What is Color Therapy?

There are many processes that fall under the title of color therapy. What these processes have in common is that they make use of color to attempt to heal someone physically, mentally or emotionally.

These processes draw on the belief that colors can influence us emotionally and mentally. Proponents of color therapy believe that the emotional and mental changes brought on by color can affect the body physically.

One very popular form of color therapy is known as coloring therapy. One favorite activity of children everywhere, coloring is rapidly becoming a hit with adults too. Modern people often live their lives in fast forward, somehow managing to cram ever more activities into already jam packed schedules. This can leave them feeling tired, stressed and stretched to their limits.

Coloring therapy seeks to help people relax and let go of their worries. Proponents claim that your brain slips into a meditative state while you are coloring because the only thing you are thinking about is filling designs in with color.

The complexity of coloring therapy varies widely. Proponents claim that benefits can be gained by even the simplest of coloring projects. However, they also claim that such things as choice of design filled and the color palette used can increase these benefits.

Another popular, though not nearly as accepted form of color therapy involves water that has been infused with color. This like many other forms of coloring therapy is popular in India. The process for infusing water with color generally involves a clear container of water that has been set out in the sun.

The container is usually draped with silk of the color the practitioner wishes to infuse the water with. Proponents believe that the sunlight shining on the water through the silk will infuse the water with the color.

This infused water is used in a variety of ways in an attempt to heal physical or spiritual maladies. Certain color infusions are drunk as if they were medicine. Some acupuncturist now dip their acupuncture needles in color infused water before using them on patients. They claim this can help heal and balance the Chakras.

Another form of color therapy involves the use of colored lights. This can be done with colored pin hole glasses or color filters placed over sources of light. The user sits under the appropriate colored light for their malady.

Most color therapies typically assign very similar meanings and uses to colors. These definitions and uses are based on established social and cultural perceptions related to each color.