In some previous posts I’ve shared information regarding the use of color for health and well-being. I would like to share more information from various sources regarding the use of light and color.

Dr. Kate Baldwin, M.D. F.A.C.S. delivered a paper at the clinical meeting of the Section on Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and the abstract was printed in the Atlantic Medical Journal of April 1927, stating, “…For about six years I have given close attention to the action of colors in restoring the body functions, and I am perfectly honest in saying that, after nearly thirty-seven years of active hospital and private practice in medicine and surgery, I can produce quicker and more accurate results with colors than will all other methods combined – AND WITH LESS STRAIN ON THE PATIENT. (Caps are mine.)

In 1876, Dr. Edwin D. Babbitt, M.D., published his book on color, The Principles of Light and Color. He had two purposes for publishing his book. The first was to convince his fellow doctors in the medical profession that he had discovered a valuable therapeutic system, the second was to present to the world a philosophy of ‘light and color’ that he believed described the basis of all life.

In 1876, Babbitt wanted to prove that clairvoyance and X-Ray vision was possible for all people, when they came into rapport with a grade of light that was so fine it could penetrate opaque bodies and show the interior of all things. To support his theory, Babbitt referred to the discovery of the Roentgen or X-Ray, as well as Edison’s discovery that the light of fluorescent screens could penetrate the body.

Color has a profound effect upon humans, animals and insects. Back in the early 1930s a brochure advertised that you would be free of flies and ants if you kept a red glass in the widow of your room. It has been proven through experimentation that various colors have profound effects on all types of insects.

The use of color therapy on people dates back to the earliest Greek period and there are even earlier references in Egypt and India. The Greeks used specific colors on their architecture in the belief that the people living in the community and walking by different colored buildings would be effected enough to produce needed social changes within the community.

In 1981, Sharon McDonald, Ph.D., conducted a study on the effects of color on rheumatoid arthritis.

"The purpose of her study was to determine what effects the presence of certain colors, directly projected upon the body, might have on the experience of pain.

Data was collected from 60 female volunteers between the ages of 40-60 years who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The variables between the volunteers were the filter types, colors of red, blue and a control color, the presence of a visual barrier, and the duration of exposure.

Three conclusions at the end of the study seemed to be relevant to future health care interventions;

Dr. Kate W. Baldwin was senior surgeon for 23 years at Philadelphia Women’s Hospital, the oldest women’s hospital in the country. In 1924, little Grace Shirlow was brought into the hospital with 3rd degree burns over 4/5ths of her body. It was not only the skin that was burned but the fascia of the muscle. Dr. Baldwin stated, “I was brought in about 24 hours after the burn and the surgeon and the doctor stated ‘there was no use to do anything else.’ I told myself there was nothing in regular medicine or surgery that would make the child live. I told my assistant we might as well see what Spectro-chrome (color therapy) would do. The child was 8 years old and there was complete suppression of urine for more than 48 hours and a temperature of 105 to 106 degrees.”