Light & Color Benefits to Wellness

Light and Color are some of nature's best healing remedies, yet we seldom seem to really take advantage of their power and healing benefits! Full spectrum light is rich with healing energies and the application of color through gels, lights, lenses, water, fabric, etc., is the means of directing color energy into the body. The optic nerve converts light ad its components, color, into electricity, which then traverses the meridians and nervous systems to direct bodily functions. Color therefore applied, causes cellular and hormonal changes to occur. There are many other phenomena that include

*the rate of growth of cells and tissues
*their rate of cell division
*the physical development of the individual
*he mass body potential
*the development of the biotype, modifying the hereditary tendency
*the functioning power of the pituitary gland
*the reproductive rate of any species
*the dynamic tension between the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system
*the secretion of hormones by all of the co-acting as well as antagonistic endocrine glands, with the pituitary as the 'master gland"
*the restoration of health following departures from the normal
*the degree of nerve cell irritability (thus modifying reflexes)
*the state of tension in the autonomic nervous system
*the perception of pain
*the relative responses of both striped and smooth muscle and bodily health

Healing Benefits of Orange~

Orange has always been my favorite color, even as a kid I took a bashing from others telling me that ‘no way was orange a cool color’. And, it so happens that I love many orange foods, doesn’t nectarines scream summer? Maybe some mango juice to cool you down or pumpkins in the fall? Crisp awesome carrots in your stir-fry? Or, how about some orange peppers in your fajitas? I even love me some juicy oranges or tangerines, but sadly I am allergic to the orange (as a fruit) and have to view from a far. Orange to me is like liquid sunshine, whether in food, drink or color form.

Orange colored foods provide vitamins and nutrients that also help to maintain a healthy immune system as well as protect heart and vision health, and reduce cancer risk. Tsang notes that the beta-carotenes in some orange fruits and vegetables may also play a part in preventing cancer, particularly of the lung, esophagus, and stomach. “They may also reduce the risk of heart disease and improve immune function,” she says. Orange colored fruits and vegetables contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium and vitamin C. these nutrients reduce age related macula degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy bones, as well as it keeps the skin healthy and builds body immunity.

In Dr. Andrew Weil’s Guide to Healthy Eating (fall 2009)he states that fruits and vegetable get their orange colored from plant compounds called carotenoids, including beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. These phytonutrients have been linked to lower risks for several conditions. One June 2009 study, for example, found that a diet including carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal women. Other research suggests that people who have high blood levels of carotenoids have a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Carrots have long been thought to benefit eyesight, likely due to these phyonutrients, which have also been link to a lower risk of macular degeneration. In addition, carotenoids may reduce risks of rheumatoid arthritis and boost immunity.

Orange and yellow citrus fruits, meanwhile, are great sources of the antioxidant vitamin C, which may lower the odds of developing osteoarthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Like carotenoids, C is an important vitamin for warding off macular degeneration. Plus, citrus helps to protect the heart and strengthen bones. Oranges and orange juice, as well as cantaloupe and papayas, are also full of folate, which helps prevent birth defects and protect against cardiovascular disease, depression, and some cancers. And, don’t forget the skin: Citrus peels contains d-limonene, a phyonutritent with cancer- protective effects. Research has shown drinking hot black tea with citrus peel reduced the risk of squamous cell skin cancer by 70 percent, while animal studies suggest that antioxidants found in oranges and tangerine peels may lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. (p38-39)
Carotenoids give fruit and vegetables a yellow or orange hue. Carrots, yellow squash and apricots contain beta-carotene. Your body converts the beta-carotene in pumpkins, carrots and sweet potatoes to vitamins important for healthy eyesight and mucous membranes. Eating food that contains carotenoids reduces your risk for developing macular degeneration, a common eye disorder that may lead to blindness. Yellow and orange foods containing carotenoids can help reduce your risk for developing cancer and heart disease.
Pick, cantaloupe, peaches and nectarines oranges, tangerines, mangoes and apricots. And include papaya, sweet potatoes, butternut and delicate squash, pumpkin, carrots, and orange peppers into your diet to get allthe fanstaic benefits of the world of orange goodness!

Working with color therapy Orange benefits include Healing properties: Orange is warm, cheering, non-constricting. Orange has a freeing action upon the body and mind, relieving repressions. Orange shows new possibilities and other options in life. Stimulates creative thinking and enthusiasm, and helps assimilate new ideas.It is also helpful in dealing with excess sexual expression.

Orange stimulates the lungs, the respiration and the digestion. Increases the activity of the thyroid. Reliefs muscle cramps and spasms. Increases the amount of mother milk.


Orange is the color of the sacral chakra. The sacral chakra is located between the lower abdomen and the navel. It governs the lower back, hips, sexual organs, kidneys, stomach, liver and adrenal glands, and any imbalances in the sacral chakra are believed to cause ailments in these regions. The sacral chakra rules issues of sexuality, creativity, emotional connection, intimacy, and desire. An imbalance in the sacral chakra can lead to being out of touch with your feelings, poor boundaries, disconnection with your sense of pleasure, and excessive resistance to change. A well-balanced sacral chakra produces feeling of emotional fulfillment, as well as a healthy sex drive, open creative expression, passion for life, and a full enjoyment of the pleasures of life.





Credits:http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/fruits-vegetables.shtml#ixzz1I0eRHPuW and Dr. Andrew Weil’s Guide to Healthy Eating (fall 2009) http://www.meditationgongs.net/tag/chakra-balancing http://www.deeptrancenow.com/colortherapy.htm Photos: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/best-farmers-markets-0917 - http://www.utahagenda.com/peach-days/ http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html purple/yellow peppers http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2008/07/31/oranges-great-green-pr/ oranges http://edusolnepal.com/zest&page=3

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/349802-what-are-the-benefits-of-eating-multiple-colored-fruits-and-vegetables/#ixzz1I0pET4qf

New Book ~ Chakra Foods for Optimum Health

Grilling, Gurgling, and Gulping: Top 8 Summer Foods for Men(1) Spice up meats – Did you know that spicing up your meat can protect you from toxic compounds formed during cooking? A recent study by Dr. Li and fellow researchers ( May 2010) demonstrated that adding a spice blend to hamburger meat before cooking resulted in a 71% decrease in a toxic compound that promotes cancer and heart disease. This blend contained eight different spices, primarily ground
paprika, oregano, garlic, and ginger. Two other potent spices, black pepper and curry (turmeric) have amazing effects in the body. Black pepper contains a compound (called piperine) that helps nutrients to be absorbed in the intestine. And curry has healing properties throughout the body, including the brain, where it has been shown to reduce the accumulation of beta-amyloid (accumulation of beta-amyloid is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease).
(2) Turn down the heat! – High-heat can lead to setting the body on fire – inflammatory fire, that is! High-heat cooking promotes the formation of harmful substances known as Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) which have been associated with inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A study by French
researchers published in May this year showed that eating high-heat cooked foods resulted in less sensitivity to insulin, lowered body omega-3 fats, and increases in cholesterol and triglycerides compared with eating mildly steamed foods. The acronym says it all – “AGEs” age you! Try to stay young, fresh, and vital with lightly steamed, poached, and raw foods.
(3) Choose fish first – Compared with beef and other land meats, certain fish contain higher amounts of the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. These fats are used throughout our bodies, and are especially beneficial for the brain and heart. Just one serving per week compared with no fish consumption resulted in a 12-13% lower risk for coronary calcification, a marker associated with atherosclerotic plaque (Heine-Bröring et al., AJCN, 2010). Additionally, with the brain being 60% fat, it is important to ensure that healthy fats are swimming their way into your brain matter, keeping your thinking sharp and your mood pleasant. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish per week.
(4) Cool down with leafy greens – With summer gatherings comes fresh salads, a perfect dish for getting a variety of high-color-powered phytonutrient vegetables like cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, delivered on a bed of cooling greens. Deep, luscious leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and mesclun are rich in folate, an essential nutrient for keeping down blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk.
(5) Reduce your grip on the salt shaker – Salt is sprinkled on so many processed summer foods, including chips, bread, lunch meats, and cheeses. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease risk in sensitive individuals. Aim for fresh, home-cooked meals where you can control the amount of salt that goes into your dish. And, choose coarse sea salts in place of refined salts for their additional contribution of minerals. For healthy young adults, keep sodium
consumption between 1,500 and 2,300 mg of sodium a day, and if you have high blood pressure, are middle-aged, or are African-American, stay at the low end of that range. If you choose for high-salt, processed food items like packaged grains or prepared frozen dishes, add vegetables and non-salted substitutes to dilute the salt load.
(6) Go for the green – tea, that is! – Instead of beer, try an alternate drink that tastes good and has health benefits – green tea. Iced green tea can be made by steeping several tea bags in a gallon of distilled water in the warm sunlight. Add lemon to make it even more refreshing. The best part is that green tea contains active compounds to assist with burning calories. In a study with animals
predisposed to becoming obese, feeding decaffeinated green tea resulted in less weight loss and better blood fat levels than placebo (Richard et al., Pharmacol Res., 2009).
(7) Color your world red – A group of Harvard researchers compared men’s incidence of prostate cancer with that of their consumption of tomato products, which contain the red-colored plant compound, lycopene. They found that men who consumed more tomato products had reduced prostate cancer, especially when they consumed tomato sauce (higher amounts of bioavailable lycopene) (Giovannucci et al., J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002). Aim for 10 servings of a variety of high-lycopene containing foods per week (tomato sauce, watermelon, tomato soup, whole tomatoes, ketchup, salsa, pink grapefruit, sweet red peppers). Additionally, lycopene-rich foods are important for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
(8) Don’t get “snowed-in” by sugar – Studies have indicated that consumption of nutrient-poor, high-sugar soft drinks leads to obesity. Sugar is an addictive substance and having a little can lead to being hooked by the intensity of flavor. When the blood sugar spikes, it causes high amounts of insulin to be released,
almost like the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. Over time, this process causes a metabolic disturbance known as metabolic syndrome, which can be high blood fats (triglycerides), high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, low “good” cholesterol, and increased belly fat, ultimately leading to greater risk for chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Instead of sugar, stick to fiber-rich foods that keep your blood sugar balanced, your appetite healthy, and your
energy high! Great fiber-rich foods are legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains (instead of white rice, choose brown rice!).

©Deanna Minich, PhD, CN
http://www.foodandspirit.com/

The Juicy Red Watermelon

Although watermelon is a fruit originally from Africa, and some believe it can be traced back to the early Egyptian civilization where there is evidence in the hieroglyphics on the wall paintings. It has also been found in the Mediterranean regions. Needless to say it has been adopted by countries all over the world. Why shouldn't it be? It is not just a very cool thirst quencher but is packed with numerous healing and nutritive benefits.

As a member of the Cucurbitaceous family, the watermelon is related to the cantaloupe, squash and pumpkin, other plants that also grow on vines on the ground. Watermelons can be round, oblong or spherical in shape and feature thick green rinds that are often spotted or striped.

The many nutritional benefits of this sweet and juicy vegetable includes:
· It is fat free.
· It has very low sodium content.
· It is Cholesterol free.
· It is a good source of Vitamins A & C
Watermelon consists of more than 91% of water and nearly 8% sugar.

The American Heart Association has certified watermelon to be one of the constituents of a sensible low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet. Watermelon has a cooling effect all through the body.
• Good source of Vitamin C, Vitamn A, and Vitamin B6
• Good source of lycopene that helps fight cancer
• A natural antioxidant
• An excellent source of water as it is 90% water
• Because this food has a higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits (a whole cup of watermelon contains only 48 calories), it delivers more nutrients per calorie-an outstanding health benefit!
Enzymes like lycopene, beta carotene and phyto-nutrients are known to be present in Watermelon. The most important of the phyto-nutrients is the citrulline which has amazing positive effects in our body like relaxing the blood vessels. This citrulline gets transformed in arginine after combining with certain enzymes in our body after watermelon is consumed. Arginine, an amino-acid that not only that helps blood circulation and boosts the immune system but is also excellent for heart.

“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. The red variety of watermelon contains high concentrations of Lycopene, an anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the risk of many diseases. Lycopene and beta-carotene are compounds called carotenoids, which are highly colored pigments that help protect plants against damage from sunlight. These antioxidants neutralize the harmful free radicals in the human body. Free radicals in the human body cause great deal of damage by oxidizing cholesterol and making it stick to the blood vessel walls, eventually leading to heart attack or stroke. Lycopene in watermelons get rid of these thereby reducing the risk of other fatal diseases such as asthma attacks, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, protection against macular degeneration, colon cancer and other heart diseases.

"The watermelon is the most gentle stuff I've found. It has sufficient fruit sugar for your brain and it is nicely alkaline and full of electrolytes." Dr. Tamzon Feeney

And, if that's not enough, here is a list from Juicing for Health:

Nutritional Benefits

The water content in watermelon is extremely high at 92%. It is rich in beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B5 and smaller amounts of B1, B2, B3 and B6.

This big fruit is a rich source of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and smaller amounts of copper, iron and zinc.

As in tomatoes, watermelon is loaded with lycopene, the red carotenoid pigment that gives it the red color. This important anti-oxidant is powerful in neutralizing harmful free radicals in our body.

Health Benefits

Watermelon is basically very cleansing, alkalinizing, diuretic and mineralizing. It is very effective in promoting intestinal elimination, keeping the body free from toxic wastes.

Its juice is easily digestible and are completely absorbed for all its minerals, providing much needed nutrients to the body.

The alkalinizing effect maintains the acid-alkaline balance in the body, neutralizing the toxic condition of the body resulting from excessive intake of acid-forming foods.

Drawing from the rich anti-oxidant and beta-carotene, the health effects of watermelon juice are immense.

Asthma: The powerful anti-oxidant in watermelon reduces toxic matters in the body, that in turn reduces asthma attacks.

Arthritis: The rich beta-carotene and vitamin C content in this big fruit do wonders in quenching inflammation that contributes to conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Bladder problems: Its cleansing and natural diuretic effect is totally healing for kidney and bladder problems

Cholesterol: Watermelon juice is healthful in preventing cholesterol from clogging arteries and can increase HDL, the good cholesterol, reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Constipation: Drink a big glass of watermelon juice. It is very effective in aiding the elimination of wastes. Consuming plenty of this red juice will do a lot of good.

Fluid retention: Its diuretic action helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body, reducing water retention, especially for women during their monthly menstruation cycle and in pregnant women.

Heart attack: The combination of folic acid and the other essential vitamins in this fruit plays an important role in reducing the risks of heart attacks, strokes and colon cancer.

Itchiness: As watermelon juice cleanses the body of toxic wastes, it also greatly reduces itchiness that result from toxicity of acidosis.

Prostate Cancer: Lycopene (from red watermelons) has been extensively researched for its anti-oxidant and cancer-preventing properties. It is reported to be especially protective against prostate cancer.

Skin Blemish: Use watermelon externally by applying a small piece liberally on your face. Leave for ten minutes, then wash off with warm water, followed by a splash of cold water.

All parts of watermelon are edible. The rind is used for making sweet pickles and the seeds can be baked and salted.

As for Colour Therapy, watermelon would fall into the Red realm, with the most talked about red bonus nutrient is lycopene. And for the Chakras, Red is for the Root Chakra Muladhara (Sanskrit: मूलाधार, Mūlādhāra). Health Associations: Responsible for body systems that provide physical structure, allowing for meaningful contact with the Earth: joints, bones, muscle, legs, and feet. Oversees the "boundaries" of the body through an internal and external defense system represented by the immune system and skin.

Me, well I am having stomach issues, i.e., leaky gut, stomach lining irritated, inflammation, gastritis, too much acid? I don't know, pick one or a combination of a few, but it was suggested that I try this amazing food for 10 days, I must confess, I am on day 5 and already feel much better!

Some references but not limited to:
Chakra Tonics-Elise Collins
The Color Code-Daniel Nadeau, M.D & James Joseph, Ph.D
What Color is your Diet?- David Heber, M.D., Ph.D.
Eating By Color-Williams-Sonoma
Wonderfoods-Natalie Savona
The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia-Rebecca Wood
http://fruitvegihealing.blogspot.com/2006/10/watermelon-juice-sweet-treat-with.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/274895/the_healthful_benefits_of_watermelon.html?cat=5http://www.juicing-for-health.com/watermelon.html

The Botany of Desire October 28th on PBS

Michael Pollan is the author of The Botany of Desire, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, and The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, which was named one of the 10 best books of 2006 by The New York Times and The Washington Post. It won the California Book Award, the Northern California Book Award, and the James Beard Award for Best Food Writing and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Pollan is also the author of A Place of My Own and Second Nature.

A contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, Pollan is the recipient of numerous journalistic awards, including the James Beard Award for Best Magazine Series in 2003 and the Reuters-I.U.C.N. 2000 Global Award for Environmental Journalism. His articles have been anthologized in Best American Science Writing, Best American Essays and The Norton Book of Nature Writing. Pollan served for many years as executive editor of Harper's Magazine and is now the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at UC Berkeley.





These books are available at www.CrimsonMoon.com

How many Colors are you eating?

With so many diets out there, it's no wonder that we are confused about what to eat. It is being said that on an average we may eat only around 3 colors of fruits and vegetables a day and that is on the high side. The average American diet consist of really one main color white and its variant side kick, beige. Isn't funny that that is the main color we eat as well as those are the 2 most popular colors that interior designers are touting as the "in" colors that most are living in and around these days.

Funny enough, as I am writing this and researching online, what comes up but a link to CBS, with a series called "What Color is Your Diet?" Here is a brief introduction on eating by color per David Heber, MD, PhD. from his book called "What Color is your Diet?"

Heber groups produce into seven color categories:

Red Group
(tomatoes, can of V8 juice, pink grapefruit, watermelon)
These contain the carotenoid lycopene, which helps rid the body of free radicals that damage genes. Lycopene seems to protect against prostate cancer as well as heart and lung disease. Processed juices contain a lot of the beneficial ingredients. One glass of tomato juice gives you 50 percent of the recommended lycopene.

Yellow/Green Group
(spinach greens, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, yellow corn, green peas, avocado, honeydew melon)
These are sources of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. These are believed to reduce the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Lutein is a yellow-green substance that concentrates in the back of your eye. It may also reduce atherosclerosis.

Orange Group
(carrots, mangos, apricots, cantaloupes, pumpkin, acorn squash, winter squash, sweet potatoes)
These contain alpha carotene, which protects against cancer. They also contain beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.

It protects the skin against free-radical damage and helps repair damaged DNA. Beta-carotene is also good for night vision. It's important to note that these beneficial nutrients can be received from other foods, too. For instance vitamin is found in dairy products and meat. But it's not as beneficial because you get high calories and fat along with it.

Orange/Yellow Group
(pineapple, orange juice, oranges, tangerines, peaches, papayas, nectarines)
These contain beta cryptothanxin, which helps cells in the body communicate and may help prevent heart disease. Also, an orange contains 170 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C. It's interesting to note that the skin of an orange is high in a protective fat that has been found to kill cancer cells in humans and animals, which highlights the fact that two-thirds of all drugs come from the plant world.

Red/Purple Group
(beets, eggplant, purple grapes, red wine, grape juice, prunes, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, red apples)
These are loaded with powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins believed to protect against heart disease by preventing blood clots. They may also delay the aging of cells in the body. There is some evidence they may help delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Green Group
(broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage or bok choi, kale)
These contain the chemicals sulforaphane and isocyanate and they also contain indoles, all of which help ward off cancer by inhibiting carcinogens. It's a fact that ten percent of the population - like George Bush Sr. - doesn't like broccoli. But it is important in diets because of the beneficial chemicals it contains.

White/Green Group
(leeks, scallions, garlic, onions, celery, pears, white wine, endive, chives)
The onion family contains allicin, which has antitumor properties. Other foods in this group contain antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol.

Here is a link to this article to read more. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/19/earlyshow/health/main515724.shtml
It breaks down all the health benefits per color and really gets you started eating a Full Spectrum Diet.

When we eat many colors, we are getting all the mineral and vitamins as well as the full spectrum of color. The Sun being the oldest form of color therapy and it contains the all the colors in its rays, and the sun helps the plants mature and bear the fruit, we are also able to nourish ourselves with color energy for the mind, body and soul.

As Andrew Pacholyk states: Medical researchers continue to find elements in fruits and vegetables that strengthen our immune system, impede the development of degenerative disease like cancer and heart disease, and contribute to good health in many other ways.

From Natures Paint Box: RED

The Power of Red

Tart cherries contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins- which provide the distinctive red color and may hold the key to the benefits locked inside (chandra 1992, Wang 1997, 1999). Studies suggest that these disease-fighting pigments possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties (Blando 2004). Tart cherries are one of the richest sources of anthocyanins.

Cherries are amazing little RED fruits that pack a punch! Just looking at the research coming through the pipes of the Internet, we read many of the health benefits that they have to offer, such as;

Cherries are one of the few known food sources of melatonin, a potent antioxidant produced naturally by the body's pineal gland that helps regulate biorhythm and natural sleep patterns. Scientists have found melatonin-rich tart cherries (commonly enjoyed as dried, frozen, juice or concentrate) contain more of this powerful antioxidant than what is normally produced by the body. Eating cherries can be a natural way to boost your body's melatonin levels to hasten sleep and ease jet lag.

According to Russel J. Reiter, PhD, a nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Health and Science Center and one of the worlds leading authorities on melatonin, try eating dried cherries one hour before desired sleep time on the plane. After arrival, consume cherries one hour before desired sleep each night for at least three consecutive evenings.

Michigan State University has been researching the benefits of cherries and they have found that they are known to reduce the pain of arthritis, gout and headaches. The anthocyanins and antioxidants in cherries are amazing. It may not be a cure - but it certainly does relieve pain. The red pigments in cherries contain natural anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are anti-inflammatory pain relievers 10 times stronger than aspirin or ibuprofen. They help shut down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation in the first place.


Tart cherries have also been found to aid

kidney stones
gallbladder ailments
tooth decay
preventing varicose veins
reducing cholesterol
reducing the risk of heart attack
helping with sleep
reducing the risk of cancer
reducing inflammation
reducing headaches

There is also evidence that cherries are so powerful they may reduce the risk of cancer by fifty percent. "Preliminary research is showing they contain unique plant chemicals that can prevent and treat many of today's worst health problems," says University of Iowa biochemist Raymond Hohl, M.D., at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. "It appears that cherries shut down the growth of cancer cells by depriving them of the proteins they need to grow," explains Dr. Hohl.

Antioxidants found in Tart Cherries

The same chemicals that give tart cherries their color may relieve pain better than aspirin and ibuprofen. Cherries may provide antioxidant protection comparable to commercially available supplements, such as vitamin E and vitamin C.
Eating about 20 tart cherries per day could reduce inflammatory pain and benefit the consumer with antioxidant protection. Twenty tart cherries contain 12 to 25 milligrams of active antioxidant compounds Date posted: 2/1/1999. Source: American Chemical Society .

~Painting your Plate Red~
Choose a cherry muffin over a blueberry, add them to your tossed salad, for breakfast add them to your oatmeal or yogurt, they work wonderfully with rice or pasta dishes, I put them in my chicken salad (white chicken meat, celery, walnuts, and dried cherries! WOW), or eat them straight out of the bag (dried or fresh, it's your call here!)

Get out and get your cherries! There are easy ways to incorporate cherries into your diet, whether you drinking on the run (grab the 100% cherry juice), taking the supplement, or adding the berries to your food, it can't get easier and the benefits are numerous!

There is even a Cherry Festival
http://www.cherryfestival.org/cherries/health.php

And, for more great info and news on cherries check out http://www.choosecherries.com/
Top picture: http://www.idletype.com/index.php/image/bowlofcherries/

So, whether you are into Wild, Tart or Sweet cherries,get Inspi(red),
these little RED Fruits have a lot to offer!

Musing through Yellow

I knew banana's were good, were a complete food per Dr. Mindell, but there is more good news! They are also wonderful for High Blood Pressure, who knew? Loaded with a hefty dose of potassium, which is best known as a blood pressure regulator. Many cardiologists believe that High Blood Pressure is caused as much by low potassium as by high sodium. According to Eva Obarzanek of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, "High Blood Pressure is not an inherent part of aging," aren't we all happy to hear this! Unfortunately, the western diet that consist of processed food, is stripped of the potassium that we need. Two hundred years ago, the average person consumed eight times more potassium than sodium. Today, that ratio is one to four in the opposite direction (accoding to The Color Code: A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health). No wonder hypertension is practically a national epidemic. Get your Yellow ON! eat more banana's!

Combining Color and Scent, well, just makes a lot of sense. Considering how the Sun has all the colors in the rays which feed the plants, that we use to feed and heal ourselves, we are then getting our color through the plants as well. When using Aromatherapy with Color Therapy look to the essential oils of bergamot, Birch, Cardamom, Celery, Coriander, Cajeput, Citronella, Cumin, Lemon, Lemongrass, Marigold, Grapefruit, Basil, Fennel, Vetivert, Cinnamon, Camphor (yellow), Angelica, Aniseed, Caraway, Cedarwood, Ginger, Oregano, to name a few. To find out more on this subject, there is a great book by Suzy Chiazzari, Colour Scents.
For Chakra Therapy and Yellow, we would look to the Solar Plexus Chakra / Navel Chakra / Manipura /10-leaf-lotus. When looking here we find that this Chakra is associated with our sense of self-esteem and self-worth. It is also a place where we tend to feel strongly the emotion of fear and intimidation. It is the area that governs the pancreas, adrenals, liver and stomach. The Bija Mantra for the Solar Plexus is Ram (pronounced RUM).

Chakra Tonic: ~~Papaya Pineapple Smoothie~~

Papaya is the "acknowledged universal healer" in the INDONESIAN healing tonic tradition of Jamu. The enzyme papain seems to be able to digest almost anything. It is found in the juice of the fruit and is highly concentrated in the leaves of the plant. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which is also an appetite suppressant.
1/2 pineapple cut into small pieces
1 small papaya or 1/4 to 1/2 large papaya cut into small pieces
1 cup apple juice or 1 cup purified water

Bonus super ingredients; 1 teaspoon probiotic formula, or small vial of Siberian ginseng for adrenal support.

Place ingredients in a blender and puree at high speed. Serve and enjoy this tropical cleansing/digestive smoothie.

For this and other tonics grab the book, Chakra Tonics: Essential Elixirs for the Mind, Body, and Spirit, Elise Marie Collins


Yellow is used for the nerves and brain; is a motor stimulant and a nerve builder. It has a stimulating, cleansing and eliminating action on the Liver, Intestines, and the Skin. As well, it purifies the blood stream and activates the Lymphatic system. To the ancients, yellow was the animating color for life; it suggests joy, gaiety, merriment. It is the color of the intellect, of perception rather than reason. (Color Therapy, R.Ambers)

This is just the beginning of my Musings through Yellow...

The Correlation between Light and Sleep Disorders

The University of Michigan Sleep Laboratory

JACKSON, MI – July 29, 2009 – In May of 2008, the University of Michigan opened its Sleep and Chronophysiology Laboratory, which is one of the world’s first laboratories devoted solely to research on how sleep and biological rhythms influence depression, substance abuse and other aspects of mental well-being. Research shows that light strongly affects a person’s sleep and circadian rhythm, so installing the right kind of light in the laboratory was crucial to its success. After meetings with many companies and designers, the University chose Full Spectrum Solutions to design and install its new lighting system for the laboratory.

To ensure the most accurate results, the bedrooms are structurally isolated from the main building using a suspension system. Full Spectrum Solutions designed the lighting control system using LabView Programming Software from National Instruments. In conjunction with UltraLux® T5 fluorescent high bay fixtures using a combination of BlueMax™ High Definition lamps yielding an amazing 96CRI at three different color temperatures of 3,500K, 5,900K, and 10,000K , researchers are able to vary the light to create any condition. “We worked closely with lighting scientist, Professor Mojtaba Navvab at the Enhanced Spectrum Laboratory at U of M and the doctors at the sleep lab to create a one of a kind lighting system,” said Michael Nevins, lighting engineer and CEO of Full Spectrum Solutions. “You can simulate almost any lighting condition you would like, even what it would be like on Mars.”

The light system can glow as bright as 20,000 Lux, a measurement equal to the brightest sunny day, and can be dimmed to just a red glow that doesn’t register in the brain in a way that affects melatonin (sleep hormone). “The program can be formatted to simulate lighting conditions in any time zone,” said Cal Nevins, control system engineer for the project. “For example, researchers can easily program the daylight structure to match Alaska’s so they can study the effect light, or the lack thereof, has on residents of Alaska.”

The center is set up so that a research volunteer can be entirely closed off from the outside world, for a couple of days or weeks, unable to tell what time of day it is. “What makes this lab unique is the ability to manipulate the light to create any condition,” said Professor Navvab. “After 72 hours, research participants have no true concept of time. They can only assume the time based off of the lighting levels at that time.”

The suites are specially equipped with banks of lights on the walls and ceiling that can be adjusted precisely by the center’s staff to simulate all times of day or night. This can allow a volunteer’s innate circadian rhythms — patterns of rest and activity in both body and mind — to be monitored or even altered temporarily. The facility can also be used for light therapy to combat problems such as depression.

“Already, we know that people with depression, seasonal affective disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism, and many more conditions suffer terrible disruptions to their sleep patterns, and that in turn, a lack of good-quality sleep worsens their conditions,” said Roseanne Armitage, a professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, and director of the laboratory. “But there are so many unanswered questions about why this happens, how early in life it begins, and how it might be treated or prevented. This lab will help us do just that.”1

When asked how the lighting system is performing a year after the opening of the sleep center, Bob Hoffmann, Assistant Director of the lab reported, “I am pleased to say that it is a remarkable system. Light temperature and intensity are easily controlled and setting up a schedule for them is very simple with the LabView front end.”

Full Spectrum Solutions, Inc. supports lighting research through its affiliate memberships and partnerships with medical and scientific researchers. For more information, visit HUwww.fullspectrumsolutions.comUH, or email Lindsey Edwards at HUlindsey@fullspectrumsolutions.comUH

http://www.bignews.biz/?id=808230&pg=1&keys=lighting-sleep-depression-disorder

Humans Glow in Visible Light

By Charles Q. Choi, LiveScience
(July 22) - The human body literally glows, emitting a visible light in extremely small quantities at levels that rise and fall with the day, scientists now reveal.
Past research has shown that the body emits visible light, 1,000 times less intense than the levels to which our naked eyes are sensitive. In fact, virtually all living creatures emit very weak light, which is thought to be a byproduct of biochemical reactions involving free radicals.
(This visible light differs from the infrared radiation — an invisible form of light — that comes from body heat.)
To learn more about this faint visible light, scientists in Japan employed extraordinarily sensitive cameras capable of detecting single photons. Five healthy male volunteers in their 20s were placed bare-chested in front of the cameras in complete darkness in light-tight rooms for 20 minutes every three hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for three days.
The researchers found the body glow rose and fell over the day, with its lowest point at 10 a.m. and its peak at 4 p.m., dropping gradually after that. These findings suggest there is light emission linked to our body clocks, most likely due to how our metabolic rhythms fluctuate over the course of the day.
Faces glowed more than the rest of the body. This might be because faces are more tanned than the rest of the body, since they get more exposure to sunlight — the pigment behind skin color, melanin, has fluorescent components that could enhance the body's miniscule light production.A light-senstive camera shows a man's upper body, especially his face, emitting visible light in small quantities that vary during the day.


Since this faint light is linked with the body's metabolism, this finding suggests cameras that can spot the weak emissions could help spot medical conditions, said researcher Hitoshi Okamura, a circadian biologist at Kyoto University in Japan.
"If you can see the glimmer from the body's surface, you could see the whole body condition," said researcher Masaki Kobayashi, a biomedical photonics specialist at the Tohoku Institute of Technology in Sendai, Japan.
The scientists detailed their findings online July 16 in the journal PLoS ONE.
http://news.aol.com/article/humans-glow/584160?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl1|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fhumans-glow%2F584160

Green Tea: A New Weapon Against Prostate Cancer?

Many medical “discoveries” have occurred quite by happenstance. For instance, consider the story of Green Tea which began some 5,000 years ago when, as Chinese legend has it, leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis tree fell into an emperor’s boiling pot of water. The leaves turned the water a light-brown color and gave off a delightful aroma. The emperor, upon taking a sip, found it also had an excellent taste and proclaimed it as “heaven sent.” Since then, the delectable brew has been considered a health-promoting beverage in China; used to treat everything from headaches to depression.

Today, a wealth of studies has provided hard evidence for its positive effects on health. Drinking green tea is reputed to promote heart health, lower high cholesterol levels, lessen free radical damage to cells, fight obesity, inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots, and slow the progression of age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers now say that certain compounds in green tea may actually slow the progression of prostate cancer, a disease that kills more men each year in the United States than any cancer other than lung cancer.

Previous studies have shown that green tea may be linked to a reduced incidence of prostate cancer, and its polyphenols have been regarded as a potential cancer therapy. But last year, the FDA announced that the evidence for green tea benefits was inconclusive, because people consume relatively small quantities. So, Dr. James Cardelli, and his colleagues at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, carried out a clinical trial to determine the effects of short-term supplementation with increased amounts of the active compounds in green tea on the progression of prostate cancer.

The small study consisted of 26 men between 41 and 68 years of age who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and were scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The men were put on a daily dose of four capsules containing a total of 1.3 grams of polyphenon E, equivalent to about 12 cups of normally brewed concentrated green tea, for 12 to 73 days (with an average time of 34.5 days), until the day before surgery. Blood tests showed a significant reduction in serum levels of three biomarkers associated with the growth and spread of prostate cancer: hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and prostate specific antigen (PSA).

On an average, HGF decreased 18.9 percent, VEGF decreased by 9.9 percent and PSA dropped by 10.4 percent. Some patients demonstrated reductions of more than 30 percent. The researchers said that in vitro, EGCG (the main catechin in polyphenon E) swiftly blocked the production of HGF, and the block “seems to be at the level of transcription.” EGCG also blocked the production of VEGF, which plays a critical role in the angiogenic process in cancer-associated fibroblasts, they noted. Age, race, and time on the drug did not have a significant effect on the changes in serum biomarkers.

Previous studies have suggested that high levels of EGCG may have adverse effects on liver function, but in this study the liver function of the patients remained normal. “Our results show a significant reduction in serum levels of PSA, HGF, and VEGF in men with prostate cancer after brief treatment with EGCG (Polyphenon E), with no elevation of liver enzymes. These findings support a potential role for Polyphenon E in the treatment or prevention of prostate cancer,” the researchers concluded.

Dr. Cardelli admits that the study is still in an early stage and that the findings need to be verified by larger, placebo-controlled trials. “Green tea can keep cancer from growing very fast, but it may not be able to shrink tumors,” he said. “But it can be a good addition to traditional therapies, like chemotherapy or radiation.”

“We think that the use of tea polyphenols alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence," Dr. Cardelli said. “There is reasonably good evidence that many cancers are preventable, and our studies using plant-derived substances support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in preventing cancer development and progression.”

John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, says though there have been a number of studies into the potential benefits of green tea, there is no conclusive evidence. “The results of this study do suggest that there is merit in further research into the effects of extracts of green tea, both in relation to its impact on the prevention of prostate cancer and in controlling progression in men already diagnosed with the disease, as was investigated in this instance,” he said. “These initial positive findings could indicate that green tea could have a place in ‘active surveillance’, where a slow-growing, low risk tumor is monitored for changes and men want to take something which could help keep progression at bay.”

“Potentially, this could mean completely avoiding, in some cases, any of the more usual medical interventions and their associated side effects,” Neate said.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 192,280 men and will kill 27,360 in 2009. Men over 50 are urged to get tested for the disease annually, however very few do, putting them at risk of being diagnosed at a later stage rather than earlier in the cancer process.

The study is published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
By: Madeline Ellis
Published: Monday, 22 June 2009
http://www.healthnews.com/natural-health/green-tea-a-new-weapon-against-prostate-cancer-3339.html

Color can be a prescription for stress relief and body balance

More Health News 03:25 PM Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Brandy Aguilar, Special Projects Producer
9 p.m. Extra: Color Therapy

“There's the outside stress which is something I can't control and with the economy and I'm in real estate and there are things I just have to deal with,” admits Kerri Shearer.

She feels like a lot of people these days...stressed out. To help her wind down she turned to Naturopathic Dr. Donese Worden. Shearer says, “I was completely open to it and it didn't scare me. I thought it was actually interesting.”

She is hoping color can conquer her stress. Dr. Worden explains, “Our cells communicate to each other through light frequency. We are literally beings of light and that's how our cells and blood, everything we’re made of, communicates so it makes sense we put in different frequencies and, in this case color, it makes a big difference physiologically to the patient.”

Color therapy can be used to balance energy in areas of our bodies that are lacking vibrance, whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual or mental. Dr. Worden says, “We’re just giving the body the energy it needs to fix itself. If they have depression, we will use orange or red and give them energy and pull them out. If they’re stressed out we don't want to use red. We use blue or green.”

Dr. Worden says blue and green are supposed to give off a relaxing effect. She explains, “The most powerful chemical we've got, even beyond drugs, are what are own brain makes so if we’re ready and receptive for this type of therapy we'll get a better effect then if we have resistance.”

Other tools that can be used in conjunction with color therapy are aromatherapy, lasers, and acupuncture.” Dr. Worden says, “Most people in their first session within just a matter of minutes are feeling it. They can notice it, they feel it and it's not something that takes long periods of time to change the body.”

As for Shearer, she says her stressful days are long gone. “It felt good because I felt like I was on this little journey, emotionally, but physically I know it was helping as well.”

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/Phoenix-health-news-021809-color-therapy-9pm-extra.2bc45212.html

Alain Parkinson Luminarium at Budapest's Sziget Music Festival

Alain Parkinson is a British artist who designed an inflatable 'Luminarium' to serve as a chillout space during the Budapest Sziget Music Festival. The festival is held on an island on the Danube river running through the city, and has been running since 1993. In 2006 attendance neared 400,000, and this year it seems that it will reach that capacity again.

Circadian math: 1 plus 1 doesn't always equal 2

Researchers have found that the circadian system may be able to distinguish between lights of different colors. Credit: Rensselaer/Lighting Research Center

Like a wristwatch that needs to be wound daily for accurate time-telling, the human circadian system — the biological cycles that repeat approximately every 24 hours — requires daily light exposure to the eye's retina to remain synchronized with the solar day. In a new study published in the June issue of Neuroscience Letters, researchers have demonstrated that when it comes to the circadian system, not all light exposure is created equal.

The findings have profound implications for exploring how lighting can be used to adjust our bodies' clocks, and they could redefine the way lighting is manufactured, according to Mariana Figueiro, lead author of the paper and assistant professor in the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Short-wavelength light, including natural light from the blue sky, is highly effective at stimulating the circadian system. Exposure to other wavelengths — and thus colors — of light may necessitate longer exposure times or require higher exposure levels to be as effective at "winding the watch."

In some instances, exposure to multiple wavelengths (colors) of light simultaneously can result in less total stimulation to the circadian system than would result if either color were viewed separately, a phenomenon known as "spectral opponency." The LRC scientists have shown that the circadian system shares neurons in the retina — which exhibit spectral opponency and form the foundation for our perception of color — with the visual system. Thus, in principle, the circadian system may be able to distinguish between lights of different colors.

More than meets the eye

To demonstrate that the circadian system exhibited spectral opponency formed in the retina, the researchers exposed 10 subjects to three experimental conditions: one unit of blue light to the left eye plus one unit of green light to the right eye; one unit of blue light to the right eye plus one unit of green light to the left eye; and half a unit of blue light plus half a unit of green light to both eyes and then measured each individual's melatonin levels, a natural indicator of the circadian clock.

"The first two conditions — exposure to a single color in each eye — did not result in a significant difference in melatonin suppression, while the third condition — exposure to both colors in both eyes — resulted in significantly less melatonin suppression," said Figueiro. "Even though the amount of light at the eye was the same in all three conditions, when the two colors of light were combined in the same eye, the response of the system was reduced due to spectral opponent mechanisms formed in the retina."

This indicates that spectral opponency is a fundamental characteristic of how the human retina converts light into neural signals in the human circadian system, according to Figueiro.

The findings also verify the accuracy of a new quantification system LRC researchers developed in 2006 to calculate the "circadian efficacy" of different light sources. Called the model of human circadian phototransduction,
the tool correctly predicted the circadian system response demonstrated under each of the three experimental conditions.

The model appears to correctly predict the circadian response to any light source, and can be used as the foundation for a new system of circadian photometry, much like the current system of photometry based on human vision.

Quantification of light as a stimulus for the circadian system provide new scientific insights into how the human body processes light for the circadian system, according to Figueiro.

Nocturnal melatonin, a hormone produced at night and under conditions of darkness, is used as a marker for the circadian clock. Scientific evidence suggests that disruption of the circadian system — and thus the melatonin cycle — may result in increased malignant tumor growth, as well as poor sleep quality, lack of alertness, seasonal depression, and immune deficiencies.

Now that the model can predict circadian efficacy for any light source, Figueiro and her research partners have begun studying the way time of night affects the potency of light exposure. Once complete, the comprehensive model will allow manufacturers to develop light sources that most effectively stimulate and, importantly, do not stimulate the circadian system.

Source: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
http://www.physorg.com/news132055021.html
Published: 10:57 EST, June 07, 2008

Why you need green exercise

It's no wonder that fitness resolutions tend to fizzle in February. Chicagoans vow to get in shape at the worst possible time of the year, just when miserable weather forces us indoors.

We do have health clubs. And winter kicks off the mall-walking season. ("Meet in the food court!"). But some suspect we need more than just physical exercise to stay healthy. We need the emotional healing benefits of green exercise.

Also known as eco-therapy, green exercise simply means doing something, almost anything, outside. You won't necessarily burn more calories in nature's green gym.

But you can get substantial mental health benefits—reduced stress, depression and anger and enhanced mood and self-esteem—simply by seeking out the natural world, according to growing evidence from researchers in the U.S., Scandinavia and Britain.

In fact, in color therapy, green balances the nervous system and is believed to have a calming, soothing effect. It stimulates growth, and exposure to it is said to help those those suffering from depression, anxiety and nervousness.

Reconnecting with the environment could be as simple as viewing nature in a picture or through a window. Studies have shown that prisoners and hospital patients reported better health when living in rooms that face farmland and trees rather than brick walls.

Scenery also made a difference for another group of shut-ins: treadmill runners, according to researchers at the University of Essex in Britain. They found that runners who zoned out on idyllic rural views during a 20-minute run had the most substantial drop in blood pressure and the most improved psychological outcomes. The runners forced to look at gritty city environments, or "urban unpleasant" views, fared the worst.

Even those who had "no view" on the treadmill reported better outcomes than the ones looking at the run-down urban scenes.

Or green exercise could mean sitting in a park, biking to work, walking, fishing or digging in the dirt. The stress-reduction benefits of healing gardens in hospitals (which we could now call “green care”) date to the Middle Ages. And some say our modern hospitals, which focus on treating disease, have abandoned the healing properties that the connection to nature can bring.

Even mall walking, which can feel more fatiguing than an hour run, doesn't boost self-esteem as much as strolling through the woods for those diagnosed with mental health problems, according to Jules Pretty, a professor of environment and society at the University of Essex, a hotbed of green-exercise research.

"Clearly nature delivers important health benefits if we reorganize lifestyles and behaviors," Pretty recently wrote in a commentary published in New Scientist.

The biggest challenge, Pretty said, is redesigning cities to get people to walk more during normal working days.

"Fifty years ago, an average adult ran the equivalent of a marathon a week more than an average adult does today—and that was not running, just walking, cycling, being more active in the home," said Pretty, author of "The Earth Only Endures: Reconnecting With Nature and Our Place in It" (Earthscan, $29.95). "No wonder obesity is such a problem."

Locally, groups are working on ways to make green exercise easy and inevitable. Chicago's upcoming daylong Modeshift Conference 2008, to be held Feb. 28 at the Metcalf Federal Building, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., focuses on transforming a community’s transportation habits by teaching participants how to convert car trips to walking, biking and public transit.

This laudable goal is important for both ethical and economic reasons. But Pretty and other green-exercise advocates argue that there is another very good reason for conservation: the psychological and healing benefits of nature.

"Nature and living things, it seems, tend to make most people feel good," Pretty said. "The idea that the quality of nature in people's home neighborhood affects their mental health is not a new one, but it has not greatly affected the planning of our urban and rural environments, nor of public health priorities.

"Establishing emotional connections with the environment also inspires people to think about conservation and climate change," Pretty explained. "That, in turn, is likely to encourage environmentally friendly behaviors, a virtuous cycle of benefit to the environment."

Register for Modeshift, which is presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, at biketraffic.org/modeshift.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2008/02/the-best-brain.html

Could Color Help You Sleep?

The Role Of Chromatherapy In Finding An Insomnia Cure
Chromatherapy, or color therapy, involves the use of color to promote general health and also to treat particular maladies (including sleep-oriented problems).

Useful in treating both emotional and physical sleep disturbances, chromatherapy may involve exposure to colored lights, massages using color-saturated oils and salves, meditation and visualization of certain colors, or the wearing of certain colors of clothing.

The use of color in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders dates back many centuries. Some 2,500 years ago, Pythagoras applied color light therapeutically and "color halls" were used for healing in ancient Egypt, China and India.

In the days of ancient Egypt, practitioners built solariums with specifically designed glasses and lenses that served to break up the sun's rays into the colors of the spectrum.

In the late 17th century modern-day color theory was born when English mathematician and philosopher Sir Isaac Newton conducted his prism experiments and showed that light is truly a mixture of colors from the visible spectrum.

In India, practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine believe that specific colors correspond with each of the seven chakras - vortices of energy in the body that represent organs, emotions, and aspects of the soul or life force.

But it was not until the late 1800s, when Dr. Edwin D. Babbitt published his book, Principles of Light and Color, that Chromatherapy as we know it was outlined.

In this work, Dr. Babbitt suggests the use of color as a treatment for a variety of ailments, including sleep and anxiety disorders.

In the late 1940s, Russian researcher S.V. Krakov conducted a series of experiments in which he separated the different wavelengths in the light spectrum to show how color affects the nervous system.

In his experiments, he observed that red light stimulated the adrenal glands, raising blood pressure and pulse rate, and that blue and white light had a calming, relaxing effect.

Many practitioners still use the results of Krakov's studies today and commonly recommend his brand of color therapy for the treatment of stress and stress-related pain.

Today, many mainstream researchers commonly turn to chromatherapy for the treatment of a variety of ailments - particularly sleep disorders.

Color is a property of light, which comprises many different waves of energy. When light falls upon the photoreceptor cells of the retina, it is converted into electrical impulses that travel to the brain and trigger the release of hormones.

The release of these hormones in controlled bursts can be used to treat your body and mind for many of the medical conditions that hinder sleep as well as to promote conditions that are conducive to sleep and rest.

While many forms of chromatherapy can and should only be practiced by licensed practitioners and/or medical doctors, some forms of color therapy are simple and safe enough to be practiced in the comfort of your own home. These include wearing clothing of particular hues, surrounding yourself with a recommended color, eating certain colorful foods, and concentrating on visualizing a particular color.

Each of the seven colors of the spectrum is associated with specific healing properties.

Violet
Violet promotes enlightenment, revelation, and spiritual awakening. Violet is often used to soothe organs, relax muscles, and calm the nervous system.

Indigo
Indigo is also sedative and calming. It is said to promote intuition. Indigo may be useful in controlling bleeding and abscesses.

Blue
Blue promotes communication and knowledge. It eliminates toxins, and is used to treat liver disorders and jaundice.

Green
Because it falls in the middle of the color spectrum, green is associated with balance. Green is calming, and is used by Ayurvedic practitioners to promote healing of ulcers. It is said to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties and is sometimes used by holistic color therapists to treat bacterial infections.

Yellow
Yellow is a sensory stimulant associated with wisdom and clarity. It is thought to have decongestant and antibacterial properties, and is useful in stimulating both the digestive and lymphatic systems.

Orange
Orange promotes pleasure, enthusiasm, and sexual stimulation. Ayurvedic practitioners believe it has antibacterial properties and may be useful in easing digestive system discomforts such as flatulence and cramps.

Red
Red promotes energy, empowerment, and stimulation. It is thought to improve circulation and stimulate red blood cell production.
http://help-me-to-sleep.com/insomnia/chromatherapy.html

Other Offerings Now Available To Help Induce Sleep
Located in midtown Manhattan, Yelo offers its patrons the opportunity to take 20- to 40-minute naps in YeloCabs, which use a patented YeloNap sleep technology. The YeloCabs are private rooms that use light and color therapies, and also offer a "zero gravity" chair that elevates the legs above the heart to encourage maximum relaxation. Being well rested comes at a price however, and a 20-minute nap costs
$12.

The Transport

The shiny egg-shaped Transport offers a womb-like elliptical opening that aims to evoke a sense of comfort and relaxation. This handmade, custom-ordered piece, which retails for $13,000, is not specifically marketed as a napping device. It does, however, provide a nap-friendly, trance-inducing environment of color, music, and vibration that can be employed in bedrooms and spas. The napper lies on a fluffy cloud-like cushion, set atop a temperature-controlled water bed.

The Many Ways of Applying Color

There are many ways in applying color in a therapeutic way to the body. They would include colored fabrics,
preferably silk or cotton and you can either lay on, drape over the body or wear. Applying light to the body by means of a color torches
or filters, where with the color torch you can stimulate the meridians
and acupuncture points and small areas such as spots, cuts, burns, etc., or by attaching the filters to a lighting device
and shinning over the entire body or taping in a sunny window and creating colored sun spots. As well, you can make solarized water
, the ways on making it are a few post down the blog,and by working with gems
and crystals. And, also by consumption, getting the colors through the foods you choose. These are a few ways to get you started in healing through color therapy.

Solarized Water

Solarized water is water that has been directly exposed to the sun for at least an hour in a glass container of a particular color and that has therefore become irradiated.

The color Blue is antiseptic and it prevents water from spoiling and can be kept a week or ten days in hot or cold weather. Bud, Red, Yellow, and Orange should be changed every two days in warm weather and every ten days to two weeks in cold weather. Solarized water should always be sipped through out the day. Another way other than colored glass is to use a clear glass vessel and put colored filters ( such as in the filters used in Let There Be Light)around the vessel.

Another great write up about Solarized water is from Sci Art, which is as follows:
The physical body may be therapeutically affected in profound ways by the simplest forms of nature. The energetic storage properties of water, along with the pranic-charging capabilities of sunlight, create a powerful method of extracting and storing the healing frequencies of color.

Color energies have their effects primarily because certain color frequencies resonate strongly with particular chakras Through resonate energy exchange, the color frequencies energize and rebalance chakras which mat be abnormal or blocked as a reflection of the disease process. By balancing the dysfunctional charka, the proper flows of subtle energies are re-established to the diseased system.

Water is a very special substance. It constitutes 99 percent of the molecules making up the human body, and covers two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. Water is able to extract and store subtle energies which have measurable effects on living systems Research has shown that water can be “charged,” much like a battery, with various types of subtle energies and then “store” this energy for up to 24 hours.