CAN COLOURS AFFECT US?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF COLOUR THERAPY

Colour Therapy aims to balance and enhance our body's energy centres/chakras by using the seven colours of the light spectrum, which can help to stimulate our body's own healing process.

Each of the seven colours resonates with one of the main seven chakras.

The ancient Egyptians have been recorded to have been using colour for cures and ailments.

They worshipped the sun, knowing that without light there can be no life. They looked at nature and copied it in many aspects of their lives. The floors of their temples were often green - as the grass which then grew alongside their river, the Nile. Blue was a very important colour to the Egyptians too; the colour of the sky. They built temples for healing and used gems (crystals) through which the sunlight shone. They would have different rooms for different colours. We could perhaps relate our present methods of colour/light therapy to this ancient practice.

There are lists on papyrus dating back to 1550 BC of colour "cures". Their deep knowledge and understanding of the healing powers of the colour rays was so nearly lost when, later on in history, the Greeks considered colour only as a science. Hippocrates, amongst others, abandoned the metaphysical side of colour, concentrating only on the scientific aspect. Fortunately, despite this, the knowledge and philosophy of colour was handed down through the ages by a few. 

The Chinese also apparently practiced Colour Healing. The Nei/ching, 2000 years old, records colour diagnoses.

 

In holistic therapies different colours are associated with different moods and qualities and influence.

 

• Red is stimulating and energetic found in the aura it is often associated with anger and restlessness
• Orange is stimlating and enquiring especially the mind and seeking knowledge
• Yellow is good for stimulating learning
• Green/Pink soothing and healing especially for affairs of the heart
• Blue is healing, calming and aids communication
• Indigo is good for inner peace, tranquility and healing
• Violet is deeply spiritual and enlightening and healing

So it's not unusual how the colour of a room can influence our mood which leads to the article below from the DAILY MAIL

Want a good night's sleep? Find out which colours you should use in the bedroom (and avoid) for a decent kip

• Blue is thought to slow the heart rate and even reduce blood pressure
• People sleeping in a blue room get seven hours 52 minutes sleep per night
• Purple rooms can stimulate the brain, making it difficult to nod off

Feeling blue may not be all bad when it comes to enjoying a good night’s sleep.
Those with bedrooms this colour tend to get the best rest – nearly eight hours a night – and wake feeling happy and positive.
According to a survey, it is linked to calm, soothing feelings and is thought to slow the heart rate and even reduce blood pressure.

Calming: People with a blue bedroom manage to get the most sleep per night

Green and yellow are also winners, with those choosing these colours clocking up roughly seven hours and 40 minutes of sleep.

However, it’s best to avoid purple, which is too stimulating and can cut nightly hours of rest to less than six. Grey and brown get the thumbs-down for being too dreary and depressing.
The study, carried out by Travelodge, looked into 2,000 homes across the country to investigate the influence of colour on quality of sleep.
They found that people sleeping in rooms decorated in calm colours, such as yellow, blue or green, received the best night’s sleep.
Chris Idzikowski, Sleep Expert from the Edinburgh Sleep Centre said: ‘This is an amazing result, as there are specialised receptors called ganglion cells in the retina part of our eyes, which are most sensitive to the colour blue. 
‘These receptors feed information into an area deep in our brain that controls 24 hour rhythms, and affects how we perform and feel during the day. That interaction between light, sleep and wakefulness is supremely important.’

Stimulating: But bedrooms that are painted purple could encourage creativity and stop the brain from relaxing

The study also found that Britons who sleep in a purple bedroom are, on average, only getting five hours and fifty six minutes sleep per night.
They say that the reason for this could be that the colour purple is mentally stimulating which makes it difficult to switch off after a busy day. 
The other two least favoured colour schemes are brown, where sleepers obtain on average six hours and five minutes sleep per night and a grey colour scheme which results in individuals getting on average six hours and twelve minutes sleep per night. 
Colour Therapy & Holistic Interior Design consultant, Suzy Chiazzari, said: ‘Your bedroom décor can certainly impact upon your quality and quantity of sleep per night. 

HOW MUCH SLEEP DOES EACH COLOUR GIVE?

Blue	7 hrs 52mins
Yellow	7 hrs 40mins
Green	7 hrs 36 mins
Silver	7 hrs 33 mins
Orange	7 hrs 28 mins
Red	6 hrs 58 mins
Gold	6 hrs 43 mins
Grey	6 hrs 12 mins
Brown	6 hrs 05 mins
Purple	5 hrs 56 mins

‘Although many people think purple creates a sense of luxury in the bedroom, this colour can reduce the number of hours of sleep you attain. 
‘Purple has a strong connection with the more artistic community being a colour reported to stimulate creativity and the unconscious mind. Therefore sleeping in a purple room is more likely to promote vivid dreams or even nightmares; resulting in you feeling tired in the morning.’
The study also found that colour affects other bedroom activities. Couples who sleep in a bedroom that is decorated in a caramel make love on average three times per week. But those who sleep in a red bedroom make love just once a week.   
Britons who have a grey themed bedroom are the ones spend the most time shopping online in bed, while a fifth of Britons who have a silver décor in their bedroom reported they are more motivated to exercise in their bedroom. 

Frances Whitley, Travelodge In-house Interior Designer said: ‘Room colour does influence your mood and set the tone for your living environment. Therefore it’s important to choose a bedroom décor that will help you relax and induce sleep.
‘I have spent the last 12 months working with our customers to create a purpose built room for them. In today’s modern world, Britons want a high level of co-ordination between colours, shades, patterns and features.
'They are no longer happy with everything being the same colour. Tastes are also moving away from dark shades; today hotel users want a clean, fresh and calming colour scheme.’ 

Gilded: People who have luxurious gold rooms do not get a proper full night of sleep, with only 6 hours 43 minutes