Introduction to the science of colours

Light energy is made up of different wavelengths and these appear as colours. Every living organism or non-living object made by man, absorbs all other colours and reflect only one of them back. That is the colour we see. Scientists like Isaac Newton have demonstrated how white light is primarily made up of seven colours (VIBGYOR) that can be split up using a prism. Similarly, using a colour wheel, all the seven colours can be combined into white light or the white colour.

Ancient civilizations like Indian, Chinese and Egyptian had discovered several centuries ago that colours can affect our moods, or the way we think and feel. So, people dressed in specific colours, according to the occasion, to create certain vibes. Houses and public places were painted or decorated in certain colours to elicit specific emotions. The trend has continued through the centuries, till date. In modern times, technology has taken colour science a step further by producing hundreds of new colours by mixing familiar colours.

Today, industries like Marketing & Advertising, Architecture, Interior Decoration, Textiles, Automobiles, Beauty treatments, Food & Beverages, etc., all use colour science to project a certain idea or create a certain vibe. Unlike Health and Medicine, these industries are not obliged to conduct clinical trials or engage in advanced studies to ratify this colour science. Common perceptions around each colour, which have been passed down through the centuries, along with newer trends in modern society, are all being used by businesses today to make the impact they desire.

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What colour represents what idea?

So, what do modern businesses say about each and every colour? What colour represents what idea and which colour elicits a particular emotion and feeling? Apparently, there is a general consensus on what each colour stands for. This is based on how the cells in our eyes react to each colour and what kind of signals they send to the brain. Hue (specific colour), its saturation (how strongly is the colour presented) and ambient brightness also affect how a colour is perceived by people. The feelings and opinions of the viewer are then documented. So, over the years, businesses have reinforced the concept over and again, by creating rules and regulations around the use of each and every colour.

This is the combined results of various surveys and experiments outside the domain of Medicine.

• Red means love to 68% of people, it also stands for passion, excitement and anger.
• Orange means joy to 44% of people. It also stands for warmth, kindness, pleasure and abundance.
• Yellow means joy to 52% of people. It also stands for hope, danger, happiness and communication.
• Green means contentment to 39% of people. It stands for nature, freshness, growth, balance, serenity and joy.
• Blue means relief to 35% of people. It also stands for wisdom, hope, reason and peace.
• Turquoise means pleasure to 35% of people.
• Purple means pleasure to 25% of people, it is also said to enhance creativity and spirituality. It’s also associated with ideas like mysterious, glamorous, noble, imagination, relaxation and calmness.
• Pink means love to 50% of people, it’s also perceived as soft, reserved and earthy. It stands for tenderness, innocence and optimism.
• Brown means disgust to 36% of people while it stands for comfort, resilience and security to others.
• Black means sadness to 51% of people. It also stands for noble, mysterious, cold, strength, seriousness and negativity.
• Grey means sadness to 48% of people. It also stands for comfort, maturity and calmness.
• White means relief to 43% of people. It also stands for truth, indifference, calmness, comfort and hope.

As you can see, the same colour can elicit both positive and negative thoughts, emotions or feelings. Interior decorators and advertisers who rely heavily on these perceptions have their own simple way of classifying these colours.

• Happy colours— red, yellow, orange, light pink, pink, lilac and peach
• Sad colours—grey, beige, brown and dark blue
• Calming colours— white, blue, light green, light blue, light grey, mint and lilac
• Energizing colours—bright red, bright yellow, fluorescent green, turquoise, emerald green and magenta

Even Government agencies recognize colour science to a certain extent.

• Yellow is a colour which is easily perceived by the human eye even when there is less of ambient light. That is why, it is used in traffic regulations (drawing a yellow line in the centre of the road, road signs, milestones, etc).
• Red is the most distinguishable colour as it has the longest wavelength at 700 nanometres. That is why, it is used for stop signs, or danger signs, anywhere in the world.
• Green stands for approval or permission, and are used in traffic signs and signage.

Culture makes a big difference in how colours are perceived. For example, in Western culture, white stands for purity and used in happy occasions, while in Asian countries, it again stands for purity but is used during mourning. Similarly, black is used during mourning in Western culture while it is regarded as dirty, and avoided on happy occasions in Asian culture.

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What is Colour Therapy

Given the enormous popularity of colour science in industry, commerce, art, religion and folk-culture, the Healthcare industry has time and again tried to borrow these concepts into the science of healing.

In the last 5 decades or more, several scientists and doctors have conducted experiments to see if colours can be used to elicit specific behaviours in patients or medical staff, and if specific colours can be used to heal specific ailments? This has led to what is called Colour Therapy, Chromatherapy or Colorology.

Some of the studies have shown:

• Red can stimulate the mind and body, and improve circulation.
• Yellow can stimulate nerves and purify the body.
• Orange can heal the lungs and increase energy levels.
• Blue can soothe illnesses and alleviate pain.
• Indigo can alleviate skin problems.
• White-coloured pills are associated with better pain-relief, while red-coloured pills are associated with better stimulation.
• People with stress and anger issues exposed to sombre colours like grey and white are found to calm down.
• People with low energy and those suffering from depression are known to feel better when there are bright and cheerful colours around them.
• People who have trouble sleeping, sleep better when there are dark colours around. Further, colours like red and amber are known to stimulate melatonin production, which aids in sleep.
• Dark and sombre colours or fewer colours make a patient less communicative. In contrast, a wide variety of bright and cheerful colours makes him/her open up.

In another study, it was seen that:

• Red can stimulate and increase appetite
• Orange can improve mood and in some cases thyroid function
• Yellow can increase concentration and, in some cases, treat arthritis
• Green can promote healthy metabolism
• Blue can suppress appetite and heal migraine pain
• Indigo can improve mental health.
• Violet aids in meditation and in some cases heal endocrine issues

However, the scientific and medical communities are divided on these findings. They believe these findings are anecdotal. That is, they may be applicable to a few people, or a small sample of subjects, in certain settings. These findings must be applicable to a large proportion of people in larger groups, across age, community, gender and class, and they must work consistently. Only then can they be accepted as a verifiable and ratifiable medical finding. This is how clinical studies on new drugs or new therapies work, and they believe Chromatherapy should be held to the same standards, only then can it be taken seriously.

Those who stand by their findings believe that, over time, the medical community will be forced to conduct more investigation and initiate clinical trials, after which Chromatherapy will begin to gain acceptance. This gives hope to millions of people worldwide who are suffering from one or more ailments. The battle against disease becomes a wee bit easier when there is yet another therapy that will work.

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