living space and the rooms in your home and see what your colour scheme is doing for you.
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