7 Ways to Use Color Therapy

Few forms of alternative medicine bring me as much joy as color therapy. Color therapy is an enjoyable, low-risk form of complementary and alternative medicine. Its benefits are sometimes remarkably obvious: we feel calmed by our favorite cool colors and stimulated by bright, warm hues. Other, less obvious benefits have also been documented-- the New York Times has been reporting for over 30 years on the ever-increasing scientific support for evidence-based color therapy.

Many people don't use color therapy simply because they don't know how. There are actually dozens of different ways to use color therapy, some of which require the guidance of a health care provider. Here are some potential ways that you can use color therapy to benefit your own health and happiness.

1. Talk to your doctor. No, this isn't just the routine "talk to your doc" warning that you hear about most alternative medicine. Doctors can actually prescribe several forms of clinically approved light therapy for certain medical conditions, including jaundice, seasonal affective disorder, and depression. Chat with your health care provider about clinical uses for color therapy.

2. Paint your walls. Color therapy can be a fascinating integration into interior design. You can govern the mood of a room by painting it a specific color, or by making the color the strongest theme in your decoration. For example, bubblegum-pink walls have been found to soothe the moods of cranky children, prisoners, and people in psychiatric wards. Use color therapy to guide your home's color scheme.

3. Select therapeutic color decorations. The colors red and yellow have been found to stimulate appetite; hence their popularity in fast-food restaurants. You can trigger the same effect by using red and yellow decorations in your own dining room. Apply the same principle to any other color to set the right mood using decorations and artwork.

4. Choose an appropriate focal point. Choose an object that is the color that you need for therapeutic purposes. A blue gemstone, for example, can be an ideal point of focus as you seek relief from symptoms of depression or anxiety. Use this focal point as a meditation tool-- focusing your eyes and mind on it-- while seeking symptom relief.

5. Switch your lightbulbs. Colored lightbulbs can be used in color therapy to bring clinical-level results. Many schools use lights with ultraviolet lights to enhance students' academic performance, while hospitals use UV, blue, and ultraviolet lighting to treat certain medical conditions. Choose a bulb in the color of your choice for maximum therapeutic benefits.

6. Wear it. Your favorite clothing color may well be one that offers you medical benefits. You might wear antidepressant blue because of mood disturbances, pacifying pink to ease anger, violet to stimulate your creativity and job performance, or vibrant green to lift your spirits. To reap the benefits of the color that is best for you, wear it on your body so that you see it and psychologically absorb it.

7. Bathe in it. A creative way to combine color therapy and hydrotherapy involves adding color to your bath water. Buy several different shades of food coloring, mixing them as needed to meet your psychological or medical needs. A bath in pink water will ease anger, while blue will lift mood, orange will stimulate, and violet will facilitate imagination.

Although color therapy can be very effective, it is important to remember that it is not a substitute for medical intervention if you have a serious medical condition. Always chat with your doctor before using alternative medicine as a substitute for conventional medical care.