Colour can affect us in many ways. Sadly, I had to attend a funeral at the weekend - but instead of wearing black, we all wore bright colours. Not only did we look and feel as vibrant as we could, we made it a celebration of a life - and I’m sure this helped us all in some small way.  

Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced Chromotherapy - or the use of colours to heal. Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colourology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.

In this form of treatment:

• Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation
• Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body
• Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels
• Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain
• Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems

Colours also have different meanings in different cultures - as is evident in our clothes and costumes. 

Existing research has found that colour can impact people in a variety of surprising ways:

• A study found that sports teams dressed in mostly black strips are more likely to receive penalties (not sure if this has happened during the world cup!).  
• The colour white can feel fresh and clean, hence the use of white packaging used by many skincare brands. 
• Green is said to balance the body and help settle nervousness and anxiety. Choose emerald green clothes as it balances the red colour in the skin. Many make-up artists use a green colour corrector on rosacea for this reason. 
• Green is also thought to represent good luck and health. 
• Red is a bold, dramatic, warm colour. Red is said to enhance appetite, which is why it is used so often in restaurants, and whilst many of us associate red with love and warmth, it can also represent danger, excitement and intensity!
• Yellow is a bright, cheerful colour which could boost your metabolism (allegedly). Because it's so vibrant, it's the perfect colour to wear if you want to draw attention to yourself.
• Blue is most often used to create feeling of coolness, calmness and tranquillity. However blue can also be a cold colour, creating feelings of sadness; so avoid blue if you are feeling depressed, anxious or suffering from SAD. 
• Purple is the colour of royalty - it's also representative of wisdom and spirituality, and it’s seen by many as a creative colour. 
• Pink is most commonly associated with love and romance, and it's thought to have a calming effect. Pink is generally considered to be a feminine colour but men look great in this colour too, my husband loves a pink shirt!
• Orange is considered to be an energetic colour which builds excitement and enthusiasm; it's also a warming colour which can draw attention to you when wearing it. I love orange and coral - they are so flattering on my olive toned skin. 
• Whilst many people associate brown with strength and reliability, it can also make you feel sad. So many natural brands have brown as well as green in their packaging as it’s a colour we see a lot of in nature. 

The Chakra charts also use colour to designate each Chakra. Each colour reflects a type of vibration or frequency radiating through the chakras. This classic colour chart is based on yogic traditions, as well as contemporary healing schools of thought. 

Meaning of Chakra colours

The seven primary chakras are:

1. RED – First chakra
2. ORANGE – Second chakra
3. YELLOW – Third chakra
4. GREEN – Fourth chakra
5. BLUE  – Fifth chakra
6. PURPLE – Sixth chakra
7. WHITE (sometimes purplish white) – Seventh chakra

Chakra colours reflect different frequencies of light and energy associated with each energy centre, their meaning may be related to the function of its associated chakras

• Meaning of the red chakra colour: Red is the colour of the root chakra (first chakra); it symbolizes safety, survival, grounding, nourishment from the Earth energy. In chakra healing practices, red may denote inflammation at the physical level.
• Meaning of the orange chakra colour: Orange is the colour of the sacral chakra (second chakra); it carries meanings associated with emotions, creativity, sexuality, and is associated with water, flow.
• Meaning of the yellow chakra colour: is the colour of the solar plexus chakra (third chakra); it symbolizes mental activities, intellect, personal power, will.
• Meaning of the green chakra colour: Green is the colour of the heart chakra (fourth chakra); it is connected with love, relating, integration, compassion.
• Meaning of the blue chakra colour: Blue is the colour of the throat chakra (fifth chakra); it symbolizes self expression, expression of truth, creative expression and communication.
• Meaning of the purple chakra colour (or deep indigo blue): Purple (or deep indigo blue) is the colour of the third eye chakra (sixth chakra); it evokes intuition, inner wisdom.
• Meaning of the white chakra color (or purple): White is the colour of the crown chakra (seventh chakra); it’s associated with the universal, connection with spirituality, consciousness.