Color/Light Therapy (Chromotherapy) - Audio Deep Dive
Press the audio play button for a discussion on Color Therapy / Chromotherapy
Summary
This discussion explores historical uses of color and light in healing practices across cultures.
Main Points
The Historical Use of Color and Light in Healing Practices
ANCIENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF LIGHT
Ancient civilizations possessed a profound understanding of light, often viewing it as a fundamental force of life. They believed that celestial light was not merely a physical phenomenon but a spiritual essence that influenced both the natural world and human existence. This perspective is exemplified by thinkers like Zoroaster, who recognized the power of astral light. The ancient belief that light was essential for growth and healing is echoed in their understanding of how sunlight aids in the development of life, such as a chick inside an egg, suggesting a direct connection between external light and internal biological processes.
THE LINK BETWEEN LIGHT AND PHYSIOLOGY
As medical thought progressed, the connection between light and health became more pronounced. In the 1867 publication 'Light Its Influence on Life and Health,' early medical practitioners began to explore how external light sources, including the moon, could affect physiological processes. This marked a significant step towards recognizing the impact of environmental factors on health, laying the groundwork for future explorations into color therapy. The idea that light could influence bodily functions was gaining traction, suggesting a deeper relationship between humans and their environment.
COLOR THERAPY: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
The exploration of color therapy gained momentum with theories linking specific colors to physiological effects. The 'Principles of Light and Color' proposed that colors corresponded to different bodily functions, with red associated with heat and stimulation, blue linked to soothing effects, and yellow connected to nervous system stimulation. This framework suggested that colors possessed inherent energies that could influence health, leading to practical applications such as using colored glass to treat ailments. Early practitioners believed that different colors could be used to modify conditions, similar to how one might adjust air or water for therapeutic purposes.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AND LIGHT IN MEDICINE
Florence Nightingale's contributions to the understanding of light in medical settings were significant. She emphasized the purifying effects of sunlight in sick rooms, advocating for its use not only to uplift spirits but also to promote physical healing. Nightingale observed that a lack of light could lead to health issues, such as anemia, highlighting the necessity of light for maintaining vital blood components. Her work underscored the belief that light was essential for recovery and well-being, reinforcing the idea that environmental factors play a crucial role in health.
SPECTRO-CHROME THERAPY IN THE 20TH CENTURY
The 20th century saw the formalization of color therapy with the advent of Spectro-chrome therapy, developed by Colonel Dinshah Ghadiali. This system claimed to treat various ailments without drugs or surgery, relying solely on colored light. Success stories from practitioners illustrated the belief in color's therapeutic power, with reports of conditions like tuberculosis and heart disorders being alleviated through specific color applications. The structured approach of Spectro-chrome therapy showcased a serious commitment to exploring color as a healing modality.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COLOR, MUSIC, AND VIBRATIONAL HEALING
A unique perspective on healing emerged from the idea that color and music are both forms of vibrational energy. This concept posited that sound and light could be harnessed for therapeutic purposes, with the potential to address both physical and spiritual health. The notion of personalized vibrational prescriptions, matching specific colors and music to individual needs, suggested a holistic approach to wellness. This perspective encourages a deeper exploration of how vibrational healing could integrate into modern health practices, potentially leading to innovative therapies that draw from historical insights.
This discussion explores historical uses of color and light in healing practices across cultures.
Main Points
- Ancient cultures viewed light as a vital force for life and healing.
- Color therapy evolved from early theories linking colors to physiological effects.
- Florence Nightingale emphasized the purifying effects of light in medical settings.
- 20th-century practices like Spectro-chrome therapy claimed to treat various ailments with color.
- The connection between color, music, and vibrational healing suggests a holistic approach to wellness.
The Historical Use of Color and Light in Healing Practices
ANCIENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF LIGHT
Ancient civilizations possessed a profound understanding of light, often viewing it as a fundamental force of life. They believed that celestial light was not merely a physical phenomenon but a spiritual essence that influenced both the natural world and human existence. This perspective is exemplified by thinkers like Zoroaster, who recognized the power of astral light. The ancient belief that light was essential for growth and healing is echoed in their understanding of how sunlight aids in the development of life, such as a chick inside an egg, suggesting a direct connection between external light and internal biological processes.
THE LINK BETWEEN LIGHT AND PHYSIOLOGY
As medical thought progressed, the connection between light and health became more pronounced. In the 1867 publication 'Light Its Influence on Life and Health,' early medical practitioners began to explore how external light sources, including the moon, could affect physiological processes. This marked a significant step towards recognizing the impact of environmental factors on health, laying the groundwork for future explorations into color therapy. The idea that light could influence bodily functions was gaining traction, suggesting a deeper relationship between humans and their environment.
COLOR THERAPY: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
The exploration of color therapy gained momentum with theories linking specific colors to physiological effects. The 'Principles of Light and Color' proposed that colors corresponded to different bodily functions, with red associated with heat and stimulation, blue linked to soothing effects, and yellow connected to nervous system stimulation. This framework suggested that colors possessed inherent energies that could influence health, leading to practical applications such as using colored glass to treat ailments. Early practitioners believed that different colors could be used to modify conditions, similar to how one might adjust air or water for therapeutic purposes.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AND LIGHT IN MEDICINE
Florence Nightingale's contributions to the understanding of light in medical settings were significant. She emphasized the purifying effects of sunlight in sick rooms, advocating for its use not only to uplift spirits but also to promote physical healing. Nightingale observed that a lack of light could lead to health issues, such as anemia, highlighting the necessity of light for maintaining vital blood components. Her work underscored the belief that light was essential for recovery and well-being, reinforcing the idea that environmental factors play a crucial role in health.
SPECTRO-CHROME THERAPY IN THE 20TH CENTURY
The 20th century saw the formalization of color therapy with the advent of Spectro-chrome therapy, developed by Colonel Dinshah Ghadiali. This system claimed to treat various ailments without drugs or surgery, relying solely on colored light. Success stories from practitioners illustrated the belief in color's therapeutic power, with reports of conditions like tuberculosis and heart disorders being alleviated through specific color applications. The structured approach of Spectro-chrome therapy showcased a serious commitment to exploring color as a healing modality.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COLOR, MUSIC, AND VIBRATIONAL HEALING
A unique perspective on healing emerged from the idea that color and music are both forms of vibrational energy. This concept posited that sound and light could be harnessed for therapeutic purposes, with the potential to address both physical and spiritual health. The notion of personalized vibrational prescriptions, matching specific colors and music to individual needs, suggested a holistic approach to wellness. This perspective encourages a deeper exploration of how vibrational healing could integrate into modern health practices, potentially leading to innovative therapies that draw from historical insights.
Transcript
Speaker 1:
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today, we're shining a light, you can say, on a really intriguing topic, the historical use of color for healing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's a fascinating thread, weaving through centuries, touching on some really fundamental ideas about light and life.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. And if you're someone who likes to get right to the heart of a subject quickly but thoroughly, well, you're in the right place.
Speaker 2:
Definitely. For this Deep Dive, we've pulled together quite a mix of sources, everything from early scientific texts and medical writings right through to publications looking at more, let's say, alternative therapeutic ideas. Our goal is really to unpack how color was understood and actually used in healing practices historically.
Speaker 1:
And we're specifically looking at how thinkers and even some doctors back then believed colors could impact the body and mind.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. And we've got some pretty interesting examples of specific colors being used for, well, specific ailments.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so let's dive in. Going way back, this source, Blue and Red Light, suggests ancient peoples had a pretty deep understanding of light, maybe more than we guess. They called it the causal world.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's this idea that they had perhaps a more intuitive grasp. And central to this was the concept of celestial light.
Speaker 1:
Celestial light.
Speaker 2:
Which they saw as the actual fountain of life. So not just a physical thing, but deeply connected to both spiritual and natural existence, essential stuff.
Speaker 1:
Wow. Like the source of everything. And you mentioned Zoroaster.
Speaker 2:
Uh-huh. His view of astral suns is mentioned as an example, showing this really early interest in the power and meaning of light coming from the heavens.
Speaker 1:
It's just striking how they saw light, not just as, well, light, but as this active generative force. It kind of echoes some later ideas, even if the science changed.
Speaker 2:
It does. And building on that, the same source says light isn't just spirit. It's the actual substance of the universe, the cause of motion, of operation, basically life itself.
Speaker 1:
Substance of the universe. Okay.
Speaker 2:
And there's this great analogy they use. Think about sunlight and how it helps a chick develop inside an egg.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
They saw light playing a similar crucial role in forming and repairing tissues in our bodies. They even mention albumin, a key blood component.
Speaker 1:
So a direct link between this external light force and our internal biology.
Speaker 2:
Pretty much. And then shifting focus inward, the text talks about the nervous system, calling it the objective sun inside animals and humans. The idea is that our nervous system acts like a channel for this vital force.
Speaker 1:
An internal sun. Interesting metaphor.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. And the ganglia, part of the nervous system, were seen as like reservoirs, distributing this vital energy to our fluids, our tissues, powering the cells, essentially.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So let's jump forward a bit in time. We have this 1868 publication, Light Its Influence on Life and Health. And it mentions an 18th century doctor, Dr. Mead. He was thinking about the atmosphere, even the moon's influence on nerve force.
Speaker 2:
That's right. Now, it's not specifically about color yet, but it shows the medical thinking at the time starting to acknowledge that external factors, including light sources, might have real physiological effects.
Speaker 1:
So an early step towards environmental medicine, almost.
Speaker 2:
You could say that. It's basic by today's standards, sure. But it's acknowledging that connection between our bodies and the environment, including light.
Speaker 1:
Right. Okay. So now let's get into color itself.
Principles of Light and Color. This source has some really wild ideas linking color to atoms.
Speaker 2:
It really does. It proposes that atoms have these things called spirulae, like tiny springs, almost.
Speaker 1:
Spirulae.
Speaker 2:
And they're connected to either thermal warm colors or electrical cool colors.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Warm and cool springs and atoms.
Speaker 2:
Sort of. And the theory gets more detailed. It suggests these thermospirals, the warm ones, can actually change into electrospirals, the cool ones, as they pass through the atom.
Speaker 1:
Whoa.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. So it creates this direct link, like thermal color becomes blue-green, red becomes blue, and so on. It even mentions thermolumino and electrolumino spirals, different energy states.
Speaker 1:
That's intricate. Yeah. And this atomic theory then tries to explain chemical reactions, affinity and repulsion based on color.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. The idea was that atoms are attracted to and absorb colors they have an affinity for based on these spirulae, and they repel the colors they don't.
Speaker 1:
Which explains why things look the color they do. They absorb some, reflect others.
Speaker 2:
Precisely. So you see this attempt, early 20th century, to ground color healing in something physical, in the structure of matter itself, linking atomic interactions to how we perceive and maybe react to colors.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So building on that atomic stuff, the same source, Principles of Light and Color, talks about color affinities and how they supposedly affect our physiology.
Speaker 2:
It proposes this trinal series of potencies. Violet is linked to nerves.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
Blue to the vascular system, yellow to luminosity, whatever that quite means, and red to heat.
Speaker 1:
And they link specific colors to actual bodily actions, like medicines.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. That's the really interesting part for our focus today. Red, for example, is associated with arterial stimulants. Think red pepper ammonia because of that heat connection.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Stimulating.
Speaker 2:
Yellow is linked to nervous system stimulants like opium or even emetics. And then violet and blue are tied to things that soothe nerves or relieve pain, nerve vines and anodynes like aconite.
Speaker 1:
And the reasoning behind this, it's about the colors themselves having some kind of force.
Speaker 2:
According to the text, yes. It's based on this expansive and repulsive principle of colors and their spectral parts. The idea is the inherent quality of the color, maybe tied back to those atomic spirals, directly impacts our body systems.
Speaker 1:
That idea of colors having inherent energy keeps popping up, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:
It really does. The text even uses this framework to explain why certain light rays harm seed germination. It's supposedly color repulsion based on the seed's atomic makeup. It's a very comprehensive theory they built.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Shifting from theory to maybe more practical observations.
Let's talk about Florence Nightingale. Principles of Light and Color actually mentions her work.
Speaker 2:
Yes. And it's significant. It highlights how she emphasized the, quote, purifying effect of light, especially sunlight in sick rooms.
Speaker 1:
Not just for cheerfulness.
Speaker 2:
Well, that too. But she saw it as vital for actually treating disease, purifying the air.
Speaker 1:
And she made observations about lack of light, right? Cretanism in shady valleys.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. She noted that and just general decline in dark places, contrasting it with how plants and people recover in sunlight. It really shows her strong belief in light being essential for physical and mental health. Practical application in a hospital setting.
Speaker 1:
Which leads nicely into another point from that same source: Light deficiency causing health problems.
Speaker 2:
Right. The text claims that being isolated from light was seen to decrease important blood components, fibrin, albumin, red blood cells.
Speaker 1:
Leading to what? Like anemia?
Speaker 2:
Potentially something resembling leukemia, it says, with more white blood cells, a pale look. So even back then, there was this understanding that light wasn't just for seeing, it directly impacted our basic biology, our blood.
Speaker 1:
It was seen as a necessary ingredient for health.
Speaker 2:
A necessary stimulus, yeah, for keeping the blood balanced.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So people believed this. Did they try to use color therapeutically? What about early color therapy practices?
Speaker 2:
Absolutely. Principles of Light and Color gets into this. They used colored glass, for instance.
Speaker 1:
Simple enough. Just shine light through blue glass.
Speaker 2:
Well, yeah, but the text points out a problem. People assumed, say, cobalt blue glass only let blue light through. But research by Professor Hunt showed it actually transmitted a wider spectrum, including hot rays along with the cool blue.
Speaker 1:
Ah, so not as simple as it looked. That's a crucial detail for therapy, isn't it?
Speaker 2:
Definitely. It shows you need to really understand the materials. But despite that complexity, the core idea held different colors for different conditions.
Speaker 1:
Like blue for inflammation.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. Blue for inflammatory issues, maybe yellow, red, or orange for other problems. They drew an analogy to how you might modify water or air for therapy. Color was seen as another element you could adjust.
Speaker 1:
And they actually built devices for this.
Speaker 2:
They did. The source mentioned specific instruments. There was the Chromolume, described as a color instrument for treating different body parts.
Speaker 1:
The Chromolume.
Speaker 2:
And also a chromodisc, or lens. This was apparently for more general healing, specific diseases, even concentrating light rays.
And get this, medicating water or food using colored solutions exposed to light through the lens.
The text even lists conditions the blue chromolens was supposedly used for by doctors.
Speaker 1:
So we're seeing real attempts by physicians and inventors to harness color. The existence of these instruments, it really makes it tangible, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:
It absolutely does. It shows a real practical belief in color's therapeutic power back then.
Speaker 2:
OK, let's move into the 20th century now. Our next source, Spectrochrome Magazines, introduces spectrochrome therapy.
Speaker 2:
Right. Developed by Colonel Dinshah P. Ghadiali. Pitched as a new healing art.
Speaker 1:
And their big selling point was no drugs, no manipulation, no surgery.
Speaker 2:
That was the motto. Spectrochrome was a much more formalized system. They even had the Spectrochrome Institute to train practitioners. It was a significant movement.
Speaker 1:
And these magazines, they're full of success stories, right?
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Attributed to specific colors.
Speaker 2:
Oh, absolutely. Anecdote after anecdote. It shows how strong the belief was.
For example, a Dr. F.B. Williams reported resolving eye trouble using spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Just with colored light. And there are other doctor accounts.
Speaker 2:
Yes. Another doctor mentioned treating severe varicose veins using green light first, then indigo spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Green, then indigo. Okay.
Speaker 2:
And a Dr. Baldwin reported several cases. Advanced tuberculosis showing remarkable improvement. A cyst in the throat relieved.
Speaker 1:
A wide range of issues seemingly treated just by prescribing different colors.
Speaker 2:
And the specificity is key here. Dr. Baldwin also told of a case where red light worked wonders on red sore eyes after turquoise hadn't helped. Apparently, he used a special device to figure this out.
Speaker 1:
A device?
Speaker 2:
Yeah. Something called an eidosometer. We'll come back to that.
He also reported spectrochrome significantly helping a World War I veteran, gassed, suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy.
Speaker 1:
Pneumonia treated with color. And uterine issues, too.
Speaker 2:
An unnamed doctor reported a recurring uterine abscess clearing up with green and lemon spectrochrome even after surgery hadn't permanently fixed it.
Speaker 1:
Green and lemon. And it wasn't just physical things.
Heart conditions.
Speaker 2:
Apparently so. There's a case mentioned of a leaky heart becoming normal with magenta spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Magenta.
Speaker 2:
Magenta. And another story about someone whose friend had a heart disorder, relieved by purple spectrochrome, supposedly replacing the need for digitalis.
Speaker 1:
Purple replacing digitalis. That's a bold claim.
Speaker 2:
It certainly is. The accounts cover a lot. Tonsillitis resolved with green, magenta and turquoise, avoiding surgery for a deputy's daughter.
Speaker 1:
Green, magenta, turquoise. Sounds like complex prescriptions.
Speaker 2:
It does. Joseph Hesselmeyer claimed a carbuncle cleared up in two and a half weeks. Remig Strait's wife apparently healed pinched fingers quickly. The colors seemed quite targeted.
Speaker 1:
And that device you mentioned, the eidosometer.
Speaker 2:
Right, the eidosometer. It seems it was used as part of spectrochrome therapy for diagnosis, helping decide which colors a patient needed. It points to how structured the system aimed to be.
Speaker 1:
And they even had a spectrochrome home guide.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, suggesting they were trying to make it accessible for people to use at home, too.
Speaker 1:
OK, one last perspective. From a 1915 publication, The Rhythm of Life, this one connects color to music.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it takes a slightly different angle, talking about music and color, both as forms of vibrational healing.
Speaker 1:
Vibrational healing.
Speaker 2:
OK, the idea is that music enters through the ear as sound and through the eye as color. Both are seen as fundamental vibrations underlying everything in nature and life.
Speaker 1:
So sound and light are just different kinds of vibration.
Speaker 2:
That's the concept. And the text suggests that if you used music and color scientifically, they could be the greatest curative agent.
Speaker 1:
Wow. But how would you know which music or color?
Speaker 2:
Well, it stresses the need for thorough diagnosis. You have to match the patient's specific needs with the right corresponding music and color, a personalized vibrational prescription, if you like.
Speaker 1:
And it goes beyond just physical healing.
Speaker 2:
It seems so. It talks about the right kind of music awakening one's inner spiritual sense, so a more holistic view.
Speaker 1:
And it links this to a natural way of living.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. Seeking health and strength through harmony, like musical or color balance. It encourages making life musical, storing up good memories of music, drawing a parallel to absorbing beneficial color influences.
Speaker 1:
So embracing these vibrations for overall well-being, not just treating illness.
Speaker 2:
Beautifully put. It's a view that sees music and color as integral to a vibrant, healthy life.
Speaker 1:
OK, so as we wrap up this deep dive, it's been quite a journey. We've gone from ancient ideas about light as a life force.
Speaker 2:
Right through to these structured color therapies like spectrochrome in the 20th century. And importantly, seeing examples where doctors were actually trying to use specific colors for specific medical problems.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that historical use by physicians is really striking. And the recurring theme, as you said, is this persistent idea of light and color not being passive, but somehow active forces influencing our health.
Speaker 2:
Definitely. Forces that could potentially influence both body and mind.
Speaker 1:
Now, obviously, how much scientific weight these historical practices hold today is, well, it varies a lot. But the sheer persistence of human interest in these nonconventional methods and the stories we've looked at, it certainly makes you think.
Speaker 2:
It absolutely does. Which leads us to a final thought for you listening. Given this long history, this documented interest and all these anecdotal accounts, what might future research uncover about light frequencies and colors?
Speaker 1:
Could there be something in these old ideas, maybe reframed or reexamined, that could actually inspire new approaches to health and wellness down the line?
Speaker 2:
It's definitely a provocative question to ponder, isn't it?
Speaker 1:
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today, we're shining a light, you can say, on a really intriguing topic, the historical use of color for healing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's a fascinating thread, weaving through centuries, touching on some really fundamental ideas about light and life.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. And if you're someone who likes to get right to the heart of a subject quickly but thoroughly, well, you're in the right place.
Speaker 2:
Definitely. For this Deep Dive, we've pulled together quite a mix of sources, everything from early scientific texts and medical writings right through to publications looking at more, let's say, alternative therapeutic ideas. Our goal is really to unpack how color was understood and actually used in healing practices historically.
Speaker 1:
And we're specifically looking at how thinkers and even some doctors back then believed colors could impact the body and mind.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. And we've got some pretty interesting examples of specific colors being used for, well, specific ailments.
Speaker 1:
Okay, so let's dive in. Going way back, this source, Blue and Red Light, suggests ancient peoples had a pretty deep understanding of light, maybe more than we guess. They called it the causal world.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's this idea that they had perhaps a more intuitive grasp. And central to this was the concept of celestial light.
Speaker 1:
Celestial light.
Speaker 2:
Which they saw as the actual fountain of life. So not just a physical thing, but deeply connected to both spiritual and natural existence, essential stuff.
Speaker 1:
Wow. Like the source of everything. And you mentioned Zoroaster.
Speaker 2:
Uh-huh. His view of astral suns is mentioned as an example, showing this really early interest in the power and meaning of light coming from the heavens.
Speaker 1:
It's just striking how they saw light, not just as, well, light, but as this active generative force. It kind of echoes some later ideas, even if the science changed.
Speaker 2:
It does. And building on that, the same source says light isn't just spirit. It's the actual substance of the universe, the cause of motion, of operation, basically life itself.
Speaker 1:
Substance of the universe. Okay.
Speaker 2:
And there's this great analogy they use. Think about sunlight and how it helps a chick develop inside an egg.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
They saw light playing a similar crucial role in forming and repairing tissues in our bodies. They even mention albumin, a key blood component.
Speaker 1:
So a direct link between this external light force and our internal biology.
Speaker 2:
Pretty much. And then shifting focus inward, the text talks about the nervous system, calling it the objective sun inside animals and humans. The idea is that our nervous system acts like a channel for this vital force.
Speaker 1:
An internal sun. Interesting metaphor.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. And the ganglia, part of the nervous system, were seen as like reservoirs, distributing this vital energy to our fluids, our tissues, powering the cells, essentially.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So let's jump forward a bit in time. We have this 1868 publication, Light Its Influence on Life and Health. And it mentions an 18th century doctor, Dr. Mead. He was thinking about the atmosphere, even the moon's influence on nerve force.
Speaker 2:
That's right. Now, it's not specifically about color yet, but it shows the medical thinking at the time starting to acknowledge that external factors, including light sources, might have real physiological effects.
Speaker 1:
So an early step towards environmental medicine, almost.
Speaker 2:
You could say that. It's basic by today's standards, sure. But it's acknowledging that connection between our bodies and the environment, including light.
Speaker 1:
Right. Okay. So now let's get into color itself.
Principles of Light and Color. This source has some really wild ideas linking color to atoms.
Speaker 2:
It really does. It proposes that atoms have these things called spirulae, like tiny springs, almost.
Speaker 1:
Spirulae.
Speaker 2:
And they're connected to either thermal warm colors or electrical cool colors.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Warm and cool springs and atoms.
Speaker 2:
Sort of. And the theory gets more detailed. It suggests these thermospirals, the warm ones, can actually change into electrospirals, the cool ones, as they pass through the atom.
Speaker 1:
Whoa.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. So it creates this direct link, like thermal color becomes blue-green, red becomes blue, and so on. It even mentions thermolumino and electrolumino spirals, different energy states.
Speaker 1:
That's intricate. Yeah. And this atomic theory then tries to explain chemical reactions, affinity and repulsion based on color.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. The idea was that atoms are attracted to and absorb colors they have an affinity for based on these spirulae, and they repel the colors they don't.
Speaker 1:
Which explains why things look the color they do. They absorb some, reflect others.
Speaker 2:
Precisely. So you see this attempt, early 20th century, to ground color healing in something physical, in the structure of matter itself, linking atomic interactions to how we perceive and maybe react to colors.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So building on that atomic stuff, the same source, Principles of Light and Color, talks about color affinities and how they supposedly affect our physiology.
Speaker 2:
It proposes this trinal series of potencies. Violet is linked to nerves.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
Blue to the vascular system, yellow to luminosity, whatever that quite means, and red to heat.
Speaker 1:
And they link specific colors to actual bodily actions, like medicines.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. That's the really interesting part for our focus today. Red, for example, is associated with arterial stimulants. Think red pepper ammonia because of that heat connection.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Stimulating.
Speaker 2:
Yellow is linked to nervous system stimulants like opium or even emetics. And then violet and blue are tied to things that soothe nerves or relieve pain, nerve vines and anodynes like aconite.
Speaker 1:
And the reasoning behind this, it's about the colors themselves having some kind of force.
Speaker 2:
According to the text, yes. It's based on this expansive and repulsive principle of colors and their spectral parts. The idea is the inherent quality of the color, maybe tied back to those atomic spirals, directly impacts our body systems.
Speaker 1:
That idea of colors having inherent energy keeps popping up, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:
It really does. The text even uses this framework to explain why certain light rays harm seed germination. It's supposedly color repulsion based on the seed's atomic makeup. It's a very comprehensive theory they built.
Speaker 1:
Okay. Shifting from theory to maybe more practical observations.
Let's talk about Florence Nightingale. Principles of Light and Color actually mentions her work.
Speaker 2:
Yes. And it's significant. It highlights how she emphasized the, quote, purifying effect of light, especially sunlight in sick rooms.
Speaker 1:
Not just for cheerfulness.
Speaker 2:
Well, that too. But she saw it as vital for actually treating disease, purifying the air.
Speaker 1:
And she made observations about lack of light, right? Cretanism in shady valleys.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. She noted that and just general decline in dark places, contrasting it with how plants and people recover in sunlight. It really shows her strong belief in light being essential for physical and mental health. Practical application in a hospital setting.
Speaker 1:
Which leads nicely into another point from that same source: Light deficiency causing health problems.
Speaker 2:
Right. The text claims that being isolated from light was seen to decrease important blood components, fibrin, albumin, red blood cells.
Speaker 1:
Leading to what? Like anemia?
Speaker 2:
Potentially something resembling leukemia, it says, with more white blood cells, a pale look. So even back then, there was this understanding that light wasn't just for seeing, it directly impacted our basic biology, our blood.
Speaker 1:
It was seen as a necessary ingredient for health.
Speaker 2:
A necessary stimulus, yeah, for keeping the blood balanced.
Speaker 1:
Okay. So people believed this. Did they try to use color therapeutically? What about early color therapy practices?
Speaker 2:
Absolutely. Principles of Light and Color gets into this. They used colored glass, for instance.
Speaker 1:
Simple enough. Just shine light through blue glass.
Speaker 2:
Well, yeah, but the text points out a problem. People assumed, say, cobalt blue glass only let blue light through. But research by Professor Hunt showed it actually transmitted a wider spectrum, including hot rays along with the cool blue.
Speaker 1:
Ah, so not as simple as it looked. That's a crucial detail for therapy, isn't it?
Speaker 2:
Definitely. It shows you need to really understand the materials. But despite that complexity, the core idea held different colors for different conditions.
Speaker 1:
Like blue for inflammation.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. Blue for inflammatory issues, maybe yellow, red, or orange for other problems. They drew an analogy to how you might modify water or air for therapy. Color was seen as another element you could adjust.
Speaker 1:
And they actually built devices for this.
Speaker 2:
They did. The source mentioned specific instruments. There was the Chromolume, described as a color instrument for treating different body parts.
Speaker 1:
The Chromolume.
Speaker 2:
And also a chromodisc, or lens. This was apparently for more general healing, specific diseases, even concentrating light rays.
And get this, medicating water or food using colored solutions exposed to light through the lens.
The text even lists conditions the blue chromolens was supposedly used for by doctors.
Speaker 1:
So we're seeing real attempts by physicians and inventors to harness color. The existence of these instruments, it really makes it tangible, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:
It absolutely does. It shows a real practical belief in color's therapeutic power back then.
Speaker 2:
OK, let's move into the 20th century now. Our next source, Spectrochrome Magazines, introduces spectrochrome therapy.
Speaker 2:
Right. Developed by Colonel Dinshah P. Ghadiali. Pitched as a new healing art.
Speaker 1:
And their big selling point was no drugs, no manipulation, no surgery.
Speaker 2:
That was the motto. Spectrochrome was a much more formalized system. They even had the Spectrochrome Institute to train practitioners. It was a significant movement.
Speaker 1:
And these magazines, they're full of success stories, right?
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Attributed to specific colors.
Speaker 2:
Oh, absolutely. Anecdote after anecdote. It shows how strong the belief was.
For example, a Dr. F.B. Williams reported resolving eye trouble using spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Just with colored light. And there are other doctor accounts.
Speaker 2:
Yes. Another doctor mentioned treating severe varicose veins using green light first, then indigo spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Green, then indigo. Okay.
Speaker 2:
And a Dr. Baldwin reported several cases. Advanced tuberculosis showing remarkable improvement. A cyst in the throat relieved.
Speaker 1:
A wide range of issues seemingly treated just by prescribing different colors.
Speaker 2:
And the specificity is key here. Dr. Baldwin also told of a case where red light worked wonders on red sore eyes after turquoise hadn't helped. Apparently, he used a special device to figure this out.
Speaker 1:
A device?
Speaker 2:
Yeah. Something called an eidosometer. We'll come back to that.
He also reported spectrochrome significantly helping a World War I veteran, gassed, suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy.
Speaker 1:
Pneumonia treated with color. And uterine issues, too.
Speaker 2:
An unnamed doctor reported a recurring uterine abscess clearing up with green and lemon spectrochrome even after surgery hadn't permanently fixed it.
Speaker 1:
Green and lemon. And it wasn't just physical things.
Heart conditions.
Speaker 2:
Apparently so. There's a case mentioned of a leaky heart becoming normal with magenta spectrochrome.
Speaker 1:
Magenta.
Speaker 2:
Magenta. And another story about someone whose friend had a heart disorder, relieved by purple spectrochrome, supposedly replacing the need for digitalis.
Speaker 1:
Purple replacing digitalis. That's a bold claim.
Speaker 2:
It certainly is. The accounts cover a lot. Tonsillitis resolved with green, magenta and turquoise, avoiding surgery for a deputy's daughter.
Speaker 1:
Green, magenta, turquoise. Sounds like complex prescriptions.
Speaker 2:
It does. Joseph Hesselmeyer claimed a carbuncle cleared up in two and a half weeks. Remig Strait's wife apparently healed pinched fingers quickly. The colors seemed quite targeted.
Speaker 1:
And that device you mentioned, the eidosometer.
Speaker 2:
Right, the eidosometer. It seems it was used as part of spectrochrome therapy for diagnosis, helping decide which colors a patient needed. It points to how structured the system aimed to be.
Speaker 1:
And they even had a spectrochrome home guide.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, suggesting they were trying to make it accessible for people to use at home, too.
Speaker 1:
OK, one last perspective. From a 1915 publication, The Rhythm of Life, this one connects color to music.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it takes a slightly different angle, talking about music and color, both as forms of vibrational healing.
Speaker 1:
Vibrational healing.
Speaker 2:
OK, the idea is that music enters through the ear as sound and through the eye as color. Both are seen as fundamental vibrations underlying everything in nature and life.
Speaker 1:
So sound and light are just different kinds of vibration.
Speaker 2:
That's the concept. And the text suggests that if you used music and color scientifically, they could be the greatest curative agent.
Speaker 1:
Wow. But how would you know which music or color?
Speaker 2:
Well, it stresses the need for thorough diagnosis. You have to match the patient's specific needs with the right corresponding music and color, a personalized vibrational prescription, if you like.
Speaker 1:
And it goes beyond just physical healing.
Speaker 2:
It seems so. It talks about the right kind of music awakening one's inner spiritual sense, so a more holistic view.
Speaker 1:
And it links this to a natural way of living.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. Seeking health and strength through harmony, like musical or color balance. It encourages making life musical, storing up good memories of music, drawing a parallel to absorbing beneficial color influences.
Speaker 1:
So embracing these vibrations for overall well-being, not just treating illness.
Speaker 2:
Beautifully put. It's a view that sees music and color as integral to a vibrant, healthy life.
Speaker 1:
OK, so as we wrap up this deep dive, it's been quite a journey. We've gone from ancient ideas about light as a life force.
Speaker 2:
Right through to these structured color therapies like spectrochrome in the 20th century. And importantly, seeing examples where doctors were actually trying to use specific colors for specific medical problems.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that historical use by physicians is really striking. And the recurring theme, as you said, is this persistent idea of light and color not being passive, but somehow active forces influencing our health.
Speaker 2:
Definitely. Forces that could potentially influence both body and mind.
Speaker 1:
Now, obviously, how much scientific weight these historical practices hold today is, well, it varies a lot. But the sheer persistence of human interest in these nonconventional methods and the stories we've looked at, it certainly makes you think.
Speaker 2:
It absolutely does. Which leads us to a final thought for you listening. Given this long history, this documented interest and all these anecdotal accounts, what might future research uncover about light frequencies and colors?
Speaker 1:
Could there be something in these old ideas, maybe reframed or reexamined, that could actually inspire new approaches to health and wellness down the line?
Speaker 2:
It's definitely a provocative question to ponder, isn't it?