Color Therapy-History
The use of color as therapy has a long history. Healing temples of light and color were constructed in ancient Egypt and Greece. Color's therapeutic applications were deeply rooted in Chinese and Indian medicine and continue to be an essential component of Ayurvedic medicine.
In Europe and the United States, interest in using color for therapy began to develop during the latter half of the 19th century. Dr. Edwin Babbitt, in 1878, published "The Principles of Light and Color," in which he recommended diverse color healing techniques. In 1933, Indian scientist Dinshah Ghadiali authored "The Spectro Chrometry Encyclopedia," a landmark publication that laid the foundation for modern color therapy. Concurrently, Dr. Harry Riley Spitler in the U.S. developed "Syntonics," a form of color therapy. He observed profound physiological and psychological changes in patients by modifying the color of light that entered their eyes.
Interest in color therapy has continued to grow over time. Today, numerous practitioners in the United States employ a wide range of color-related therapeutic methods. Color therapy is now well-established and accepted in the field of complementary medicine.