| The idea of basket weaving as a form of therapy, | | | | proven by chromotherapists that color therapy does |
| traditionally used for patients with mental illness is | | | | work. Many forms are used: art work, light films, |
| often laughed at. But in a way, there is wisdom in the | | | | colored material, colored water, yarns and threads, |
| use of crafts for having a calming effect. In today's | | | | colored baskets, colored candles, gemstones, bath |
| society, the meaning of "slow down", an easy and | | | | treatments, and colored glasses or lenses. |
| natural pace, and relaxation, has become pretty close | | | | It really doesn't matter what the tool is as long as |
| to obsolete in meaning and in activity. | | | | you are comfortable with it; what matters are the |
| Chronic stress has taken on a whole new meaning to | | | | colors used. Different colors are associated with |
| the point of being an epidemic, along with resistant | | | | positive and negative effects, and can be used along |
| depression, panic disorder, anxiety, and chronic | | | | with hydrotherapy (water therapy) and |
| fatigue. See the correlation between them? The first | | | | aromatherapy, to heighten the therapeutic effect. |
| one causes the second; if you cannot relax, then | | | | Each color has a specific healing modality in color |
| your body and mind will keep going until it develops a | | | | therapy. When you are using a red thread in your |
| disorder, letting you know "things are really not | | | | hands, and visually focusing on the red patterns, |
| okay"... slow down! | | | | things change and develop in your mind and your |
| How many of us feel the need to relax, and sit down | | | | emotions, affecting all the senses -- not just the five |
| with thread and needle to do so? I had a friend, | | | | main ones. Let's look at a few of the different colors, |
| when asked if she sewed or did needlework for | | | | and what purpose they can be used for when |
| relaxation, laughed out loud and said, "Honey... I staple | | | | designing your next cross-stitch pattern or purchasing |
| my hems on my pants. Does that SOUND like I like | | | | yarns or threads: |
| to sew or do needlework?" | | | | |
| Regardless, people of today and in the near future | | | | 1. White -- this color is used for regeneration, |
| are beginning to take things into their own hands. | | | | providing energy and balancing the body's rhythm; it |
| They do not just blindly call their doctor when they | | | | stimulates the production of serotonin, which |
| don't feel well, take a med without knowing what it | | | | regulates both the sleep and nervous system. (Why |
| is or the side effects, or take the diagnosis | | | | do you think we count "white sheep" to fall asleep?). |
| unquestioningly anymore without second opinions. | | | | The color white rebalances the psychophysical and |
| They research conditions through the Internet; they | | | | hormonal systems in people who suffer from S.A.D. |
| get second opinions from anyone and everyone; and | | | | (seasonal affective disorders). |
| all the while, talking to other people with similar | | | | 2. Green -- green is a very healing color, which is why |
| conditions through support groups or online. | | | | plant therapy works so well and herbal therapy is |
| And many, many people are beginning to use | | | | slowly replacing many traditional medicines. It |
| alternative methods for their solutions. | | | | regulates the pituitary gland, fights depression, bulimia, |
| One such method for stress and mental conditions is | | | | and many psychosomatic conditions affecting the |
| the use of color therapy, used with the colored yarns | | | | gastric system. It also calms the nervous system, |
| and threads for activities such as cross-stitching and | | | | fights irritability, and insomnia. Many color therapists |
| embroidery, and combined with the direction of art | | | | suggest it for individuals who are recovering from |
| therapy in its creativity. This helps our mind relax, | | | | nervous breakdowns. |
| moving it to another sense of direction, and healing | | | | 3. Blue -- this is a very soothing, calming color. It |
| with color and creativity. | | | | reduces blood pressure and stimulates the |
| Color therapy has been around a long time; it is not a | | | | parasympathetic system -- the system that is |
| new kid on the block... only in the United States. It | | | | referred to as the "rest and digest" system. |
| was not an alternative medicine, but used with light | | | | Bluecalms the breathing and the heart rate, has |
| for health treatments clear back in recorded time. | | | | anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxing effects (have |
| It is speculated that color therapy in all areas | | | | you ever wondered why "Icy Hot" has a blue tinge |
| originated in the roots of Ayurveda, an ancient India | | | | when rubbed into your muscles, or the Vick's bottle |
| form of medicine practiced for thousands of years. | | | | has a blue color?). It fights tension physically and |
| The Chinese and ancient Egyptian cultures also used | | | | mentally, and is used in relaxation. |
| it as a form of medical treatments. In the United | | | | 4. Yellow -- this increases neuromuscular tone along |
| States, color therapy, art therapy, and light therapy | | | | with purifying the blood, helping digestion, plus having |
| are beginning to be recognized as a complementary | | | | a cleansing effect, which promotes a sense of |
| system to "other traditional treatments". | | | | security. The color yellow stimulates happiness and a |
| Recently, chromotherapy and Feng Shui combined | | | | sense of well-being, which is why a good walk |
| their fields; bringing specific colors into homes and | | | | outside on a sunny day does wonders to a bad |
| workplaces, and attempting to achieve optimum | | | | frame of mind! |
| balances of energy. Dr. Peter Mandel, a German | | | | 5. Red -- this powerful color is used to energize and |
| acupuncturist and creative naturopath, has natural | | | | stimulate. It affects the heart by increasing pulse |
| healing methods" through a process called | | | | rates and also body temperature. Muscles will |
| color-puncture, which is now being taught in many | | | | increase their tension; excitement will develop along |
| countries. | | | | with sensuality and strong emotions. Many early |
| Color therapy, or colorology, is a process used by | | | | civilizations used the color red in their décor, |
| itself as an alternative medicine method. Therapists | | | | uniforms, and flags. |
| who are trained in chromotherapy use color and light | | | | A balance of color needs to be worked out and |
| to balance the physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental | | | | designed, as too much of one color is used, enough |
| aspects of the human body. | | | | white is added for balance. When a "tight" feeling is |
| Traditional medicine is now calling it "integrative | | | | felt inside you as you work, then not enough white |
| therapy" where the body, mind, and soul are all | | | | has been added. Either add more white, or go for |
| treated simultaneously: different terminology, similar | | | | some complementary colors for direction. |
| ideas, and identical results. It is being scientifically | | | | |