an A-Z of alternative therapies

Using the seven colours of the light spectrum, colour therapy aims to balance and enhance our body's energy centres/chakras and can help to stimulate our body's own healing process.

Each of the seven colours resonates with one of the main seven chakras.

Colour Therapy uses colour to balance the Chakras of the body. Each of the spectrum colours is simply light of varying wavelengths, thus each colour has its own particular energy.

The energy relating to each of these spectrum colours resonates with the energy of each of the seven main chakras of the body.

Colour therapy is used in some form or another, within many other alternative treatments, particularly Crystal Healing, Chakra Balancing or any therapy using the aura for diagnostic purposes.

The impact of colour on mood is widely recognised. Colour therapists go further, believing that different hues can treat illness and improve physical, emotional and spiritual health by rebalancing the chakras through the application of the appropriate colour to the body.

The vibrations of colour waves can directly affect body cells and organs. The body emits its own aura, or energy field, the colours of which reflect a person's state of health. Different colours are used to heal, often in the form of coloured light, or by visualisation. In the case of Aura-Soma, by the application of coloured liquids to the skin.

When visiting a practitioner you will usually be asked for details of your medical history and your personal colour preferences.

If your practitioner works with the aura and chakras, they may simply see which colours your body requires. Other diagnostic techniques involve being asked to choose three cards from a set of eight colour cards, being asked to choose a number of ribbons from a board of coloured streamers, being asked to select coloured fabrics from a display, or some similar version of these. The practitioner may also dowse a colour spine chart by running a finger along a chart of the spine where different areas reflect different colours.

Following diagnosis, treatment is often in the form of colour illumination therapy, coloured light shone for a precise time onto a specific part or your body through a quartz tipped crystal, or diffused around you as you sit under a light source.

Other forms of treatment include draping the body in coloured silks, the use of visualisation by the therapist, the adjustment of the aura by the therapist, being taught to visualise colour for your own use, being asked to wear certain colours or being given solarised water to drink. This is water that has been solarised by absorbing sunlight through a particular colour of stained glass.

In the case or Aura-Soma, a form of colour therapy, you are presented wit a selection of 90 specially prepared "balance" bottles and asked to choose 4. Each contains two coloured liquids and a mixture of essential oils on a layer of spring water containing herbal extracts.

The colures you choose provide insights into your physical and emotional conditions. The 4 bottles are shaken, and the mixture applied to the skin daily for as long as necessary.

Patients usually feel very relaxed after a session and may want to sleep.

Session times vary, but may be approximately 1 hour long.

Number of sessions may vary, but may be weekly for several weeks, depending on the condition.

• A natural and non-invasive form of healing which uses the pure light/colour energy for the well-being of mind, body and spirit. Colour therapy is used for adults and children or babies alike and is also very helpful in the treatment animals.
• Safe for every level of health.
• You should make the therapist aware of any existing medical condition.