The Role Of Chromatherapy In Finding An Insomnia Cure
Chromatherapy, or color therapy, involves the use of color to promote general health and also to treat particular maladies (including sleep-oriented problems).
Useful in treating both emotional and physical sleep disturbances, chromatherapy may involve exposure to colored lights, massages using color-saturated oils and salves, meditation and visualization of certain colors, or the wearing of certain colors of clothing.
The use of color in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders dates back many centuries.
Some 2,500 years ago, Pythagoras applied color light therapeutically and "color halls" were used for healing in ancient Egypt, China and India.
In the days of ancient Egypt, practitioners built solariums with specifically designed glasses and lenses that served to break up the sun's rays into the colors of the spectrum.
In the late 17th century modern-day color theory was born when English mathematician and philosopher Sir Isaac Newton conducted his prism experiments and showed that light is truly a mixture of colors from the visible spectrum.
In India, practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine believe that specific colors correspond with each of the seven chakras - vortices of energy in the body that represent organs, emotions, and aspects of the soul or life force.
But it was not until the late 1800s, when Dr. Edwin D. Babbitt published his book, Principles of Light and Color, that Chromatherapy as we know it was outlined.
In this work, Dr. Babbitt suggests the use of color as a treatment for a variety of ailments, including sleep and anxiety disorders.
In the late 1940s, Russian researcher S.V. Krakov conducted a series of experiments in which he separated the different wavelengths in the light spectrum to show how color affects the nervous system.
In his experiments, he observed that red light stimulated the adrenal glands, raising blood pressure and pulse rate, and that blue and white light had a calming, relaxing effect.
Many practitioners still use the results of Krakov's studies today and commonly recommend his brand of color therapy for the treatment of stress and stress-related pain.
Today, many mainstream researchers commonly turn to chromatherapy for the treatment of a variety of ailments - particularly sleep disorders.
Color is a property of light, which comprises many different waves of energy. When light falls upon the photoreceptor cells of the retina, it is converted into electrical impulses that travel to the brain and trigger the release of hormones.
The release of these hormones in controlled bursts can be used to treat your body and mind for many of the medical conditions that hinder sleep as well as to promote conditions that are conducive to sleep and rest.
While many forms of chromatherapy can and should only be practiced by licensed practitioners and/or medical doctors, some forms of color therapy are simple and safe enough to be practiced in the comfort of your own home. These include wearing clothing of particular hues, surrounding yourself with a recommended color, eating certain colorful foods, and concentrating on visualizing a particular color.
Each of the seven colors of the spectrum is associated with specific healing properties.
| Violet | Violet promotes enlightenment, revelation, and spiritual awakening. Violet is often used to soothe organs, relax muscles, and calm the nervous system. |
| Indigo | Indigo is also sedative and calming. It is said to promote intuition. Indigo may be useful in controlling bleeding and abscesses. |
| Blue | Blue promotes communication and knowledge. It eliminates toxins, and is used to treat liver disorders and jaundice. |
| Green | Because it falls in the middle of the color spectrum, green is associated with balance. Green is calming, and is used by Ayurvedic practitioners to promote healing of ulcers. It is said to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties and is sometimes used by holistic color therapists to treat bacterial infections. |
| Yellow | Yellow is a sensory stimulant associated with wisdom and clarity. It is thought to have decongestant and antibacterial properties, and is useful in stimulating both the digestive and lymphatic systems. |
| Orange | Orange promotes pleasure, enthusiasm, and sexual stimulation. Ayurvedic practitioners believe it has antibacterial properties and may be useful in easing digestive system discomforts such as flatulence and cramps. |
| Red | Red promotes energy, empowerment, and stimulation. It is thought to improve circulation and stimulate red blood cell production. |
Next >>> Exercise
Best sellers from
I Can Make You Sleep: Overcome Insomnia Forever and Get the Best Rest of Your...
by Paul McKenna
Amazon Price: $15.61
Customer Review: I listen to the CD and have a hard time staying awake through it. If I wake up at night I just play the CD again and it puts me right back to sleep. I did listen to the CD one time during the day and was amazed at how some of the post hypnotic suggestions were delivered and how I would think it would be hard for them not to work for most people. I...
Say Good Night to Insomnia
by Gregg D. Jacobs
Amazon Price: $10.88
Customer Review: I have had insomnia for a year--difficulty falling asleep, although I sleep fine once I'm asleep. I have also been taking Ambien for 1 year, and want to wean off. I am on Night #6 of the program, and I have cut my dose of Ambien by 1/2 for 4 of those nights. I have been restricting my sleep to 6 hours, from 1 am to 7 am, and it's been HARD. Getting...
No More Sleepless Nights
by Peter Hauri, Shirley Linde
Amazon Price: $11.53
Customer Review: This is an excellent book written primarily by the former director of Sleep Disorders at the Mayo Clinic to assist you in self-diagnosis of insomnia. I received it from Amazon in a timely manner and in the condition stated in the ad. I like it so much that I would order it again.
Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: 7 Keys to Sleeping Through the Night
by Barry Krakow
Amazon Price:
Customer Review: Having been plagued by physical problems (those which I won't discuss in this public forum) and having a general distaste for the medicated state of society, it was a relief to know that alternatives were out there. I'm not going to say that this book will change your life, but it will help anyone who is sincere in their desire to get sound sleep....
The Insomnia Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Sleep You Need
by Stephanie Silberman
Amazon Price: $14.93
Customer Review: I recently read "the insomnia workbook" by Dr. Stephanie Silberman as someone with sleep difficulties but not necessarily insomnia. Not sure if it would help my particular issues, I gave it a read and was overwhelmed with just how much pertinent information it contained. There is such great information that I was able to put into practice immedia...
Aspira: Nationally recognized Osthoff resort spa offers more than 100 service...
4 Mar 2010 at 4:16am
Aspira: Nationally recognized Osthoff resort spa offers more than 100 services ...
Sheboygan Press
This treatment begins with a balancing bath, using light and sound vibration in the chromatherapy tub, while the body is massaged with hundreds of air jets. ...
and more »
Full Steam Ahead - Kitchen and Bath Design News
4 Mar 2010 at 11:12pm
Kitchen and Bath Design News
Full Steam Ahead
Kitchen and Bath Design News
James agrees: ?We're also seeing large bathtubs with chromatherapy and surround sound systems. There is an advanced audio technology that creates an ...
Commode Performance - Baltimore Magazine
1 Mar 2010 at 12:38pm
Commode Performance
Baltimore Magazine
Some add remote controls, integrated sound and music, and lighted panels for chromatherapy, which uses the visual experience of different colors to ...
$8000 Teknowash shampoo station worth 'every penny' - Palm Beach Post
18 Feb 2010 at 10:06pm
Palm Beach Post
$8000 Teknowash shampoo station worth 'every penny'
Palm Beach Post
Ever-changing pastel lights above your head provide chromatherapy (or at least something pleasant to look at). Dino Laudati purchased two for his D. Laudati ...
The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.
|
