Botanica WestHolistic Healing & Therapy from a Master Herbalist

The Effects of Colors

Although people may not be aware of it, colors have notable psychological effects upon them. For example, red and orange are lively colors, which tend to excite emotions and stimulate certain body functions. However, improper use can cause tension, high blood pressure, and greater risk taking. In fact, in a study conducted by a British university, those who sat under red lights opposed to blue lights gambled more and made riskier bets.

Yellow, which reminds one of the sun, is cheerful and reduces boredom.

Green is an unusual color because many find this color peaceful, while others find that it makes them feel ill at ease. According to Managing Stress from Morning to Night: AResearch suggests that green may actually increases stress. In one study, people looked at colored lights while the electrical conductivity of their skin was measured. When exposed to green light, their skin became sweatier and its electrical resistance deceased, indicating that the stress from green lights was greater from lights of any other color.@

Blues and violets are soothing colors that have a tranquilizing and serene effect on people. Blue light has even been found to retard the pulse rate and lower blood pressure.

Red, Scarlet, Maroon and Pink:

Red stimulates.

Red is used for:
Anemia
Poor circulation
Sluggish intestines
Rapid growth
To lower blood pressure
Erysipelas
Urticaria
Scarlet fever
Measles
Eczema
Uterine hemorrhages
Reduce pain
Lumbago
Myalgia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Neuritis
Fractures
Increase circulation
Increase vitality
Increase energy
Increase warmth in the tissues
Stimulate nerves
Stimulate liver
Improve red fractions in the blood
Stimulate senses
Aid sluggish conditions
Contract muscles

Wear red when you want to:
Bring in a romantic relationship
Restore your physical endurance
Express greater power
Stand out in a crowd

Scarlet is used for:
Cerebral stimulant
Reduces inflammation
Arterial stimulant
Kidney energizer
Colds
Represents courage
Dispense discouragement

Wear maroon when you want to:
Reward yourself with some fun
Ward off outside stress
Protect yourself from draining persons

Pink is used for:
Raises body vibrations
Rejuvenation

Wear pink when you want to:
Rescue yourself from stress
Energize your femininity
Stimulate responsibility for others
Relax your mind and listen to your heart

Note:
Don=t sleep under a pink blanket

Red foods:
Beets
Tomatoes
Radishes
Red cabbage
Watercress
Spinach
Black cherries
Red currants
Red plums
Red beans
Watermelon
Grapes
Whole wheat
Liver
Red wine

Orange and Peach:

Orange is a body normalizer.

Orange is used for:
Asthmas
Respiratory disorders
Anti-rickets
Cramps
Spasms
Aids digestion
Provides relief for ulcers
Improves thyroid function
Replenishes depleted enthusiasm
Replenishes depleted vitality
Replenishes depleted energy
Improves glossiness of hair
Improves softness of hair
Thyroid
Liver
Releases nerve tension
Increases gland activity
Makes heart beat stronger
Increases blood pressure
To lower daily intake of insulin
Restore voice
Stimulate and rebuild lungs
Aid bronchitis
Activate thyroid
Depress the parathyroid glands
Relieves gas
Relieves intestinal cramps
Relieves spastic and sluggish colon and intestines
Eliminate discharges
Stimulate breast
Brings boils, carbuncles and abscesses to a head
For soft bones
For soft teeth
Tuberculosis
For poor posture
Kidneys
Spleen
Stomach
Pancreas
Bladder
Lungs
Respiratory
Epilepsy
Asthma
Stomach complaints
Kidney stones
Gravel
Gallstones
Gout
Rheumatism
Arthritis
Depression
Melancholia
Hyperirritability
Chronic fear

Wear orange when you want to:
Organize your time and energy
Motivate yourself
Bring in a desired result
Protect your physical stamina

Wear peach when you want to:
Enhance your charitable actions
Support your energy levels
Show love in action
Stimulate the good opportunities

Orange foods:
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Pumpkins
Oranges
Tangerines
Squash
Peaches
Apricots
Cantaloupe
Mangoes
Persimmons
Papaya
Eggs
Dairy products

Yellow and Lemon Yellow:

Yellow is a stimulant.

Yellow is used for:
Nerve builder
Laxative
Increase flow of bile
Increase stomach and intestinal activity
Reduce swelling
Lubricant
Heals
Constipation
Arthritis
Activates all body functions, e.g. spleen
Builds nerves
Builds muscle
Stimulates heart for circulation
Stimulates liver
Stimulates gall bladder
Eliminates intestinal parasites
Aids digestion
Aids constipation
Helps diabetes
Stimulates pancreas
Loosens calcium deposits in neuritis and arthritis
Stimulates eyes and ears
Improves skin texture
Aids pore cleansing
Aids healing of scars and blemishes
Stimulates gastric juices
Corrects chronic cases
Wear yellow when you want to:
Enhance your communicative abilities
Halt or prevent depression
Stimulate your desires
Sell yourself and your skills

Lemon yellow is used for:
Blood purifier
Loosens and eliminates mucous
Relieves colds
Antacid
Laxative
Bone builder
Expectorant
Cerebral stimulant
Anti-scurvy
Activates thymus gland
Useful for sluggish liver
Helps dull memory

Yellow foods:
Parsnips
Yellow corn
Yellow sweet potatoes
Bananas
Banana squash
Pineapples
Lemons
Grapefruit
Honeydew melons
Butter
Eggs
Yellow cheeses
Yellow-skinned fruits
Yellow-skinned vegetables

Green, Mint Green, Apple Green and Yellow Green:

Green is used for:
Sympathetic nervous system
Kidneys
Liver
General healing, restoration, and balance
Acts as detergent
Stimulates pituitary
Dissolves blood clots
Builds muscle, tissues, and skin
Breaks up congestions
Breaks up hardened cell masses
Increases or decreases blood pressure
Gall bladder problems
Ulcers
Optic nerve
Quieting

Wear green when you want to:
Motivate your objectivity
Promote health consciousness
Stimulate an independent goal
Calm your emotional response to discord

Wear mint green when you want to:
Calm your emotions
Heal your body
Reduce outside drains
Stimulate your romantic dreams

Yellow green is used for:
Regeneration

Wear apple green when you want to:
Renew your desires
Motivate new interests
Stimulate a challenge
Bring a new opportunity

Green foods:
Raw green salad
Green cabbage
Green asparagus
Green celery
Green peppers
Green peas
String beans
Spinach

Blue Green, Turquoise, and Blue (Light and Dark):

Blue is calming.

Blue green is used for:
Calming
Soothing
Allaying fevers and inflammation
Strengthening organs

Wear blue green when you want to:
Promote your independence
Stimulate your practicality
Maintain spiritual practices
Reduce emotional stress

Turquoise is used for:
Tranquilizes
Aids headaches
Aids swelling
Decreases brain activity
Builds skin
Helps nutrition
Helps repair
Treats sunburns
Relieves itching
Blue is used for:
Fevers
Depresses motor nerves
Depresses fast pulse
Depresses pain
Reduces temperatures
Pulmonary sedative
Aids infection
Aids inflammation
Encourages relaxation
Reduces blood pressure
Calms
Soothes
Heals physical and mental agitation
Quiets
Is antiseptic
Stops bleeding of lungs
Decreases fevers
Cures sore throats
Cures laryngitis
Cures hoarseness
Cures dysentery
Cures jaundice
Cures cuts
Cures burns
Cures bruises
Cures female diseases
Cures acute rheumatism
Headaches
Insomnia
Colitis
Diarrhea
Baldness
Cerebro-spinal meningitis
Neuralgic headache
General nervousness
Sunstroke
Sciatica
Nervous irritability
Mental emotions disturbance
Hemorrhages
Paralysis
Constipation
Chronic rheumatism
Melancholia
Depression

Wear light blue when you want to:
Stimulate your creativity
Encourage your learning
Calm down over-activity
Increase your logic and analytical insight

Wear dark blue when you want to:
Protect your emotions
Prevent fatigue on the job
Enhance your wisdom and discernment
Stimulate your self-awareness

Blue foods:
Blueberries
Blue plums
Prunes
Grapes

Indigo:

Indigo is for purifying.

Indigo is used for:
Purifying blood
Eye inflammation
Ear problems
Deafness
Fevers connected with lymph glands
Swelling
Extreme pain
Stimulates parathyroid
Depresses thyroid
Purifies blood stream
Builds phagocytes in spleen
Treats acute bronchitis
Treats convulsions
Treats nervous ailments
Treats lung disturbances
Treats nasal disturbances
Treats tonsillitis
Treats whooping cough
Is a sedative
Hemorrhages/internal bleeding
Nose bleeds
To tighten and tone muscles
To tighten and tone nerves
To tighten and tone skin
Dysentery
Mucous colitis
Destroys harmful micro-organisms
Filters out radiation

Indigo foods:
Blueberries
Blue plums
Blue grapes

Violet, Purple, Mauve and Magenta:

Violet is used for:
Stimulates spleen
Builds white blood cells
Regulates tension
Regulates blood vessels
Lowers high blood pressure
Depresses lymph and motor nerves
Maintains potassium-sodium balance
Bladder trouble
Concussion
Cramps
Epilepsy
Kidneys, overactive
Neuralgia
Nervous and mental disorders
Rheumatism
Sciatica
Scalp and skin disorders
Depresses overactive glands and organs
Assists appetite in reducing overweight
Heart depressant
Relaxes/soothes nerves and muscles controlling heart
Soothes mental conditions
Soothes overexcitement
Soothes over stimulation
Diarrhea
Induces sleep
Decongests entire body
Helpful for adrenal glands

Purple is for:
Aids vascular dilation of blood vessels working through lymphatics
Stimulates veins
Depresses kidney action
Induces sleep
Lowers body temperature
Throbbing or palpitations
Indigestion

Wear purple when you want to:
Believe more in your faith
Protect others from over-involvement
Stimulate your intuitive abilities
Reduce outside pressures

Wear mauve when you want to:
Stimulate your intuitive insights
Trust your feelings
Calm your inner confusion
Reduce over-activity

Magenta is used for:
All heart disorders
Bronchial ailments
Dissolves kidney stones
Stimulant throughout body
Diuretic
Circulatory systems
Stimulates adrenals
Energized heart
Provides emotional equilibrium
Blood pressure (too high or too low)
Depressed veins and arteries

Purple foods:
Purple broccoli
Red cabbage
Beet tops
Purple grapes
Blackberries
Blueberries

Brown, Black, White and Gray:

Wear brown when you want to:
Ensure inner feelings of security
Prevent weight loss
Calm down excessive mental activity
Stabilize inconsistent actions

Wear black when you want to:
Protect from outside influences
Release unknown fears
Encourage self-control
Promote your strength of convictions

Wear white when you want to:
Counteract negative thinking
Communicate an individualistic image
Reduce your muscular tension
Be open to new ideas

Wear gray when you want to:
Alleviate outside stresses
Prevent unnecessary involvement
Encourage a self-protective image
Promote a calm, passive countenance

Silver and Gold:

Wear silver when you want to:
Inspire faith and hope
Increase self-worth and self-esteem
Stimulate self-respect
Protect from inner fears

Wear gold when you want to:
Increase your material success
Motivate high ideals
Stimulate desire for self-reward
Enhance feelings of security

Colors of the chakras

*  The first chakra is associated with the color red and is located at the base of the spine.

* The second chakra is associated with the color orange and is located at the pelvis and groin area.

* The third chakra is associated with the color yellow and is located at the solar plexus.

* The fourth chakra is associated with the color green and is located at the heart.

* The fifth chakra is associated with the color blue and is located at the throat.

* The sixth chakra is associated with the color indigo and is located at the brow.

* The seventh chakra is associated with the color violet and is located at the crown of the head.