The color of your life: Chromotherapy.
We all have a favorite color, a color that makes us feel calm and happy, a color we dislike, a color that stresses us out, and, let's be honest, colors that make us go "arggggg" when we see them. But colors can go beyond personal taste and actually help your mood.
Chromotherapy is not a new invention, even though it may seem so. As early as the 10th century, Arab doctors used colors to treat illnesses, as evidenced by studies such as Avicenna's book The Canon of Medicine. This technique was revived in the 19th century by experts such as Augustus Pleasonton and has since been developed, linking the effects of colors to the human mind and its illnesses.
And no, chromotherapy does not imply that the color blue will cure your cold, but recent studies link the use of colors to mood changes and, therefore, how they can help treat psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, violent behavior, etc. But how does it work? We'll tell you now.
Today, chromotherapy is largely considered a complementary or alternative medicine therapy. For example, many spas offer chromotherapy saunas, and Switzerland has even started a chromotherapy program in its prisons, painting some wings pink, a color that studies show conveys relaxation and calm.
It is a very new field of research, at least in the medical world. However, there is some evidence to support the idea that colored lights can have effects on our bodies, our pain levels, and our moods. "Colors have certain biological and psychological effects on people, and I think it's time we started taking advantage of them," says Dr. Mohab M. Ibrahim of the University of Massachusetts.
For now, medical science cannot confirm whether color or colored lights will treat your physical ailments, but more and more studies are revealing the benefits for mental health. For example, here are some of the colors used in chromotherapy along with their effects:
- Red: when you want to gain strength and vigor.
- Orange: if you are looking for energy, vitality, and imagination.
- Yellow: to provide optimism, excitement, and creativity.
- Green: balance, peace, and hope.
- Blue: when serenity and tranquility are needed.
- Violet: induces spirituality.
For example, phototherapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as winter depression, a type of depression that usually appears during the fall and winter. Furthermore, blue light phototherapy is commonly used in hospitals to treat neonatal jaundice, a condition that affects babies. This disease causes high levels of bilirubin in the blood, which makes the skin and eyes turn yellow.
During treatment, babies are placed under halogen or blue fluorescent lamps while they sleep so that their skin and blood can absorb the light waves. These light waves help them eliminate bilirubin from their bodies.
In addition, Trusted Source research suggests that, during the day, moderate blue light can improve alertness, attention, reaction time, and even overall mood.
At night, however, as we have already mentioned, blue light can be harmful by disrupting our biological clocks or circadian rhythms. This is because it suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps our bodies sleep.
But how can you apply this to your daily life without having to go to a spa or see a doctor? And above all, how can we help you?
Dr. Padma Gulur, professor of anesthesiology and population health at Duke University School of Medicine, has researched the effect of color-filtered glasses on pain levels. Her initial findings suggest that green wavelengths decrease acute and chronic pain. Given the opioid epidemic and the side effects of many pain medications, Gulur says there is an urgent need for non-pharmacological options to help manage pain. "We're still in the early stages... but [green light] could be a reasonably safe and effective alternative to medications to help patients with their pain," she explains.
You already know that at Apricotte, your blue light glasses brand, we care about your health, both your eyes and your whole person, which is why we offer our Chromaticline, created based on the concepts of chromotherapy, which protects against screen radiation and overexposure. And you'll look super cool wearing them too.
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