Positive Health Online

Over the last twenty years, the subject of Aromatherapy has been much talked about and is fairly well understood by most people. The shop shelves are well stocked with 'aromatherapy' products of one kind or another. Colour Therapy, however, has perhaps only more recently been brought to the attention of those interested in so called 'alternative therapies.' I would like to explain a little of how these two ancient healing methods can be used together and how they complement each other. Ancient cultures and civilisations used aroma and colour as healing tools and I am sure that the use of these two combined is not a new concept.

Diagram showing positions and functions of chakras and examples of suitable essential oils.

How do these two therapies work together? The answer is simply because both are vibrational healing methods. Colour is light energy vibrating at different frequencies. We recognise this energy as different colours through colour sensory nerve cells at the back of the eyes. On perception of a certain colour, our mind will throw up many thoughts, emotions, memories associated with that colour, perhaps connected through personal experience and memory, which will make us feel happy, sad, angry, etc.

The vibrational frequencies of colours also resonate throughout our aura and are specifically associated with the seven main energy centres or chakras of the body. These seven colours are usually perceived as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet – in fact all the colours that we see in a rainbow!

Essential oils, like colours, also resonate at varying frequencies and contain the vibrational healing energies of the plants, trees, flowers or fruit from which they were extracted. Many essential oils vibrate at similar frequencies to the chakra colours and in this way it is possible to integrate colour with aroma in order to stimulate, heal, relax and balance ourselves, physically, mentally and spiritually. For example, some oils and colours just simply do not work well together, such as frankincense and the colour red; like two instruments playing out of tune; resulting in disharmony and imbalance. The reason being, whilst red energy vibrates at a very low frequency, frankincense oil vibrates at a much higher level.

Twelve months ago, the idea occurred to me to create a product that would combine the use of colour and essential oils and so Colour Therapy Bath Foam was born; one bath foam in each of the seven chakra colours. The product would be essentially relaxing but the client would choose the chakra colour that they were most attracted to. Within each bottle of coloured bath foam is an aromatic blend of essential oils which resonate and complement each colour.

After a great deal of research I asked a client to test the product out.

Moving into the age of Aquarius, many of us are becoming more spiritually aware and are becoming more attuned to our minds and bodies; more importantly, we are beginning to use our intuition rather than just logic. Listen to your intuition. If you are attracted to a certain colour, indulge yourself with this colour; use the essential oils which resonate with the colour and feel the effects. Sometimes we are attracted to colours and oils for months or years at a time; sometimes these colour phases are more short-lived. This depends on what is happening currently in our lives, our experiences and environment and how we address and deal with situations and problems we find ourselves in.

The easiest way to use colour and aroma together is by using essential oil in the bath or in an oil burner and to visualise your 'favourite' colour or to focus on a lit candle of that colour. Silk chakra scarves can be placed around the body, over the corresponding chakra points themselves or wherever needed.

The Crown Paint Company has even brought out a range of paint colours designed by a colour therapist so that you can now decorate your home with your favourite colours if you feel the need to have large areas in your chosen chakra colour!

The most important factor, I feel, to remember when using colour and aroma together, is to listen to your inner voice of intuition and choose your colour and scent accordingly.

Further Reading

Davies Patricia. Subtle Aromatherapy. CW Daniel. 1991
Merivale Philippa. Healing with Colour – An Experience of Aura Soma. Element Books. 1998.
White Ruth. Chakras – A New Approach To Healing Your Life. Judy Piatkus. 1998.