Introduction
Currently, the color therapy is recognized as an effective natural healing technique widely used in medicine and counseling.
This report will track the historical development of the chromotherapy theories and evaluate the results of the experiment and the impact of different colors upon the energy distribution in natural field under different environmental conditions which can be further used in the counseling practice.
Literature review
Color therapy also referred to as chromotherapy is based on the assumption that color and light can be used for balancing the energy within the human bodies and preventing or healing the mental and physical disorders and has been known since ancient times.
There is evidence that ancient Egyptians and Greeks built color healing rooms into their temples (Wills 2007). The first records on using color as therapy can be found in works by Aulus Celsus dated back to the 1st century in Rome (Garala et al. 2009).
The relationships between the colors, diseases and their treatments were investigated by the Arab physician Avicenna in the 9th century. A system of colored lights known as spectro-chrome lamps was created in 1920 by an American scientist of the Indian origin Dinshah Chadiali (Garala et al. 2009).
A color test introduced by a Swiss psychologist Max Luscher in 1947 is still used by consultants for defining the psychological state of their patients. A Russian researcher Krakow made a significant contribution to the studies on the color therapy by investigating the effects of different colors upon the nervous system.
Though this approach can be criticized for the lack of rigorous studies, many practitioners utilize Krakov’s findings and take advantages of the color therapy for reducing the stress-related pain (Garala et al. 2009).
The color therapy theories create the links between the seven colors of the spectrum and the main chakras in the human body which in their turn are associated with certain organs and systems.
The main task of the practitioner is defining the missing color for diagnosing the corresponding weakness of a particular organ and applying the color therapy for making up the existing deficits (McGuiness 2007, p. 14).
Moreover, there is a growing recognition that due to the power of electromagnetic signals such as color, chromotherapy can be even more effective than the traditional methods of treatment (Lipton, 2005; Vasquez, 2006).
Though the patient’s cultural background and current emotional and physical state are the factors deserving serious consideration while developing a concrete treatment plan, the color therapy can be used for changing the patients’ condition (Galano 2009).
Saito & Tada (2007) noted that the colors associated with natural scenes and landscapes can be effective stimulators for Japanese people because of the value given to nature in Japanese culture.
With the roots which can be found in the culture of ancient civilizations, color therapy which has been rediscovered in the mid-nineteenth century is widely used in modern psychology and consulting for the purposes of diagnosing and treating the patients.
Conceptual framework
The ancient Chinese Five Phase Theory can be regarded as a conceptual framework for explaining the processes attributed to the color therapy and enhancing their effectiveness.
The Five Phase Theory assuming that the properties of the five phases, including wood, fire, earth, metal and water allow explaining all the phenomena of the surrounding world which are mutually interdependent and restraining (Flaws 2007, p. 15).
This theory introduces a complex mechanism driving transformations in nature and human organism. Each of the phases corresponds to certain chakras and organs and psychological conditions. According to this doctrine, there are two main cycles of interaction, namely generating and overcoming.
Similar to the Five Phase Theory, modern chromotherapy correlates chakras with certain organs, conditions and colors of the individual’s aura (McGuiness 2007).
Thus, red corresponding with the first chakra can encourage both positive qualities such as courage and perseverance and negative qualities such as stubbornness, cruelty and anger, which in their turn can be related to the cycles of generating and overcoming respectively.
Yellow corresponding with the third chakra can have impact upon the feelings of detachment and person’s concentration, agitation and anxiety.
Green corresponding with the forth chakra allows harmonizing, relaxation and concentration, whereas too much of green color can make an individual suffer from lethargy and jealousy. Blue corresponding with the fifth chakra can encourage either the state of peace or doubt and melancholy.
From the above discussed examples, it can be seen that the two possible cycles of the Five Phase Theory should be considered for the effective use of chromotherapy in counseling.
Methodology
The primary objective of the experiment was exploring the impact of different colors upon the processes of energy distribution in natural fields under the same environmental conditions, including the parameters of humidity and amount of light.
The 7 pieces of white bread were put into the transparent containers with multicolored lids fully covering them. A container with a transparent lid was added for controlling the achieved results. The picture of the changes in the bread color and surface were taken every 7days.
The experiment was conducted in four apartments with conditions varying in relative humidity and intensity of sunlight for evaluating the impact of environment upon the outcomes.
Analysis and discussion
Through the analysis of the achieved results, it has been discovered that the color of the lid had a significant impact upon the natural processes within the pieces of bread reflected in the color changes and the growth of mould. The findings of the experiment can be related to the cycles of generating and overcoming as outlined by the Five Phase Theory.
Estimating the transformation of the pieces of bread placed in the same apartment, it can be stated that the red color accelerated the growth of mould, whereas green lid had restrained the mould growth and even prevented its formation in the apartment with the intense sunlight and lower humidity facing the West.
At the final day of the experiment, three weeks after its beginning, the piece of bread in the container with the red lid in the apartment with the lower humidity and the intense sunlight, changed its color completely and became golden yellow and black which indicate the beginning of the mould formation.
At the same time, the piece of bread in the container under the yellow lid was whole brown, under the blue and white lids the pieces became whole black, the whole yellow piece of bread was found under the black lid, and there was no any changes of the color and signs of mould in the container under the green lid.
It is significant that a piece of bread in the container under the transparent lid was largely yellow with black mould on it. The findings retrieved from the control container clearly demonstrate that the color lids have a significant impact upon the energy distribution within the natural fields.
Similar principles of the mould growth were observed in the rest of the apartments with different levels of humidity and intensity of sunlight, whereas the results of the mould growth ranging from the most significant in the container under the transparent lid, followed by the results achieved from the container with the red, black, white, blue and yellow colors.
The achieved results are compliant with the main principles implemented by modern chromotherapy assuming that red is the color of agitation and acceleration of growth, whereas green is recognized as a color restraining the growth.
Though the mould grew completely around the yellow and blue boxes in the apartments with the higher humidity and where the electric light was used, the colors of the grown mould were relatively monotonous.
It can be explained with the fact that blue and yellow are regarded as the colors of calming and relaxing which are widely used in modern chromotherapy for psychological counseling.
Conclusion
Though the intensity of sunlight and the level of humidity had a significant impact upon the results of the experiment, it can be concluded that the research findings have revealed that different colors affect the processes of energy distribution in different ways which are however compliant with the basic principles of modern chromotherapy.
Self-reflection with critical points
Though the design of the experiment was intended to take into account the variety of factors, including the environmental conditions, it has certain limitations. Thus, certain unpredictable variables, namely the weather could influence the achieved results but were neglected in the experiment.
Other drawbacks of the study design which can be considered as its limitations were the lack of the planning and registering details and disregard of additional sources of the energy input, including the TV and mobile phones, interference of the family members and others.
The findings of this experiment which are compliant with the main principles of the modern theories on color healing are valuable for the current chromotherapy practices.
The results of the experiment clearly demonstrate that various colors can have a significant impact upon the energy distribution and other processes taking place in the physical environment, and consequently, can be applied as effective healing techniques by modern counselors.
Another valuable conclusion which can be drawn from the conducted experiment is that the choice of the most appropriate color healing techniques requires consideration of a variety of the related factors, including the patients’ cultural background, environment and personal preferences.
Thus, Luscher’s color test can be used by counselors for detecting the existing deficits and diagnosing the patient’s current condition. The following steps presuppose selecting the methods for solving the existing problems and their implementation through color healing.
However, it should be noted that the excessive amounts of certain colors can have the adverse effects which can be explained by the integrity of the generating and overcoming cycles of the Five Phase Theory.
Thus, red can not only agitate and activate the mental processes if it is necessary, but also result in cruelty and anger, whereas green which is expected to have calming and harmonizing effects can also result in lethargy and jealousy.
The above discussed aspects should be considered for selecting the most appropriate techniques of color healing for every individual customer and applying them to the counseling practice.
Reference List
Flaws, B. (2007). Statements of fact in traditional Chinese medicine. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press.
Galano, A. (Spring 2009). Smart lighting: LED implementation and ambient communication applications. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of California, Berkerley. Web.
Garala, K., Basu, B., Mehta, K., & Joshi, B. (2009). Alternative to drug delivery system: Chromotherapy. Drug Invention Today, 1(2): 130 – 134.
Lipton, B. (2005). The Biology of belief. Santa Rosa, CA: Mountain of Love/Elite Books.
McGuiness, L. (November 2007). The Healing Power of Colour. Positive Health: 14 – 17.
Saito, Y. & Tada, H. (2007). Effects of color images on stress reduction: Using images as mood stimulants. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 4: 13 – 20.
Vasquez, S. (2006). Color: Its therapeutic power for rapid healing. Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine, 17(2): 1 – 21.
Wills, P. (April 2007). Healing with Colour Therapy. Positive Health: 9 – 12.