“To brood”, “to see life in pink”, “to get angry all red”… Colors and emotions are often associated. Some increase our tension, others can help us sleep or even make us hungry… Nothing magic there. When we see a color, a whole sensory arsenal is activated in our retina: visual information is transformed into an electrical signal and then transmitted to the brain. Depending on the color perceived, it secretes a cocktail of messengers that will act on the body. And women would be favored: an American study showed that they saw colors with more intensity than men. Conclusion: the chromotherapyIt is for us !
Red energizes and stimulates the mind
“Red alert !” Red is the universal symbol of urgency, passion and energy. And it’s true on a biological level: studies have shown that this color promotes short-term memory, increases attention and heightens emotions. Clearly, with red, we find our animal instincts. A color to handle with care, therefore: we avoid putting it in the room of the youngest, especially if he is the hyperactive type. On the other hand, we can dare a scarlet bed linen set in the parents’ bedroom, just to “treat” their libido ! It is also a color that warms: American researchers have noticed that, in a room painted red, the perceived temperature rose by an average of 3 to 4°C… Those who are chilly will appreciate it! Finally, at mealtimes, put on a tablecloth or carmine placemats to whet the appetite.
Blue de-stresses and promotes sleep
Chinese scientists have shown that this color lowers our blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. Versus the stress, we adopt blue on all floors: in the bedroom, especially if it is dark (the famous “night blue”), it helps us to fall asleep. At the office, he encourages us to keep a cool head. It is also the best ally of artists, since it promotes the imagination. Great for everyone, blue? Not really: because it pushes us to introspection, it also tends to stifle communication, to encourage withdrawal. This is why chromotherapists advise against it for depressed people.
Pink maintains a good mood… in small doses
Less and less reserved for girls, this color is even frequently used on the walls of schools, in prisons, or even in psychiatric hospitals. According to scientists, pink causes the same effects as blue on the body. In addition, it is a warm color: clearly, it pushes us towards others. Only good, pink? Not quite: chromotherapists still advise to use it in moderation. In excess, it could become as exciting as red… A cushion on the sofa in the living room, a rug in the bedroom, a trinket in the office: this is the ideal dose not to be exceeded. Not a fan of pink? To fight against stress and keep calm, in general, we make the right choice by betting on blue or pastel colors. Studies carried out in 2001, the shades of linden, teal (a shade of blue-green) or peach are the most relaxing.
Yellow represents the joy of living
Recommended by chromotherapists in all living rooms, this solar color gives us energy and chases away dark thoughts. Both warm and reassuring, it is the most cheerful color in our “well-being palette”. Better still: she is a champion in terms of communication, especially if she tends towards orange. It is therefore favored to defuse conflicts or to make the shy speak! Used in small strokes in an office, yellow-orange proves conducive to intellectual work. He favors concentrationfacilitates learning and develops the sense of organization.
Good to know: white should not be abused
With white, the timeless color par excellence, we have the impression of making no mistake. And yet! According to chromotherapists, an achromatic (colorless) environment would have rather negative consequences on our health. Moreover, for half the planet, white is the color of mourning… A study by the University of Ankara (Turkey) found that the rate absenteeism and employee fatigue increased in a white work environment. And, in 2005, another study found a link between burnout and achromatic environment.
White is also the enemy of our libido: if, in a predominantly red bedroom, couples make love more than three times a week, in an extra-white bedroom, this statistic drops to 2.02 … Yours is white? Bet on colored bulbs. And, in the future, reserve this color for the bathroom…
Chromotherapy, a recognized treatment
In maternity wards, doctors use blue light to treat jaundice (jaundice) in newborn babies. The reason ? It inhibits the production of bilirubin, a yellow pigment resulting from the degradation of hemoglobin. In 1976, the WHO (World Health Organization) recognized chromotherapy as alternative medicine. There are two techniques. “The first, called global chromotherapy, is like a real “light bath”: the patient is placed in a room that is intensely illuminated with certain colors. We mainly use it to treat psychological disorders: insomnia, anxiety, depression, explains Antoine Mallet, chromotherapist. Local chromotherapy is a little different: it involves projecting a beam of colored light onto a part of the body. This method, which we mainly use for physical disorders, gives good results in dermatology, particularly in the treatment of stretch marks. »
To find out more: The amazing power of colors, Jean-Gabriel Causse, ed. From the Palio
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