ThePhysiologyand
PsychologyofColour
DrLindaMayerandProfRashidBhikha
July2014
Coloursprovokeemotionalfeelingsandtheyarepartofeverything,from
natureandrainbowstoman-madecreations.Colourshaveaphysiological,psychological
andsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeingandstatusintheworld;fromthepositive
stimulatingeffectsofwarmcolours,tothementalrelaxationandsoothingeffectsofcool
colours.
Colourssetthemoodandtoneoftheenvironmentbyimpactingonone’ssensesand
affectingone’sperceptionofthesymbolicmeaningwhichisbeingportrayed.Itisameans
ofcommunicatingone’sfeelingsandself-expression,anditiswellknownforitsbiological
attraction.
Anumberofstudieshaveelaboratedontherelationshipbetweenthehumanbodyand
colours.Lightisenergy,andcolourisconsideredtobetheinteractionofenergyandmatter.
Thereisaspecificwavelength,frequency,andenergyforeachcolour.Einsteinmaintained
thatthehumanbodyworksinharmonywiththeelectromagnetic/energysystemofthe
universe.1
“Everythinginlifeisvibration”(AlbertEinstien)
ThePhysiologyofColour
Theautonomicnervoussystem(ANS)functionsinvoluntarilyasitcontrolsthenervous
systemaswellasregulatingthemusclesoftheheartandsmoothmuscles.2
Smoothmusclesareresponsibleforcontractingtheholloworgans,suchasthebladder,
gastrointestinaltractandthebloodvessels.3
TheANSisconsideredtoplayanintegralpartinhomeostasisduetotheregulationofblood
pressure,contractionofholloworgans,gastrointestinalresponsestofood,focusingofthe
1
eyes,aswellastemperatureandsweating.Coloursgenerateelectricalimpulsesand
magneticcurrents,orfieldsofenergythatactivatethebiochemicalandhormonalprocesses
inthehumanbody.1Arecentdiscoveryidentifiedthattheretino-hypothalamictractleads
directlyfromtheretinatothehypothalamus,whichlinkscolourstotheANS.
TheANSregulatesthesympatheticandtheparasympatheticsystems,bothofwhichhave
oppositefunctions,namely,redisenergetic;blueissedating,andgreenmediatesbetween
boththesympatheticandparasympatheticnervoussystems.4
Redsimulatestheposteriorhypothalamusandthereforethesympatheticnervous
system.Redandyellowprovokeanger.Allcoloursintheredspectrum–fromred/orangeto
yellow,haveastimulatingeffect.4
Thesympatheticnervoussystemcausesdilationofthebloodvesselswhichincreasesblood
flow,heartrateandbloodpressure.Thisresultsinasurgeofenergyintimesof
emergencies,asinthe“fight-or-flight”response,preparingthebodyforstrenuousphysical
activity.Thebodythusreceiveswell-oxygenatedbloodwhichisrichinnutrientsforthe
tissuesthatneedit,especiallytheskeletalmuscles.Theheartrateandbloodpressureis
increased,aswellasoxygencirculationtothevitalorgans.Liverglycogenisconvertedinto
glucoseandperistalsisofthegastrointestinaltract(digestionandsalivation)istemporarily
inhibited.5
Italsostimulatesbloodclottingwhenwoundedtominimisethelossofblood.Pupilsizeand
peripheralvisionisimproved.Thesymptomsandillnessesassociatedwithsympathetic
nervoussystemdominancearethoseoffight/flight,andinclude:hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia,fastarrhythmias,heartdisease,type1diabetes,anxiety,panic
attacks,hypervigilance,andpoorsleep.6
Colourswhichstimulatethecirculation,suchasred,orangeandyellow,willexertqualities
ofheat.Heatexpandsandrelaxesmuscles,loosenstensionandsoothespain.Howeverheat
mayaggravateinflammation.
Bluestimulatestheanteriorhypothalamus,whichcontainsthemainregulatingpart
oftheparasympatheticnervoussystem.Thismeansthatallcoloursinthebluishspectrum,
fromblue/greentoblueandviolet,normallyhaveasedating,digestion-activating,sleepinducingeffect.4
Theparasympatheticnervoussystemcausescontractionofthebloodvesselswhich
deceasesbloodflow,resultinginadecreaseoftheheartrateandbloodpressure.Italso
causesrelaxationofthemuscleswhichhelptoconserveenergyduringrest.Italsoregulates
thebasicfunctionsofthebodysuchasdigestionandurination.Stimulationofthe
parasympatheticnervoussystemcanbesummarizedastherestanddigestresponse,as
thisreturnsthebodyfunctionsbacktonormal:bloodpressurelowers,heartrateslows
2
down,gastrointestinalperistalsisisturnedonagainandtheliverstartsproducingnew
glycogen.5
Thesalivaryglands,gastricandintestinalmotilityarestimulatedwhichfacilitates
swallowing,ingestionandabsorptionoffoodandnutrients.Thechemicalbreakdownof
foodintheintestineispromotedbyenzymesoftheexocrineglandsofthepancreas.The
storageofnutrientmoleculeswithinthetissuesisenabledbythereleaseofinsulinfromthe
pancreaticislets.Theparasympatheticnervoussystemenablesthecontractionofthe
urinarybladderwhichresultsinurination.Italsocontrolscontractionofthepupilsofthe
eyessothatthelenscanadaptfornearvision.2
Colourswhichsuppressthecirculation,suchasvioletandbluewillexertqualitiesof
coldness.Coldcontractsandicereducesinflammation,soit'sgoodforarthritisormuscle
strainsfromaninflammatorynature.Howevercoldmaycausecramping.
SirIsaacNewton’sPrismofColours
(Left):NewtonandtheColourSpectrum.(Right):VisibleandUltravioletSpectroscopy.8
SirIsaacNewtonprovedthat,bysettingupaprismnearhiswindow,itprojectedaspectrum
ofcolours.Thediagramaboveontheleftshowsthatlightenterstheprismfromthetop
right,andisrefractedbytheglass.7Thediagramaboveontherightshowsthatvioletisbent
morethantheyellowandred,sothecoloursseparate.Heconcludedthatwhitelightis
madeupofsevendifferentcolouredrays.8
TheFourQualitiesofColour
(9)Thisdiagramdepictswarmhues(fromyellowtored
violet)andthecoolhues(fromgreentopurple).Thecolourredisawarmercolourthan
3
magenta,becauseredisclosertoorange;butbotharewarmcoloursincomparisonto
violet.9
1. Hueisgenerallydefinedasasourcecolour,oneofthetwelvebasiccoloursonthe
colourwheel.Knowingtheroothueallowsonetomixthecolourthatheorshesees,
usingabasicpalette.
2. Valueisthelightnessordarknessofthecolourrelativetowhite,black,andgrey.
3. Intensityisthebrightnessordullnessofacolour,oftendeterminedbytheamount
ofwhiteorcomplementhasbeenmixedwithit.Itismeasuredrelativetothe
brightestcolourwheelhuethatisclosesttothecolour.Oftenthe
wordschromaandsaturationareusedinterchangeablywithintensity.
4. Temperature,“warm”coloursofred,yellowandorange,or“cool”coloursofblue
andviolet.10
Primary,SecondaryandTertiaryColours
(11)
PrimaryColoursarethebuildingblocksforallotherhues,andcannotbecreatedbymixing
anyotherpigments.Theyareblue,yellow,andred.
SecondaryColoursareeachcreatedfrommixingtwooftheprimarycolours.Theyare
orange,green,andviolet.Liketheprimarycolours,theyareequidistantfromoneanother
onthecolourwheel.
TertiaryColoursareformedbymixingaprimaryandsecondarycolour.Theyareyellowgreen,yellow-orange,red-orange,red-violet,blue-violetandblue-green.11
Newtonclaimedthatcertaincolourswouldclashtogetheriftheywereindirectopposition
toeachother,suchasredandpurple,oryellowandgreen.InTibbopposingqualities
cannotexisttogethereither,asnothingcanbepositiveandnegative,hotandcold,moist
anddryatthesametime.Therelationshipofheat,moistness,coldnessanddrynesshasa
directbearingonthehealthstatusofanindividual.Heatisgenerallymorefavourablethan
coldformaintainingtheproperbalanceandgeneralhealthofthebody.12Healthwillonlybe
maintainedaslongastheoverallqualityofthehumoursisinharmonywiththeoverall
qualityoftheindividual’stemperament.
TheVisualPathway
4
Colourisapropertyofasurfaceorsubstanceresultingfromabsorptionofcertainofthe
incidentlightrays,andreflectionofothers,fallingwithintherangeofwavelengths
adequatetoexcitetheretinalreceptors….betweeninfraredandultraviolet.13
Colourvisionbeginswithphotoreceptorsintheeyeswhichconvertlightinformationinto
electricalsignalsinthebrain.Rodsarereceptivetotheamountsoflight,andconesare
sensitivetocolours.Eachcolourhasdifferentwavelengths,whichweseeasreflected
wavelengthsoflightfromconesandrodsintheeyes.
Theopticnervetravelsfromtheretina,pastthepituitaryglandviathetemporallobetothe
occipitallobeofthebrain,wherethispartofthevisualsystemisintouchwiththeconscious
partofourbrainoftheenvironment.
Thecolouroftheirisisdeterminedbytheamountofmelaninitcontains;thedarkerthe
eyes,themoremelaninandthemorelightisabsorbed,aslightwavespassthroughtheeye,
andthelesslightisavailabletoreflectwithintheeye.Thepathwayoflighttothebrainis
highlightedasfollows:
•
Lightisrefractedbythecorneaandentersthechamberoftheeyethroughthepupil.
•
Theirisdilatesinbrightlightandconstrictsindimlight.
•
Lightpassesthroughthelensandtheimageisinvertedontheretina.
•
Lightisabsorbedbyphotoreceptors,whichformsintopatternsofelectricalsignals,
whicharetransmittedviatheopticnervetothevisualcortexofthebrain.
•
Lightpassesfromtheretinalnervegangliontothehypothalamus.Thefunctionsof
thebodyareregulatedbythehypothalamusandthepituitaryofthebrain.
•
Theopticnervefibrestransmitnerveimpulsesfromthebraintothespinalcord,
fromwheretheimpulsestraveltothepinealgland.Thepinealglandisalsoknown
asthe‘lightmeter’ofthebody,whichinterpretsinformationthatonesees.14
OpticalIllusions
Acolourcontrastisanillusorytingeofcomplementaryhueorbrightnessinducedbyavivid
hueorluminanceontheareasurroundingitinthevisualfield.13Thewavelengthsoflight
travelatdifferentspeedsthroughdifferentmediums.Lightwavestravelslowerinwater
thanintheair,andbendwhentheymovefromtheairtothewater.Forexample,astickwill
appeartolookbrokeninaglassofwater,andafingerwillappeartolooklarger.Different
coloursarecreatedfromthereflectionandabsorptionoflight.15Itismoredifficulttotell
apartvaryingshadesofthesamecolour,astherearenotsomanywordswhichassignsto
thesedifferentshades.
5
Anafterimageisatypeofopticalillusioninwhichanimagecontinuestoappearbrieflyeven
afterexposuretotheactualimagehasended,whichcaneitherbepositiveornegative
afterimages.Forexample:
•
•
Positiveafterimage
Ifonestaresataverybrightlylitimageorsceneforabout30seconds,onewill
experienceapositiveafterimageforafewseconds,afterclosingone’seyes,as
theimagewillstillbeseenastheoriginaloneinthesamecoloursand
brightness.
Negativeafterimage
Thecoloursthatoneseesareinvertedfromtheoriginalimage.Forexample,if
onestaresforabout30secondsataredimage,onewillseeagreen
afterimage.16
TheTemperatureofColour
Colourtemperaturehasbeendescribedmostsimplyasamethodofdescribingthecolour
characteristicsoflight,usuallyeitherwarm(yellowish)orcool(bluish),andmeasuringitin
degreesofKelvin(°K).17Thetemperatureofredcolourisabout1800k,theyellowishwhite–
similartothemiddaycolourwhenthesunisshiningis6000k.Thebluecolourtemperature
amountsto10000k.
Thekelvinscaleisanabsolutetemperaturescaleinwhichtheunitofmeasurement,the
kelvin,isequivalenttothedegreeCelsius;theicepointthereforebeingat273,15kelvins
andtheboilingpointofwaterbeing373,15kelvins.13
Thetemperatureofcolourisitsperceivedwarmthorcoolness.Coolcolours(withabluer
base)tendtorecede,whilewarmcolourtemperatures(intheredandorangefamilies)are
perceivedasadvancing.19
Thisiswhyredisusedtosignaldanger,stopsignsandtheRedCrosssign;whereas
mountainsfadinginthedistanceappeartobeinshadesofblue.
“Bluemountainsaredistantfromus,andsocoolcoloursseemtorecede”.J.W.vonGoethe
Tibb,however,placesemphasisonthequalityofthecoloursanditsrelationwiththe
temperaments,aswellasitscorrespondingeffectsonthebodybytheautonomicnervous
system.Eachfoodanddrinkhasadegreeofheatorcoldness,whicheitherpromotesor
slowsdownmetabolism.Theheatingfoodsarenecessaryforthebodytoachieveand
maintainacompletemetabolicdigestionoffoods.20
Jungutilisedtheprinciplesofyangandyininthesymbolicpowerofcolourandits
significanceintheexpressionofemotionsthroughpainting.Thecoloursofyangarewarm,
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colours,suchasred,orange,yellowandmagenta.Thecoloursofyinarecool,colours,such
asblue,violet,turquoiseandgreen.Babbittrelatedyangcoloursasbeingmagnetic,
whereasyincoloursareelectric.Bothyangandyinexertoppositeandcomplementary
qualities;eitherenhancingordiminishing,warmingorcooling,andactiveorpassive,
respectively.22Jungbelievedthatcolourenabledpeopletoexplorethedeep,unconscious
partofthepsycheandtointegrateitwiththeconsciouspartinordertoachieve
‘wholeness’.
“Temperatureisanattributeofcolourorcharacteristicofapigment.”Artistsreferto
temperaturebythedegreeofwarmthorcoolnessmeasuredwhenonecolourstandsin
relationshiptoanothercolour,creatingameasureofcontrast.21Temperatureisalsoa
measureoftheaveragekineticenergyduetothermalequilibriumwithothersystems.13
Whenthetemperatureofcoloursisincreased,coloursmovefromthelongmetricwaveto
theshortmetricwave,namelyfromredcolourtotheyellowcolourthentothebluecolour
thentothevioletthentheultravioletcolourandfinallytheblackcolour.Finally,whenthe
temperatureincreasesmuchmore,coloursturndarkordeeptilltheybecomeblack.
Avicennabelievedthatcancerisatumourwhicharisesfrom‘burning’oftheblackbile
humour,duetotheincreaseofheatwhichhasbecomepathological.Healsodescribedthat
atumourswellingisamanifestationofthe‘boiling’oftheblackbileatitsjunctionwiththe
organ,andthatthecrabliketracksofthecanceroustumourtendstowardblackness,green
andheat.Frostbiteinitiallyappearsdarkredincolouronthehandsandfaceafterexposure
tosub-zerotemperatures,advancingtoblackintheadvancedstages.20
Gerard’sresearchinthe1970’srevealedthatexposuretowarmcoloursincreased
respiratorymovements,frequencyofeyeblinks,corticalactivationandpalmarconductance
(arousaloftheANS).Warmcoloursconsistentlyshowedamorepronouncedpatternof
stimulation.Coolcoloursshowedoppositeeffectsbyactingasarelaxantandtranquilizerfor
anxiousindividuals,loweringbloodpressure,providingrelieffromtension,alleviatingof
musclespasmsandreducingeyeblinkfrequency.1
Whydoesthecolourredappeartobewarmerthanblue?
Whenwegetwarmmorebloodiscirculatingatthesurfaceoftheskinwhichgivesitarosy
colour.Whenwegetcoldthebodytriestoconserveheatbydivertingbloodawayfromthe
surfaceoftheskininordertosupplymorebloodtothevitalorgans,givingtheskinabluish
appearance.
Ourperceptionofcolourmayalsoberelatedtooureverydayexperienceofhowweview
hotandcoldcolours.Theflamesofafireappeartobeyellowandorange,astheburning
processbeaksupbondsinthemoleculesofcarbonandhydrogenwhichemityellowlight,
whichishotanddry.Iftherearemoreparticlesofsoot,itwillactlikeblackbodyparticles,
emittingthecolourofred.Itisnotaseasytoseeobjectswhichhavebeenexposedtovery
7
hightemperatures;thereforethecolourblueisnotseenasoften.23Themolecular
propertiesofwatermakeitbluish-greenincolour,whichiscoldandmoist.
Oxygensupplyinfluencesthecolouroftheflame.Alow-oxygenfirecontainslotsof
uncombustedfuelparticlesandwillgiveoffayellowglow.Ahigh-oxygenfireburnsblue.So
candleflamesareblueatthebottombecausethat’swheretheytakeupfreshair,and
yellowatthetopbecausetherisingfumesfrombelowpartlysuffocatetheupperpartofthe
flame.24
Blueflamesarenotalwayshotterthanyellowflames,becausethecolouroflightemittedby
theflamedependsonwhichatomsandmoleculesareintheflame.Eachatomormolecule
hascertainspecialfrequencies(colours)atwhichitabsorbsandemitslight.Sometimes
that’smoreimportantthanthetemperatureoftheflameinsettingthecolour.25
ManifestationsofColourChanges
Variouschemicalcompoundscanbeusedtoalterthecolourinaflame,asisusedin
fireworks,forexample:redcoloursisobtainedbyusinglithiumandstrontium;orangewith
calcium,yellowwithsodium;greenwithbariumandcopperandhalides;bluewithcopper;
violet/purplewithpotassium,andwhite/silverwithaluminium,magnesiumandtitanium.26
Left:Yellowflamefromsodiumchloride.Middle:GreenflamefromBorax.
Right:VioletflamefromPotassiumchloride.26
IcebergsareformedfromtheglacialicethathasbuiltupfromsnowfallingontheAntarctic
continentovermillennia.Thisiceconsistsofpurefreshwater.Asseawaterisdrawndeep
undertheiceshelvesbytheoceaniccurrents,itbecomesextremelycold.Undercertain
conditionsitcanfreezetothebaseoftheiceshelf.Becausethisiceisformedfrom
seawater,itdiffersfromthefreshwatericeoftheiceshelf.Often,thefrozenseawater
containsorganicmatterandminerals,causingittohaveadifferentcolourandtexture.Thus
icebergsbrokenofffromtheiceshelvesmayshowlayersofthepureblue-whiteglacialice
andgreenericeformedfromfrozenseawater.Asthebergsbecomefragmentedand
sculptedbythewindandwaves,thedifferentcolouredlayerscandevelopstriking
patterns.27
TheTransformationofLightWaves
Themolecularstructureandpigmentationofeachobjectenablesthelightraystobemixed,
absorbedandreflectedinvariousspeedsandintensities.Objectswhichabsorbmorelight
raysandthusreflectlesslightbacktotheeyes,appeartobedarkeranddeeperincolour,
whereaslighterobjectsreflectmorelight,appeartobelighterandmoreintenseincolour.
Atransparentobjectwilltransmitlight.15If,forexample,oneholdsawhitepieceofpaper
ononesideofaglassfilledwithredliquid,thelightwilltransmitaredcolouroftheliquid
8
ontothepaper.Anobjectiscolouredbecauseofthelightitreflects,andalltheother
coloursareabsorbedintothatspecificobject.28
Thefoetusinthewombisabletodistinguishbetweenlightanddark.Atbirthinfantscan
seeshapes,buttheycanonlyseeblack,whiteandgrey.Afterafewweeksoflifetheyare
abletoseethefirstprimarycolourofred,andbytheageof3monthstheyareabletosee
thefullspectrumofcolours.
ThePsychologyofColour
Individualcolourpreferenceshaveahugeimpactonthebody,mindandsoul,aswellason
theeconomyingeneral,duetoparticularassociationswhichpeopleattachtothemeanings
ofcolours.Colourshavedeeplyrootedemotionalresponseswhichinfluencedecisions
whichpeoplemake,fromthecarstheydrivetotheclothestheywear.
Warmcoloursincludered,orangeandyellow,whichevokeemotions,rangingfromfeelings
ofwarmthandcomfort,happinessandvibrancy,tofeelingsofangerandhostility.Blue,
greenandpurplecoloursareknownascoolcolours,whichareoftendescribedascalming
andsoothing,butcanalsoevokefeelingsofsadnessorindifference.29
Coloursreflectdifferentemotions,moods,attitudes,personalities,characteristicsand
messages.Coloursmayinspire,energiseandcreateasenseofcalmness,happiness,
sadness,uneasiness,oranger.Itcanbeattentionseeking,provokepassion,alertoneinthe
eventofdanger;itcandenoteloyalty,compassion,confidenceandateamplayer;itcan
denotepower,efficiency,eleganceandstyle;oritcanportrayasenseofcheerfulness,
playfulnessandexcitability.
Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour,forexample:bright
coloursreflectmorelight,asinthecolourofyellowwhichmayover-stimulatethemind,
causingstrainandirritability.Howevertherightshadeofyellowpaintedonthewallscan
positivelystimulatethemindinaclassroomsetting.Converselydarkcoloursabsorbmore
light,asinthecoloursofblack,purple,violetandblue,haveasedating,digestion-activating,
sleep-inducingeffect.
Goetheunderstoodtherelationshipbetweencolourandemotions,asdidLuschner,the
latter,whobelievedthatcolourpreferencesrevealedaperson’sbasicpersonalitytraits.He
indicatedthatapersonwhohadapreferenceforthecolourofredhasanassertive
personalitytype,whoisoutgoingandwithastrongwill,asintheSanguinous/Bilious
temperament.Conversely,apersonwhodislikesredindicatesthatheisshyandpossibly
withdrawnfromsociety,whichmaybelinkedtotheMelancholic/Phlegmatictemperament.
Thecolourclothingthatonewearsalsoreflectsone’semotions,andatthesametimeit
portraystootherpeoplehowonewouldliketobeperceived,suchasconfident,loyal,
passionateorateamplayer.Veryoftenpeoplecometoworkwearingthesamecolours.
Thismaybeareflexionofthesharingofemotions,personalinformationandworkissues,
9
whichsubconsciouslyaretranslatedintopatternsofpsychologicalinterpretationofthe
emotionselicitedbythemilieuoftheworkenvironment.
AccordingtoSheilaDicks,aprofessionalstylecoach,“thecoloursyouwearinaprofessional
settingareaboutsomuchmorethanmerefashionorstyle.Colourssendsubconscious
messages,andcanaffectyourmood,aswellasthemoodoftheworkersaroundyou."30
“Mooddressersarepeoplewhoarein-tunewiththeiremotionsanddressaccordingly”.31
TheInfluenceofHormonesonMood
Photoelectricenergyinfluencesthefunctioningofthepituitaryglandwhichcontrolsthe
hormonalsystemandhencecopingmechanisms,emotionalandstressrelations.32
Thepinealglandinthebrainproducesthehormonesofserotoninandmelatonin.Serotonin
isaneurotransmitterinthebrain,whichhasbeenlinkedwithmentaldisturbancessuchas
schizophreniaandhallucinations.Itisastimulantwhichisproducedduringdaylight(yellow
ofthesympatheticnervoussystemandtheBilioustemperament).Melatoninhasachemical
pathwaywhichenablesanorganismtorespondtolightandsynchronizebodilyfunctioning
withdiurnalandseasonalvariations.Itislinkedwithsleep(blueoftheparasympathetic
nervoussystemandthePhlegmatictemperament),anditincreaseswhenitisdark,butit
alsohasadepressiveeffect1(toomuchbluecausesdepression).Wheredaylightand
artificiallightingintheinteriorofbuildingsareinadequate,thenaturalsuppressionof
melatoninproductionduringthedayfailsandmaybeaccompaniedbyfeelingsof
depression.32
Studiesonsleepdisorders,depression,seasonalaffectivedisorderandpost-traumaticstress
disordersuggestedthatsigns,symptoms,andbiologicmarkersassociatedtothese
psychiatricdisordersareduetomarkedalterationsinmelatoninandserotoninlevels.33
NeurophysiologyofColour
Modernneuropsychologymaintainsthatmemoriesarecolour-codedandthatdistinct
frequenciesofcolourcanreactivatesynapsesinthebrainwhichwerepreviouslyblocked.
Repressedmemoriesofaphysicaloremotionaltraumaareheldinthehippocampusand
amygdalaofthelimbicsystemofthebrain.Thesememoriescanbeaccessedandtreated
withthecorrectcolourwavelength,with,forexamplewearingcolourglasseswiththe
recommendedcolour,andothertreatmentoptions.
Colourscanhavetwodistinctandoftenoppositeeffects.Becauseofthecolor-codingof
emotions,treatmentwithcolourcaneithertriggertheexpectedcolourwithaphysiological
reaction,orenablethereleaseofarelatedcolourcodedemotionorproblem.Forexample:
bluelightwillusuallyhaveasedativeeffect,butifapersonwasmolestedbyhismother
whenhewasatoddler,andshewaswearingabluebraatthetime,bluemaycause
sympatheticarousal(distress)inthispersonuntilthetraumaishealed.
10
Thecomplexionconstantlychangesaccordingtothefluctuationoftheemotionsandthe
differenceinthestateofhealth,forexample:blushingorextremeangermayturntheface
reddishincolour;cyanosishasabluishcolour,andjaundicehasayellowcomplexion.
InTibbwarmthisassociatedwithblood,fire,lifeforceenergy,growth,movement,joy,as
wellasanoutgoing,enthusiasticandoptimistictemperament.Aglowingcomplexionfroma
feverisalsoassociatedwithwarmth.Fromanemotionalperspective,warmcoloursofred
andyellowareextrovert,inviting,happyandcosy,andstimulatethebody,suchasthe
SanguinousandBilioustemperaments.Warmcoloursarebestusedinconditionswhich
requireenergising,suchasindepressionandlethargy,butnotinconditionssuchasADHD
orhypomania,whichwouldfurtherexacerbateenergylevels.
InTibbcoldnesshascharacteristicswhicharecompletelyoppositetowarmth,namelythose
ofphlegmandblackbile,withacompassionateandperfectionistictemperament.Coldness
isalsoassociatedwithdeath.Thecoolercoloursofblue,violetandgreenareintrovert,such
asthePhlegmaticandMelancholictemperaments,whichwouldbemoresuitablefor
disordersofhyperactivityandanxiety.
TheColourofEmotions
Fromaphysiologicalperspectivewarmcoloursenhancehumanmetabolism,increase
respirationrate,raisebloodpressureandincreasecirculation;whereascoolercolourshave
antisepticandanti-inflammatoryqualities,andwhichslowsdownmetabolism,andinduces
sleep.
FromaTibbperspective,joyandhappiness,aswellasangerandaggression,havequalities
ofheat,whichislinkedwiththeBiliousTemperamentandthecolourofyellow,whichis
associatedwithafierytemperament.Sadnessisoppositetojoy,andhasqualitiesofcold,
whichisinkedtotheMelancholicTemperamentandthecolourpurple/violet,whichis
associatedwiththeseriousandpessimistictemperament.Fearistheoppositeofanger,and
hascoldqualities,whichislinkedwiththePhlegmaticTemperamentandthecolourblue,
andwhichisassociatedwithitscalm,controlledandeventemperament.
Themindandemotionsarethemostpowerfulenergiesonearth,andpeopleassociate
certaincoloursandlanguagewithemotions.
•
•
•
•
“I’vegottheblues,”or‘downintheblues’(blueslowsusdownandmakesalready
slowpeopledepressed.asinthePhlegmatictemperament).
“Iaminablackmood”(asinMelancholictemperament)
“Iamgreenwithenvy”(envyisaliveremotionandthecorrectcolouris
yellow/green.
“Red-Hotlove”(redbringsoutemotioninpeople-includingsexualpassion).4‘Inthe
pinkofhealth’;‘lookingattheworldthroughrose-colouredspectacles’;‘redcarpet
treatment’;‘and‘businessisinthered’.34
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Conclusion
Colourhasaphysiological,psychologicalandsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeing
andstatusintheworld;fromthepositivestimulatingeffectsofwarmcolourstothemental
relaxationandsoothingeffectsofcoolcolours.Colourssetthemood,stateofmindand
toneforanyenvironment,situationorhealingtherapies.Colourinfluencesouremotions,
ouractionsandhowwerespondtovariouspeople,situationsandideas.Redsandyellows
stimulatethesensesandproducefeelingsandthoughtsofwarmthandcomfort,whereas
bluesandviolets/purplesareassociatedwithcoldness.
Everycolourhasitsownspecificwavelengthandfrequency,fromstimulatingandenergetic
qualities,tocalmingandmoresubduedones.Thisgeneratesspecificbiochemicaland
hormonalresponses,whichinfluencethephysiologyandautonomicnervoussystem.
Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour.Theuseofcolour
therapycanbeappliedtothebodytoalteritsfunctioning.
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