the physiology and psychology of colour - tibbthe physiology and psychology of colour dr linda mayer...

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ThePhysiologyand

PsychologyofColour

DrLindaMayerandProfRashidBhikha

July2014

Coloursprovokeemotionalfeelingsandtheyarepartofeverything,fromnatureandrainbowstoman-madecreations.Colourshaveaphysiological,psychologicalandsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeingandstatusintheworld;fromthepositivestimulatingeffectsofwarmcolours,tothementalrelaxationandsoothingeffectsofcoolcolours.

Colourssetthemoodandtoneoftheenvironmentbyimpactingonone’ssensesandaffectingone’sperceptionofthesymbolicmeaningwhichisbeingportrayed.Itisameansofcommunicatingone’sfeelingsandself-expression,anditiswellknownforitsbiologicalattraction.

Anumberofstudieshaveelaboratedontherelationshipbetweenthehumanbodyandcolours.Lightisenergy,andcolourisconsideredtobetheinteractionofenergyandmatter.Thereisaspecificwavelength,frequency,andenergyforeachcolour.Einsteinmaintainedthatthehumanbodyworksinharmonywiththeelectromagnetic/energysystemoftheuniverse.1

“Everythinginlifeisvibration”(AlbertEinstien)

ThePhysiologyofColour

Theautonomicnervoussystem(ANS)functionsinvoluntarilyasitcontrolsthenervoussystemaswellasregulatingthemusclesoftheheartandsmoothmuscles.2

Smoothmusclesareresponsibleforcontractingtheholloworgans,suchasthebladder,gastrointestinaltractandthebloodvessels.3

TheANSisconsideredtoplayanintegralpartinhomeostasisduetotheregulationofbloodpressure,contractionofholloworgans,gastrointestinalresponsestofood,focusingofthe

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eyes,aswellastemperatureandsweating.Coloursgenerateelectricalimpulsesandmagneticcurrents,orfieldsofenergythatactivatethebiochemicalandhormonalprocessesinthehumanbody.1Arecentdiscoveryidentifiedthattheretino-hypothalamictractleadsdirectlyfromtheretinatothehypothalamus,whichlinkscolourstotheANS.

TheANSregulatesthesympatheticandtheparasympatheticsystems,bothofwhichhaveoppositefunctions,namely,redisenergetic;blueissedating,andgreenmediatesbetweenboththesympatheticandparasympatheticnervoussystems.4

Redsimulatestheposteriorhypothalamusandthereforethesympatheticnervoussystem.Redandyellowprovokeanger.Allcoloursintheredspectrum–fromred/orangetoyellow,haveastimulatingeffect.4

Thesympatheticnervoussystemcausesdilationofthebloodvesselswhichincreasesbloodflow,heartrateandbloodpressure.Thisresultsinasurgeofenergyintimesofemergencies,asinthe“fight-or-flight”response,preparingthebodyforstrenuousphysicalactivity.Thebodythusreceiveswell-oxygenatedbloodwhichisrichinnutrientsforthetissuesthatneedit,especiallytheskeletalmuscles.Theheartrateandbloodpressureisincreased,aswellasoxygencirculationtothevitalorgans.Liverglycogenisconvertedintoglucoseandperistalsisofthegastrointestinaltract(digestionandsalivation)istemporarilyinhibited.5

Italsostimulatesbloodclottingwhenwoundedtominimisethelossofblood.Pupilsizeandperipheralvisionisimproved.Thesymptomsandillnessesassociatedwithsympatheticnervoussystemdominancearethoseoffight/flight,andinclude:hypertension,hypercholesterolemia,fastarrhythmias,heartdisease,type1diabetes,anxiety,panicattacks,hypervigilance,andpoorsleep.6

Colourswhichstimulatethecirculation,suchasred,orangeandyellow,willexertqualitiesofheat.Heatexpandsandrelaxesmuscles,loosenstensionandsoothespain.Howeverheatmayaggravateinflammation.

Bluestimulatestheanteriorhypothalamus,whichcontainsthemainregulatingpartoftheparasympatheticnervoussystem.Thismeansthatallcoloursinthebluishspectrum,fromblue/greentoblueandviolet,normallyhaveasedating,digestion-activating,sleep-inducingeffect.4

Theparasympatheticnervoussystemcausescontractionofthebloodvesselswhichdeceasesbloodflow,resultinginadecreaseoftheheartrateandbloodpressure.Italsocausesrelaxationofthemuscleswhichhelptoconserveenergyduringrest.Italsoregulatesthebasicfunctionsofthebodysuchasdigestionandurination.Stimulationoftheparasympatheticnervoussystemcanbesummarizedastherestanddigestresponse,asthisreturnsthebodyfunctionsbacktonormal:bloodpressurelowers,heartrateslows

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down,gastrointestinalperistalsisisturnedonagainandtheliverstartsproducingnewglycogen.5

Thesalivaryglands,gastricandintestinalmotilityarestimulatedwhichfacilitatesswallowing,ingestionandabsorptionoffoodandnutrients.Thechemicalbreakdownoffoodintheintestineispromotedbyenzymesoftheexocrineglandsofthepancreas.Thestorageofnutrientmoleculeswithinthetissuesisenabledbythereleaseofinsulinfromthepancreaticislets.Theparasympatheticnervoussystemenablesthecontractionoftheurinarybladderwhichresultsinurination.Italsocontrolscontractionofthepupilsoftheeyessothatthelenscanadaptfornearvision.2

Colourswhichsuppressthecirculation,suchasvioletandbluewillexertqualitiesofcoldness.Coldcontractsandicereducesinflammation,soit'sgoodforarthritisormusclestrainsfromaninflammatorynature.Howevercoldmaycausecramping.

SirIsaacNewton’sPrismofColours

(Left):NewtonandtheColourSpectrum.(Right):VisibleandUltravioletSpectroscopy.8

SirIsaacNewtonprovedthat,bysettingupaprismnearhiswindow,itprojectedaspectrumofcolours.Thediagramaboveontheleftshowsthatlightenterstheprismfromthetopright,andisrefractedbytheglass.7Thediagramaboveontherightshowsthatvioletisbentmorethantheyellowandred,sothecoloursseparate.Heconcludedthatwhitelightismadeupofsevendifferentcolouredrays.8

TheFourQualitiesofColour

(9)Thisdiagramdepictswarmhues(fromyellowtoredviolet)andthecoolhues(fromgreentopurple).Thecolourredisawarmercolourthan

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magenta,becauseredisclosertoorange;butbotharewarmcoloursincomparisontoviolet.9

1. Hueisgenerallydefinedasasourcecolour,oneofthetwelvebasiccoloursonthecolourwheel.Knowingtheroothueallowsonetomixthecolourthatheorshesees,usingabasicpalette.

2. Valueisthelightnessordarknessofthecolourrelativetowhite,black,andgrey.3. Intensityisthebrightnessordullnessofacolour,oftendeterminedbytheamount

ofwhiteorcomplementhasbeenmixedwithit.Itismeasuredrelativetothebrightestcolourwheelhuethatisclosesttothecolour.Oftenthewordschromaandsaturationareusedinterchangeablywithintensity.

4. Temperature,“warm”coloursofred,yellowandorange,or“cool”coloursofblueandviolet.10

Primary,SecondaryandTertiaryColours

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PrimaryColoursarethebuildingblocksforallotherhues,andcannotbecreatedbymixinganyotherpigments.Theyareblue,yellow,andred.

SecondaryColoursareeachcreatedfrommixingtwooftheprimarycolours.Theyare

orange,green,andviolet.Liketheprimarycolours,theyareequidistantfromoneanotheronthecolourwheel.

TertiaryColoursareformedbymixingaprimaryandsecondarycolour.Theyareyellow-green,yellow-orange,red-orange,red-violet,blue-violetandblue-green.11

Newtonclaimedthatcertaincolourswouldclashtogetheriftheywereindirectoppositiontoeachother,suchasredandpurple,oryellowandgreen.InTibbopposingqualitiescannotexisttogethereither,asnothingcanbepositiveandnegative,hotandcold,moistanddryatthesametime.Therelationshipofheat,moistness,coldnessanddrynesshasadirectbearingonthehealthstatusofanindividual.Heatisgenerallymorefavourablethancoldformaintainingtheproperbalanceandgeneralhealthofthebody.12Healthwillonlybemaintainedaslongastheoverallqualityofthehumoursisinharmonywiththeoverallqualityoftheindividual’stemperament.

TheVisualPathway

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Colourisapropertyofasurfaceorsubstanceresultingfromabsorptionofcertainoftheincidentlightrays,andreflectionofothers,fallingwithintherangeofwavelengthsadequatetoexcitetheretinalreceptors….betweeninfraredandultraviolet.13

Colourvisionbeginswithphotoreceptorsintheeyeswhichconvertlightinformationintoelectricalsignalsinthebrain.Rodsarereceptivetotheamountsoflight,andconesaresensitivetocolours.Eachcolourhasdifferentwavelengths,whichweseeasreflectedwavelengthsoflightfromconesandrodsintheeyes.

Theopticnervetravelsfromtheretina,pastthepituitaryglandviathetemporallobetotheoccipitallobeofthebrain,wherethispartofthevisualsystemisintouchwiththeconsciouspartofourbrainoftheenvironment.

Thecolouroftheirisisdeterminedbytheamountofmelaninitcontains;thedarkertheeyes,themoremelaninandthemorelightisabsorbed,aslightwavespassthroughtheeye,andthelesslightisavailabletoreflectwithintheeye.Thepathwayoflighttothebrainishighlightedasfollows:

• Lightisrefractedbythecorneaandentersthechamberoftheeyethroughthepupil.

• Theirisdilatesinbrightlightandconstrictsindimlight.

• Lightpassesthroughthelensandtheimageisinvertedontheretina.

• Lightisabsorbedbyphotoreceptors,whichformsintopatternsofelectricalsignals,whicharetransmittedviatheopticnervetothevisualcortexofthebrain.

• Lightpassesfromtheretinalnervegangliontothehypothalamus.Thefunctionsofthebodyareregulatedbythehypothalamusandthepituitaryofthebrain.

• Theopticnervefibrestransmitnerveimpulsesfromthebraintothespinalcord,fromwheretheimpulsestraveltothepinealgland.Thepinealglandisalsoknownasthe‘lightmeter’ofthebody,whichinterpretsinformationthatonesees.14

OpticalIllusions

Acolourcontrastisanillusorytingeofcomplementaryhueorbrightnessinducedbyavividhueorluminanceontheareasurroundingitinthevisualfield.13Thewavelengthsoflighttravelatdifferentspeedsthroughdifferentmediums.Lightwavestravelslowerinwaterthanintheair,andbendwhentheymovefromtheairtothewater.Forexample,astickwillappeartolookbrokeninaglassofwater,andafingerwillappeartolooklarger.Differentcoloursarecreatedfromthereflectionandabsorptionoflight.15Itismoredifficulttotellapartvaryingshadesofthesamecolour,astherearenotsomanywordswhichassignstothesedifferentshades.

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Anafterimageisatypeofopticalillusioninwhichanimagecontinuestoappearbrieflyevenafterexposuretotheactualimagehasended,whichcaneitherbepositiveornegativeafterimages.Forexample:

• PositiveafterimageIfonestaresataverybrightlylitimageorsceneforabout30seconds,onewillexperienceapositiveafterimageforafewseconds,afterclosingone’seyes,astheimagewillstillbeseenastheoriginaloneinthesamecoloursandbrightness.

• NegativeafterimageThecoloursthatoneseesareinvertedfromtheoriginalimage.Forexample,ifonestaresforabout30secondsataredimage,onewillseeagreenafterimage.16

TheTemperatureofColour

Colourtemperaturehasbeendescribedmostsimplyasamethodofdescribingthecolourcharacteristicsoflight,usuallyeitherwarm(yellowish)orcool(bluish),andmeasuringitindegreesofKelvin(°K).17Thetemperatureofredcolourisabout1800k,theyellowishwhite–similartothemiddaycolourwhenthesunisshiningis6000k.Thebluecolourtemperatureamountsto10000k.

Thekelvinscaleisanabsolutetemperaturescaleinwhichtheunitofmeasurement,thekelvin,isequivalenttothedegreeCelsius;theicepointthereforebeingat273,15kelvinsandtheboilingpointofwaterbeing373,15kelvins.13

Thetemperatureofcolourisitsperceivedwarmthorcoolness.Coolcolours(withabluerbase)tendtorecede,whilewarmcolourtemperatures(intheredandorangefamilies)areperceivedasadvancing.19

Thisiswhyredisusedtosignaldanger,stopsignsandtheRedCrosssign;whereasmountainsfadinginthedistanceappeartobeinshadesofblue.

“Bluemountainsaredistantfromus,andsocoolcoloursseemtorecede”.J.W.vonGoethe

Tibb,however,placesemphasisonthequalityofthecoloursanditsrelationwiththetemperaments,aswellasitscorrespondingeffectsonthebodybytheautonomicnervoussystem.Eachfoodanddrinkhasadegreeofheatorcoldness,whicheitherpromotesorslowsdownmetabolism.Theheatingfoodsarenecessaryforthebodytoachieveandmaintainacompletemetabolicdigestionoffoods.20

Jungutilisedtheprinciplesofyangandyininthesymbolicpowerofcolouranditssignificanceintheexpressionofemotionsthroughpainting.Thecoloursofyangarewarm,

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colours,suchasred,orange,yellowandmagenta.Thecoloursofyinarecool,colours,suchasblue,violet,turquoiseandgreen.Babbittrelatedyangcoloursasbeingmagnetic,whereasyincoloursareelectric.Bothyangandyinexertoppositeandcomplementaryqualities;eitherenhancingordiminishing,warmingorcooling,andactiveorpassive,respectively.22Jungbelievedthatcolourenabledpeopletoexplorethedeep,unconsciouspartofthepsycheandtointegrateitwiththeconsciouspartinordertoachieve‘wholeness’.

“Temperatureisanattributeofcolourorcharacteristicofapigment.”Artistsrefertotemperaturebythedegreeofwarmthorcoolnessmeasuredwhenonecolourstandsinrelationshiptoanothercolour,creatingameasureofcontrast.21Temperatureisalsoameasureoftheaveragekineticenergyduetothermalequilibriumwithothersystems.13Whenthetemperatureofcoloursisincreased,coloursmovefromthelongmetricwavetotheshortmetricwave,namelyfromredcolourtotheyellowcolourthentothebluecolourthentothevioletthentheultravioletcolourandfinallytheblackcolour.Finally,whenthetemperatureincreasesmuchmore,coloursturndarkordeeptilltheybecomeblack.

Avicennabelievedthatcancerisatumourwhicharisesfrom‘burning’oftheblackbilehumour,duetotheincreaseofheatwhichhasbecomepathological.Healsodescribedthatatumourswellingisamanifestationofthe‘boiling’oftheblackbileatitsjunctionwiththeorgan,andthatthecrabliketracksofthecanceroustumourtendstowardblackness,greenandheat.Frostbiteinitiallyappearsdarkredincolouronthehandsandfaceafterexposuretosub-zerotemperatures,advancingtoblackintheadvancedstages.20

Gerard’sresearchinthe1970’srevealedthatexposuretowarmcoloursincreasedrespiratorymovements,frequencyofeyeblinks,corticalactivationandpalmarconductance(arousaloftheANS).Warmcoloursconsistentlyshowedamorepronouncedpatternofstimulation.Coolcoloursshowedoppositeeffectsbyactingasarelaxantandtranquilizerforanxiousindividuals,loweringbloodpressure,providingrelieffromtension,alleviatingofmusclespasmsandreducingeyeblinkfrequency.1

Whydoesthecolourredappeartobewarmerthanblue?

Whenwegetwarmmorebloodiscirculatingatthesurfaceoftheskinwhichgivesitarosycolour.Whenwegetcoldthebodytriestoconserveheatbydivertingbloodawayfromthesurfaceoftheskininordertosupplymorebloodtothevitalorgans,givingtheskinabluishappearance.

Ourperceptionofcolourmayalsoberelatedtooureverydayexperienceofhowweviewhotandcoldcolours.Theflamesofafireappeartobeyellowandorange,astheburningprocessbeaksupbondsinthemoleculesofcarbonandhydrogenwhichemityellowlight,whichishotanddry.Iftherearemoreparticlesofsoot,itwillactlikeblackbodyparticles,emittingthecolourofred.Itisnotaseasytoseeobjectswhichhavebeenexposedtovery

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hightemperatures;thereforethecolourblueisnotseenasoften.23Themolecularpropertiesofwatermakeitbluish-greenincolour,whichiscoldandmoist.

Oxygensupplyinfluencesthecolouroftheflame.Alow-oxygenfirecontainslotsofuncombustedfuelparticlesandwillgiveoffayellowglow.Ahigh-oxygenfireburnsblue.Socandleflamesareblueatthebottombecausethat’swheretheytakeupfreshair,andyellowatthetopbecausetherisingfumesfrombelowpartlysuffocatetheupperpartoftheflame.24

Blueflamesarenotalwayshotterthanyellowflames,becausethecolouroflightemittedbytheflamedependsonwhichatomsandmoleculesareintheflame.Eachatomormoleculehascertainspecialfrequencies(colours)atwhichitabsorbsandemitslight.Sometimesthat’smoreimportantthanthetemperatureoftheflameinsettingthecolour.25

ManifestationsofColourChanges

Variouschemicalcompoundscanbeusedtoalterthecolourinaflame,asisusedinfireworks,forexample:redcoloursisobtainedbyusinglithiumandstrontium;orangewithcalcium,yellowwithsodium;greenwithbariumandcopperandhalides;bluewithcopper;violet/purplewithpotassium,andwhite/silverwithaluminium,magnesiumandtitanium.26

Left:Yellowflamefromsodiumchloride.Middle:GreenflamefromBorax.Right:VioletflamefromPotassiumchloride.26

IcebergsareformedfromtheglacialicethathasbuiltupfromsnowfallingontheAntarcticcontinentovermillennia.Thisiceconsistsofpurefreshwater.Asseawaterisdrawndeepundertheiceshelvesbytheoceaniccurrents,itbecomesextremelycold.Undercertainconditionsitcanfreezetothebaseoftheiceshelf.Becausethisiceisformedfromseawater,itdiffersfromthefreshwatericeoftheiceshelf.Often,thefrozenseawatercontainsorganicmatterandminerals,causingittohaveadifferentcolourandtexture.Thusicebergsbrokenofffromtheiceshelvesmayshowlayersofthepureblue-whiteglacialiceandgreenericeformedfromfrozenseawater.Asthebergsbecomefragmentedandsculptedbythewindandwaves,thedifferentcolouredlayerscandevelopstrikingpatterns.27

TheTransformationofLightWaves

Themolecularstructureandpigmentationofeachobjectenablesthelightraystobemixed,absorbedandreflectedinvariousspeedsandintensities.Objectswhichabsorbmorelightraysandthusreflectlesslightbacktotheeyes,appeartobedarkeranddeeperincolour,whereaslighterobjectsreflectmorelight,appeartobelighterandmoreintenseincolour.Atransparentobjectwilltransmitlight.15If,forexample,oneholdsawhitepieceofpaperononesideofaglassfilledwithredliquid,thelightwilltransmitaredcolouroftheliquid

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ontothepaper.Anobjectiscolouredbecauseofthelightitreflects,andalltheothercoloursareabsorbedintothatspecificobject.28

Thefoetusinthewombisabletodistinguishbetweenlightanddark.Atbirthinfantscanseeshapes,buttheycanonlyseeblack,whiteandgrey.Afterafewweeksoflifetheyareabletoseethefirstprimarycolourofred,andbytheageof3monthstheyareabletoseethefullspectrumofcolours.

ThePsychologyofColour

Individualcolourpreferenceshaveahugeimpactonthebody,mindandsoul,aswellasontheeconomyingeneral,duetoparticularassociationswhichpeopleattachtothemeaningsofcolours.Colourshavedeeplyrootedemotionalresponseswhichinfluencedecisionswhichpeoplemake,fromthecarstheydrivetotheclothestheywear.Warmcoloursincludered,orangeandyellow,whichevokeemotions,rangingfromfeelingsofwarmthandcomfort,happinessandvibrancy,tofeelingsofangerandhostility.Blue,greenandpurplecoloursareknownascoolcolours,whichareoftendescribedascalmingandsoothing,butcanalsoevokefeelingsofsadnessorindifference.29

Coloursreflectdifferentemotions,moods,attitudes,personalities,characteristicsandmessages.Coloursmayinspire,energiseandcreateasenseofcalmness,happiness,sadness,uneasiness,oranger.Itcanbeattentionseeking,provokepassion,alertoneintheeventofdanger;itcandenoteloyalty,compassion,confidenceandateamplayer;itcandenotepower,efficiency,eleganceandstyle;oritcanportrayasenseofcheerfulness,playfulnessandexcitability.

Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour,forexample:brightcoloursreflectmorelight,asinthecolourofyellowwhichmayover-stimulatethemind,causingstrainandirritability.Howevertherightshadeofyellowpaintedonthewallscanpositivelystimulatethemindinaclassroomsetting.Converselydarkcoloursabsorbmorelight,asinthecoloursofblack,purple,violetandblue,haveasedating,digestion-activating,sleep-inducingeffect.Goetheunderstoodtherelationshipbetweencolourandemotions,asdidLuschner,thelatter,whobelievedthatcolourpreferencesrevealedaperson’sbasicpersonalitytraits.Heindicatedthatapersonwhohadapreferenceforthecolourofredhasanassertivepersonalitytype,whoisoutgoingandwithastrongwill,asintheSanguinous/Bilioustemperament.Conversely,apersonwhodislikesredindicatesthatheisshyandpossiblywithdrawnfromsociety,whichmaybelinkedtotheMelancholic/Phlegmatictemperament.Thecolourclothingthatonewearsalsoreflectsone’semotions,andatthesametimeitportraystootherpeoplehowonewouldliketobeperceived,suchasconfident,loyal,passionateorateamplayer.Veryoftenpeoplecometoworkwearingthesamecolours.Thismaybeareflexionofthesharingofemotions,personalinformationandworkissues,

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whichsubconsciouslyaretranslatedintopatternsofpsychologicalinterpretationoftheemotionselicitedbythemilieuoftheworkenvironment.

AccordingtoSheilaDicks,aprofessionalstylecoach,“thecoloursyouwearinaprofessionalsettingareaboutsomuchmorethanmerefashionorstyle.Colourssendsubconsciousmessages,andcanaffectyourmood,aswellasthemoodoftheworkersaroundyou."30“Mooddressersarepeoplewhoarein-tunewiththeiremotionsanddressaccordingly”.31

TheInfluenceofHormonesonMood

Photoelectricenergyinfluencesthefunctioningofthepituitaryglandwhichcontrolsthehormonalsystemandhencecopingmechanisms,emotionalandstressrelations.32

Thepinealglandinthebrainproducesthehormonesofserotoninandmelatonin.Serotoninisaneurotransmitterinthebrain,whichhasbeenlinkedwithmentaldisturbancessuchasschizophreniaandhallucinations.Itisastimulantwhichisproducedduringdaylight(yellowofthesympatheticnervoussystemandtheBilioustemperament).Melatoninhasachemicalpathwaywhichenablesanorganismtorespondtolightandsynchronizebodilyfunctioningwithdiurnalandseasonalvariations.Itislinkedwithsleep(blueoftheparasympatheticnervoussystemandthePhlegmatictemperament),anditincreaseswhenitisdark,butitalsohasadepressiveeffect1(toomuchbluecausesdepression).Wheredaylightandartificiallightingintheinteriorofbuildingsareinadequate,thenaturalsuppressionofmelatoninproductionduringthedayfailsandmaybeaccompaniedbyfeelingsofdepression.32

Studiesonsleepdisorders,depression,seasonalaffectivedisorderandpost-traumaticstressdisordersuggestedthatsigns,symptoms,andbiologicmarkersassociatedtothesepsychiatricdisordersareduetomarkedalterationsinmelatoninandserotoninlevels.33

NeurophysiologyofColour

Modernneuropsychologymaintainsthatmemoriesarecolour-codedandthatdistinctfrequenciesofcolourcanreactivatesynapsesinthebrainwhichwerepreviouslyblocked.Repressedmemoriesofaphysicaloremotionaltraumaareheldinthehippocampusandamygdalaofthelimbicsystemofthebrain.Thesememoriescanbeaccessedandtreatedwiththecorrectcolourwavelength,with,forexamplewearingcolourglasseswiththerecommendedcolour,andothertreatmentoptions.

Colourscanhavetwodistinctandoftenoppositeeffects.Becauseofthecolor-codingofemotions,treatmentwithcolourcaneithertriggertheexpectedcolourwithaphysiologicalreaction,orenablethereleaseofarelatedcolourcodedemotionorproblem.Forexample:bluelightwillusuallyhaveasedativeeffect,butifapersonwasmolestedbyhismotherwhenhewasatoddler,andshewaswearingabluebraatthetime,bluemaycausesympatheticarousal(distress)inthispersonuntilthetraumaishealed.

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Thecomplexionconstantlychangesaccordingtothefluctuationoftheemotionsandthedifferenceinthestateofhealth,forexample:blushingorextremeangermayturnthefacereddishincolour;cyanosishasabluishcolour,andjaundicehasayellowcomplexion.

InTibbwarmthisassociatedwithblood,fire,lifeforceenergy,growth,movement,joy,aswellasanoutgoing,enthusiasticandoptimistictemperament.Aglowingcomplexionfromafeverisalsoassociatedwithwarmth.Fromanemotionalperspective,warmcoloursofredandyellowareextrovert,inviting,happyandcosy,andstimulatethebody,suchastheSanguinousandBilioustemperaments.Warmcoloursarebestusedinconditionswhichrequireenergising,suchasindepressionandlethargy,butnotinconditionssuchasADHDorhypomania,whichwouldfurtherexacerbateenergylevels.

InTibbcoldnesshascharacteristicswhicharecompletelyoppositetowarmth,namelythoseofphlegmandblackbile,withacompassionateandperfectionistictemperament.Coldnessisalsoassociatedwithdeath.Thecoolercoloursofblue,violetandgreenareintrovert,suchasthePhlegmaticandMelancholictemperaments,whichwouldbemoresuitablefordisordersofhyperactivityandanxiety.

TheColourofEmotions

Fromaphysiologicalperspectivewarmcoloursenhancehumanmetabolism,increaserespirationrate,raisebloodpressureandincreasecirculation;whereascoolercolourshaveantisepticandanti-inflammatoryqualities,andwhichslowsdownmetabolism,andinducessleep.

FromaTibbperspective,joyandhappiness,aswellasangerandaggression,havequalitiesofheat,whichislinkedwiththeBiliousTemperamentandthecolourofyellow,whichisassociatedwithafierytemperament.Sadnessisoppositetojoy,andhasqualitiesofcold,whichisinkedtotheMelancholicTemperamentandthecolourpurple/violet,whichisassociatedwiththeseriousandpessimistictemperament.Fearistheoppositeofanger,andhascoldqualities,whichislinkedwiththePhlegmaticTemperamentandthecolourblue,andwhichisassociatedwithitscalm,controlledandeventemperament.

Themindandemotionsarethemostpowerfulenergiesonearth,andpeopleassociatecertaincoloursandlanguagewithemotions.

• “I’vegottheblues,”or‘downintheblues’(blueslowsusdownandmakesalreadyslowpeopledepressed.asinthePhlegmatictemperament).

• “Iaminablackmood”(asinMelancholictemperament)• “Iamgreenwithenvy”(envyisaliveremotionandthecorrectcolouris

yellow/green.• “Red-Hotlove”(redbringsoutemotioninpeople-includingsexualpassion).4‘Inthe

pinkofhealth’;‘lookingattheworldthroughrose-colouredspectacles’;‘redcarpettreatment’;‘and‘businessisinthered’.34

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ConclusionColourhasaphysiological,psychologicalandsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeingandstatusintheworld;fromthepositivestimulatingeffectsofwarmcolourstothementalrelaxationandsoothingeffectsofcoolcolours.Colourssetthemood,stateofmindandtoneforanyenvironment,situationorhealingtherapies.Colourinfluencesouremotions,ouractionsandhowwerespondtovariouspeople,situationsandideas.Redsandyellowsstimulatethesensesandproducefeelingsandthoughtsofwarmthandcomfort,whereasbluesandviolets/purplesareassociatedwithcoldness.Everycolourhasitsownspecificwavelengthandfrequency,fromstimulatingandenergeticqualities,tocalmingandmoresubduedones.Thisgeneratesspecificbiochemicalandhormonalresponses,whichinfluencethephysiologyandautonomicnervoussystem.Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour.Theuseofcolourtherapycanbeappliedtothebodytoalteritsfunctioning.

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