We do not use the same colours in winter as in summer, nor are the walls of a day care centre painted the same colours as those of an office. This is obvious to most people. But behind this are factors that have to do with the ways colours influence our moods, our ability to concentrate and how we go about our daily activities.

What is chromotherapy?
In the first place, colours would not exist without light, and it is the wavelength of light that accounts for its variety. Visible colours are found in two parts of the wavelength range: above infrared and below ultraviolet. In fact, infrared light, which we perceive as heat, is used commonly to treat ailments like muscle pain, while ultraviolet rays, besides tanning us, can alleviate skin problems as long as our exposure to the rays is moderate.

Chromotherapy can be applied through special lamps with lights of different colours, by simply looking at such colours, with coloured candles and even by eating foods of one or more colours. The philosophy and mechanism of the therapy is based on ideas used in other ways of healing. These ideas state that emotions and moods affect our physical health and at the same time are a result of it. Thus, by creating the right sensations through colour we can heal an ailment or restore lost equilibrium to the body. It is also related to the search for harmony that must exist between the vibrations of colours and the bioenergetic vibrations of each human and with the so-called chakras or energy points that are activated with acupuncture.

The properties of colours
The primary colours are red, yellow and blue. The next division is between warm and cold colours. The latter are those with a strong blue component and range from violet to baby blues, while warm colours are those made up yellow and red, as is the case of orange, the range of brown tones and earth tones. Warm colours create the sensation indicated by their name and therefore cause well-being. But if they are intense, they can cause fatigue and lower our activity level. In a study of light, employees who worked amid the same intensity of light and the same hours but with warm colours instead of white or cold light reported greater fatigue than did the latter.

As for specific colours, red is associated with strong emotions like passion or anger. It is not a colour used often in chromotherapy, but it works well in cases of depression and sadness. Chromotherapy holds that orange promotes positive thinking, is related to the health of the lungs and alleviates spasms. Yellow is has invigorating properties and has a positive effect on organs such as the kidneys and the gall bladder. It is also good for the skin. Green is the colour of balance and calm, and it acts on the circulatory system and muscles. Blue adds to a feeling of calm and is good against insomnia. Another cold colour is violet. Its main characteristic is its spirituality and its effects are seen in glands such as the thyroid.

At home
Chromotherapy tends to be used in combination with other techniques, boosting the effects of both. Although use of colours around the house� cannot be considered therapeutic in the strict sense of the word,� it can make for a pleasant setting that helps with the chores done there. Blues and greens are recommended for rooms used for study or rest, while warm tones are best for roomos used for gathering with family and friends.