by Zahrah Nasir
March 29, 2009
A short study of the science of chromotherapy is quite likely to result in you looking at your garden from a completely new and extremely useful angle, particularly if you suffer from mood swings, depression, high or low blood pressure, etc.
For the uninitiated, chromotherapy is the study of how different colours can create different moods to the point of bringing incredible natural relief to both hypertension and hypotension patients. Obviously this science spreads far beyond the effect of different coloured flowers on human health as it relates to the colours we surround ourselves with, from the colour of the clothes we choose to wear, to how our homes are decorated, office paintwork, the predominant shade in a shopping mall, even the colour of the table cloth at which we eat. Whilst the effect of colours does vary on individual psyche, the basic guidelines are as follows.
Pale and soft shades of blue, violet, pink, cream, lemon, coffee, etc. all have a calming effect on our thoughts, moods and behaviour while blazing reds, oranges, yellows and other vibrant hues stimulate and enliven the system. Thus the first are applicable in the treatment of hypertension and the second can prove helpful in the treatment of hypotension.
White and greens are balancing colours for all the rest and have a peaceful, calming effect on their own, but dark colours like deep crimson, dull purple, dark brown, etc. provoke depression in those susceptible to negative feelings.When the effect of flower colour is examined in conjunction with fragrance then sweet, light perfumed blooms are uplifting to the senses with overpowering, heavy ones having the opposite effect.
Interesting isn`t it?!
Stress, tension and hypertension would appear to be amongst the most common problems in today`s rat-race of a world and scientific research has discovered that if affected people take a fifteen minute feet-up break twice a day, in a lavender coloured room suffused with accompanying lavender perfume, they emerge feeling calmly rejuvenated as do those treating themselves to a relaxing green space.
Managers of bright, `friendly` offices, particularly those containing areas of green plants, get far more out of their workforces than those running offices with dark, depressive atmospheres and patients in mental hospitals have been found to react very strongly to colour therapy even when drugs are ineffectual.
When it comes to applying chromotherapy to gardens, those suffering from stress related problems will find natural relief in garden spaces lavishly planted with freshly perfumed flowers in the soothing colours balanced with soft greens and white, whilst those needing a boost should opt for the most vibrant garden possible.
An ideal stress relieving garden can be filled with plants such as
Blues Lavender, cornflowers, larkspur, delphiniums, petunias, pansies, ageratum, wisteria, arcotis, aster, nemophila, brachycome, cineraria, plumbago, jacaranda, lobelia, nemesia, nepeta, nicandra, nigella, statice, nierembergia, hyacinths, anemones, violas, violets, primulas, linaria, nepeta, passion flowers, limonium, sweet peas, scabious, nicandra, etc.
Pinks Hollyhocks, carnations, cornflowers, statice, stocks, petunias, larkspur, ageratum, asters, sweet Williams, sweet peas, roses, hyacinths, brachycome, cineraria, cyclamen, alyssum, nemesia, nigella, anemones, primulas, linaria, limonium, antirrhinum, balsam, begonias, bougainvillea, godetia, dahlias, lilies, scabious, penstomen, phlox, poppies, verbena, cosmos, etc.
Creams and lemons Hollyhocks, roses, gazania, petunia, pansies, sweet Williams, sweet peas, honeysuckle, carnations, dahlias, begonia, antirrhinum, calendula, poppies, nasturtiums, helichrysum, marigolds, nemesia, stocks, brugmensia, etc.
Whites Hollyhocks, petunias, pansies, violas, sweet Williams, sweet peas, carnations, chrysanthemums, gardenia, jasmine, magnolia, ageratum, alyssum, antirrhinum, dahlias, larkspur, roses, candytuft, begonia, bellis, cosmos, gypsophila, ladies lace, nicotiana, poppies, foxgloves, stephanotis, stocks, datura, passion flowers, campanula, ipomea, echinacea, etc.[/b]
Greens Ferns, Bells of Ireland, hellebores, passion flower, nicotiana, zinnia, roses, variegated green and white/cream plants and just about any soft green shrub, creeper, climber or tree you can think of.
A shady place to sit, a hammock to laze in, the sound of running water if possible, bird song and butterflies if you`re lucky, soft music if you like, a soothing drink at hand and the remedy is complete.
A hyperactive, restless, sleepless person could respond very well to the above but, if not then more intensive chromotherapy is required such as a garden including very dark shades of hollyhocks, petunias, lobelia, hellebores, dracenia, rubber plants, scabious, peonies, roses, caladium, coleus, alocasia, aspidistra, fir trees, begonias, canna lilies, passion flowers, ipomea and any other dark leaved or flowered plant you may find.
For those needing an infusion of energy the palette is quite different
Reds Roses, carnations, antirrhinums, sweet peas, sweet Williams, petunias, amaryllis, bougainvillea, geraniums, poppies, peonies, sun flowers, dahlias, ixora, ipomea, celosia, amaranthus, lilies, linum, poppies, zinnia, begonia, ranunculus, nasturtium, gladioli, portulaca, gompherena, verbena, hibiscus, wallflowers, pomegranate trees, mimulus, bombax, etc.
Oranges and yellows Sunflowers, roses, antirrhinum, dahlias, gaillardia, helichrysum, chrysanthemums, marigolds, nasturtiums, nemesia, kniphofia, rudbeckia, calliopsis, calendula, wallflowers, cosmos, tithonia, tagetes, cassia, amaltas, hibiscus, bougainvillea, bottle brush, ixora, lantana, rondeletia, lilies, day lilies, tecoma, bignonia, jasmine, etc.
Whites Motia, lilies, roses, hyacinths, sweet peas, sweet Williams, jasmine, wisteria, stocks, petunias, etc. although heavily perfumed varieties of white flowers are best.
Green or variegated plants Spider plant, money plant, asparagus ferns, Swiss cheese plants, bougainvillea, philodendron, crotons, eranthemum, panix, caladium, coleus, diffenbachia, dracaena, ferns, maranta, peperomia, tradescantia, zebrine, etc.
Such a garden should not have a comfortable sitting or lounging area but a footpath along which to walk or jog as the idea is a bombardment of vibrant colour to encourage movement and an explosion of energy.
In planning a chromotherapy style garden the plants listed are only suggestions and may not be suitable for your local climatic conditions but, I`m quite certain, you will be able to track down alternatives.
As previously mentioned, individual reaction to colour and fragrance is often different so you need to spend some time and give lots of thought to how these affect you personally. What is your favourite colour for example and does wearing this, being surrounded by it or simply getting a brief glimpse of it energise you, relax you, bring on a feeling of happiness or whatever.
What is the colour of your favourite food and do you have a particular coloured plate or cup from which you prefer to eat and drink? A quick note for dieters here Black plates, cups and tablecloth absolutely ruin your appetite but blazing orange/yellow ones make you hungry!
Anyway, by now I hope you have latched on to the concept of basic colour therapy and on how you can apply it to meet your own specific needs so please do give this a try as it really does work….if you let it!
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