<ul><li>also called <em>chromotherapy</em><strong><em>﻿</em></strong></li><li>puts into practice the idea that <em>showing people different colors—or specific colors—can help treat both mental distress and even physical pain</em>. </li><li>"Chromotherapy is a method of treatment that uses the visible spectrum (colors) of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases. It is a centuries-old concept used successfully over the years to cure various diseases." - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297510/"><em>A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution</em></a>, a 2005 study</li></ul>

Color therapy

<div><span data-id="m-0">Stacey Leasca</span></div><div dir="ltr"><time datetime="2021-08-02T21:21:10.000Z" dir="ltr">Mon, August 2, 2021, 5:21 PM</time><span dir="ltr">·</span><span dir="ltr">7 min read</span></div><p dir="ltr">We all have a favorite color, <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/how-to-design-calmer-bedroom" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ylk="slk:a preferred palette" data-rapid_p="7" data-v9y="0" dir="ltr">a preferred palette</a>, or a few hues that make us feel a certain kind of way. Maybe your favorite color is a calming blue, or an energizing orange, or perhaps even a fiery red that pumps you up for the day—all of which are excellent choices and could play a significant role in developing your personal color therapy.</p><p dir="ltr">In its essence, color therapy, or chromotherapy, puts into practice the idea that showing people different colors—or specific colors—can help treat both mental distress and even physical pain. As a 2005 study, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297510/" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ylk="slk:A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution" data-rapid_p="8" data-v9y="0" dir="ltr"><em dir="ltr">A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution</em></a>, explains, "Chromotherapy is a method of treatment that uses the visible spectrum (colors) of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases. It is a centuries-old concept used successfully over the years to cure various diseases."</p><p dir="ltr">Color therapy is simple in concept, can be free, and could be life-changing. "In our culture, we already equate colors to how we feel, and that's why color therapy <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/emotional-health/self-check-in" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ylk="slk:connects people to their emotions" data-rapid_p="10" data-v9y="0" dir="ltr">connects people to their emotions</a>," Constance Hart, color therapy expert and founder of <a href="https://consciouscolors.com/constance-hart-color-therapy-expert/" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ylk="slk:Conscious Colors" data-rapid_p="11" data-v9y="0" dir="ltr">Conscious Colors</a>, shares. "It becomes a wonderfully therapeutic way to find out where you're at emotionally. We know obvious things like, 'I'm angry right now,' 'I'm sad,' or 'I'm feeling really happy,' but we have more nuances to our emotional palette as human beings. A color palette is where we can find those nuances."</p><p>It's also a science that, though in its infancy, is gaining a lot more traction, especially when tied to light and light therapy (which is its own type of therapeutic practice). "Color and light therapy have been used to treat a variety of conditions of both physical and mental health," says Padma Gulur, MD, professor of anesthesiology and population health executive vice chair at Duke University. "Bright light therapy is used in mood and emotional disorders, such as depression, and green light has been shown to decrease the severity of migraines."</p><div><button aria-label="" title="" data-ylk="elm:readmore;slk:Story continues" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="0">Story continues</button></div>

You probably love your favorite color for a reason.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

health

Health

mentalhealth

Mental Health

meditation

Meditation

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

<p>We all have a favorite color, <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/how-to-design-calmer-bedroom">a preferred palette </a>, or a few hues that make us feel a certain kind of way. Maybe your favorite color is a calming blue, or an energizing orange, or perhaps even a fiery red that pumps you up for the day—all of which are excellent choices and could play a significant role in developing your personal color therapy. </p>

<p>In its essence, color therapy, or chromotherapy, puts into practice the idea that showing people different colors—or specific colors—can help treat both mental distress and even physical pain. As a 2005 study, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297510/"><em>A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution </em> </a>, explains, "Chromotherapy is a method of treatment that uses the visible spectrum (colors) of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases. It is a centuries-old concept used successfully over the years to cure various diseases." </p>

<p>Color therapy is simple in concept, can be free, and could be life-changing. "In our culture, we already equate colors to how we feel, and that's why color therapy <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/emotional-health/self-check-in">connects people to their emotions </a>," Constance Hart, color therapy expert and founder of <a href="https://consciouscolors.com/constance-hart-color-therapy-expert/">Conscious Colors </a>, shares. "It becomes a wonderfully therapeutic way to find out where you're at emotionally. We know obvious things like, 'I'm angry right now,' 'I'm sad,' or 'I'm feeling really happy,' but we have more nuances to our emotional palette as human beings. A color palette is where we can find those nuances." </p>

<p>It's also a science that, though in its infancy, is gaining a lot more traction, especially when tied to light and light therapy (which is its own type of therapeutic practice). "Color and light therapy have been used to treat a variety of conditions of both physical and mental health," says Padma Gulur, MD, professor of anesthesiology and population health executive vice chair at Duke University. "Bright light therapy is used in mood and emotional disorders, such as depression, and green light has been shown to decrease the severity of migraines." </p>

This Is What Color Therapy Is All About—and How to Try It at Home

Color therapy

Wil Powers's ideas are part of this journey:

Related collections

Similar ideas