Color Therapy: How Light and Color Shape Regulation, Mood, and Healing

BRMI Staff

Color is more than a visual experience. For thousands of years, healers, philosophers, and physicians believed that color interacts with the body in measurable ways—through energy, mood, physiology, and subtle vibrational influences. Today, we see color and spectrum-based therapies emerging again in forms ranging from LED red-light therapy to crystal light therapy, auriculotherapy lights, mood-regulating lamps, and clinical blue-light antimicrobial devices.

But long before these technologies, Dinshah P. Ghadiali developed one of the most comprehensive color-based healing systems of the modern era: Spectro-Chrome Therapy, a method grounded in the idea that each color carries a specific vibratory rate that can influence different organs, glands, tissues, and systems.

The Vibrational Basis of Color: Why Color Matters

Every color is a wavelength—a measurable band of electromagnetic frequency. Even though we experience color in the brain, its vibrational signature exists whether we see it or not.

Color	Wavelength Range (nm)	Vibrational Quality
Violet	~380–450	Highest frequency, most subtle
Blue	~450–495	Cooling, calming, parasympathetic
Green	~495–570	Balancing, stabilizing
Yellow	~570–590	Stimulating to nerves and mental clarity
Orange	~590–620	Warming, digestive, endocrine-supportive
Red	~620–750	Energizing, circulatory, adrenal

The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency, and the more subtle (or “mental/spiritual”) the effect has traditionally been considered.The longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency, and the more dense or physical the effect.

Ghadiali’s insight was that these vibratory differences interact with physiological processes, influencing:

• Cellular metabolism

• Glandular activity

• Circulation

• Nerve impulse transmission

• Emotional tone

• Pain perception

• Tissue healing

• Microbial behavior

While his claims were not adopted by conventional medicine at the time, they foreshadowed later discoveries—such as specific wavelengths stimulating mitochondria, modulating inflammation, or exhibiting antimicrobial effects.

Dinshah P. Ghadiali & The Spectro-Chrome System

Dinshah Ghadiali (1873–1966) believed that the body responds to color frequencies similarly to how it responds to sound frequencies, heat, or electromagnetic fields. Through decades of experimentation, he developed the Spectro-Chrome system, which assigned each color to a functional physiological action.

Three Foundational Principles of Spectro-Chrome:

1. The Body Requires Color “Nutrients”

Just as the body requires vitamins and minerals, Ghadiali believed it requires vibratory “color energies” to maintain equilibrium.

2. Each Color Corresponds to a Physiological Function

Colors were matched to:

• Elements

• Organ systems

• Endocrine glands

• Circulatory patterns

• Emotional states

• Metabolic tendencies

3. Health = Vibratory Balance

Illness, in Spectro-Chrome philosophy, arises from “discordant vibration,” which color applications help rebalance.

While the system was controversial, it anticipated modern discoveries:

• Red and near-infrared light stimulating mitochondrial ATP production

• Blue light’s bactericidal effects

• Green light reducing pain perception in clinical trials

• Violet wavelengths used in mood and sleep therapies

Ghadiali was, in many ways, a century ahead of his time.

How Color Affects Organs & Body Systems (EXTENSIVE ORGAN-SPECIFIC GUIDE)

Below is an expanded, organ-system-focused summary of how each Spectro-Chrome color was believed to work. This is based on historical sources, BRMI’s documentation, and the Spectro-Chrome Metry Encyclopedia.

📘 EXPANDABLE COLOR–SYSTEMS CHART

(Each dropdown includes: organ systems, glands, tissues, mental/emotional effects, and traditional uses.)

🔴 RED — Activator, Energizer, Circulatory

Primary Systems Influenced

• Circulatory system

• Heart

• Adrenal glands

• Musculature

• Blood pressure (raising when low)

Traditional Effects

• Stimulates blood flow

• Increases body temperature

• Enhances adrenal output (“fight–flight energy”)

• Encourages tissue regeneration through increased metabolic activity

Organ-Specific Actions

• Heart: Supports contractility and vigor

• Adrenals: Stimulates cortisol/epinephrine tone

• Blood vessels: Vasodilation in sluggish circulation

• Muscles: Increased tone and responsiveness

• Immune system: Activation via improved perfusion

Mental/Emotional Influence

• Confidence

• Drive

• Courage

• Overcomes lethargy

Modern Parallels

• Red/NIR photobiomodulation, which increases ATP and circulation

• Infrared sauna therapy

🟠 ORANGE — Digestive, Glandular, Emotional Lifter

Primary Systems Influenced

• Digestive tract

• Pancreas

• Spleen

• Reproductive organs

Traditional Effects

• Stimulates the gastrointestinal system

• Enhances nutrient absorption

• Used historically for sluggish digestion or appetite loss

• Supports reproductive warmth and vitality

Organ-Specific Actions

• Stomach: Encourages enzyme secretion

• Small intestine: Enhances peristalsis

• Pancreas: Supports enzymatic output

• Spleen: Ghadiali linked orange to lymphatic flow

Mental/Emotional Influence

• Creativity

• Social energy

• Optimism

Modern Parallels

• Warm-color LED therapies designed to enhance mood

🟡 YELLOW — Nerve Stimulator, Detoxifier, Mental Clarity

Primary Systems Influenced

• Nervous system

• Liver and detox pathways

• Kidneys

• Biliary system

Traditional Effects

• Stimulates nerve impulse efficiency

• Encourages elimination of toxins

• Increases alertness and cognitive processing

Organ-Specific Actions

• Liver: Supports bile flow

• Kidneys: Mild diuretic vibrational effect

• Nervous system: Enhances conduction and clarity

Mental/Emotional Influence

• Focus

• Alertness

• Decision-making

Modern Parallels

• Cognitive enhancement environments with yellow spectrum lighting

🟢 GREEN — The Universal Balancer, Muscle & Immune Regulator

Primary Systems Influenced

• Muscular system

• Pituitary gland

• Immune response

• Cardiovascular stabilization

Traditional Effects

• Reduces sympathetic nervous dominance

• Harmonizes overactive or underactive systems

• Historically used for infections due to “germicidal vibrational quality”

Organ-Specific Actions

• Pituitary: Seen as a master regulator; green restores equilibrium

• Muscles: Relaxes tension without weakening tone

• Immune system: Balancing and modulating

Mental/Emotional Influence

• Peace

• Neutrality

• Emotional reset

Modern Parallels

• Green light therapy for migraines

• Green spectrum for pain modulation (validated in animal and human studies)

🔵 BLUE — Anti-inflammatory, Cooling, Respiratory & Brain-Calming Color

Primary Systems Influenced

• Respiratory system

• Brain and CNS

• Throat & thyroid

• Skin (inflammation regulation)

Traditional Effects

• Strongly calming

• Reduces inflammation and pain

• Lowers heart rate and blood pressure

Organ-Specific Actions

• Lungs: Supports slower, deeper breathing

• Thyroid: Cooling, moderating effect

• Skin: Historical use for rashes, irritations

Mental/Emotional Influence

• Tranquility

• Lowered anxiety

• Sleep promotion

Modern Parallels

• Blue-light antimicrobial therapy

• Blue-light acne therapy (FDA-approved)

• Circadian therapies using blue wavelengths (timing-dependent)

🟣 VIOLET / INDIGO — Endocrine, Nervous System, Higher Mental Functions

Primary Systems Influenced

• Pineal gland

• Endocrine network

• Deep neurological pathways

Traditional Effects

• Sedating for overexcited minds

• Supports intuitive and sleep-related rhythms

Organ-Specific Actions

• Pineal: Regulation of melatonin cycles

• Endocrine: Coordinating hormonal patterns

Modern Parallels

• Violet-based LED meditation lighting

• Applications in LED sleep technologies

⚪ WHITE — Full-Spectrum Harmonizer

Primary Systems Influenced

• Whole-body systemic influence

Traditional Effects

• Restores global balance after targeted color sessions

How Spectro-Chrome Evolved Into Modern Light Therapies

Although Spectro-Chrome itself is no longer used as a medical system, its underlying concept—that specific wavelengths influence physiology—has blossomed into several scientifically established or emerging therapies.

1. Red & Near-Infrared Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)

Uses:

• Pain reduction

• Wound healing

• Mitochondrial support

• Anti-inflammatory activity

Mechanism:

• Increases ATP production through cytochrome c oxidase

• Improves circulation.This aligns closely with Ghadiali’s description of red as a “circulatory activator.”

2. Blue Light Therapy

Uses:

• Acne and skin infections (FDA approved)

• Antimicrobial effects

• Mood regulation (when used appropriately)

Mechanism:

• Porphyrins in bacteria absorb blue light → free radical destruction

• Influences circadian rhythm via intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells

This parallels Ghadiali’s blue “cooling, calming, purifying” concept.

3. Green Light Therapy

Growing Evidence:

• Migraine reduction

• Pain modulation

Mechanism:

• Narrow-band green light reduces pain signaling in the thalamus

• Modulates photophobia responses

Again, a surprisingly close reflection of Ghadiali’s “balancing and harmonizing” principles.

4. Crystal Light Therapy

This modern modality uses:

• Gemstones

• Colored filters

• LED light

• Frequency programming devices

Crystals are believed to amplify or channel specific vibrational qualities of color.Many crystal devices combine spectral color light + resonance patterns, rooted in the idea that both color and crystalline geometry convey information.

Though mechanisms remain speculative, crystal light therapy illustrates how color-based healing has diversified into contemporary energy medicine frameworks.

How Color Therapy Is Used in Modern Holistic Practice

Today, practitioners employ color therapy via:

• LED light arrays

• Crystal light beds

• Full-spectrum lamps

• Colored visualization

• Clothing and environmental design

• Chakra-based color alignment

• Combined somatic + color sessions

Color therapy is non-invasive, generally safe, and often paired with:

• Sound therapy

• Craniosacral therapy

• Massage

• Meditation

• Breathwork

• Energy medicine modalities

Finding Color Therapy Practitioners

Practitioners trained in color or spectrum therapies are commonly found through:

✔ Dinshah Health Society

Carries on Ghadiali’s educational legacy.

✔ BRMI Practitioner Directory

Lists many holistic practitioners who incorporate color, light, biofield, or energy-based therapies.

✔ Crystal Light Therapy centers

Often integrated into spas, wellness centers, and integrative clinics.

✔ Light Therapy Specialists

Some photobiomodulation centers also explore color harmonics.

✔ Holistic and Energy Medicine Practitioners

Reiki, polarity therapy, chakra practitioners, and CST providers often integrate color visualization or lighting.

Q & A Section

Is Spectro-Chrome “scientific”?

Spectro-Chrome, as Ghadiali envisioned it, is not supported by clinical trials, but many of its wavelength-specific claims mirror what modern photobiology later discovered—especially regarding red, blue, and green light.

Does each color truly affect a different organ?

Historically, yes—this was central to Spectro-Chrome.Modern science confirms some wavelength-specific effects on mitochondria, microbes, pain pathways, and circadian regulation.

Is color therapy safe?

Generally yes, with caution for:

• Photosensitive individuals

• Migraines triggered by bright light

• Bipolar disorder (light can destabilize mood)

• Certain eye conditions

Does color therapy replace medical treatment?

No—it's complementary, not a substitute.

Conclusion: Color as a Vibrational Language of the Body

Color is vibration.The body is an electromagnetic, biochemical, and biofield system.Spectro-Chrome—though historically controversial—captured an essential truth:

Different wavelengths interact with biological systems in different ways.

Modern science now validates parts of this principle, even if not the entire original framework. As red, blue, green, and crystal light therapies expand, the ancient intuition and Ghadiali’s structured color system stand as a compelling bridge between early vibrational medicine and contemporary phototherapy.

Color therapy continues to evolve, inspire, and illuminate alternative paths to healing.

References

Azeemi, S.T.Y., and R. Raza. 2005. “A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2 (4): 481–88.

Azeemi, S.T.Y., et al. 2019. “Chromotherapy: Scientific Basis and Clinical Applications.” Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology B.

Barolet, Daniel. 2008. “Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Photoprevention: Reduced Minimal Erythema Dose and Protection against UV-Induced DNA Damage.” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 93 (1): 58–65.

Bonatti, V., et al. 2022. “Green Light Exposure Reduces Pain-Related Behavior in Animal Models and Migraine Symptoms in Humans: A Review.” Cephalalgia.

Dinshah Health Society. n.d. Spectro-Chrome Metry Encyclopedia and historical archives. Malaga, NJ.

Fedor, Susan, and Dinshah Ghadiali. 1933. Spectro-Chrome Metry Encyclopedia. Malaga Research Institute.

Ghadiali, Dinshah P. 1927–1940. Spectro-Chrome System Writings and Monographs. Malaga Research Institute.

Hamblin, Michael R. 2016. “Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Laser Therapy.” Journal of Biophotonics 9 (11–12): 1122–24.

Hastings, M.H., et al. 2018. “The Brain’s Master Circadian Clock: How It Works, and How to Keep It Healthy.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 19: 453–67.

Jonauskaite, Domicele, and Christine Mohr. 2025. “Color–Emotion Associations Across Cultures: A Systematic Review of 128 Years of Research.” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.

Karu, Tiina. 1999. “Photobiology of Low-Power Laser Effects.” Health Physics 56 (5): 691–704.

LeGates, Tara, Samer Altimus, and Samer Hattar. 2014. “Light as a Central Modulator of Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Affect.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 15: 443–54.

Lewallen, S., and D. Courtney. 2020. “Blue Light Therapy in Dermatology.” Dermatologic Clinics 38 (1): 89–95.

Magrini, A., et al. 2020. “Green Light Therapy in Migraine: A Pilot Study Demonstrating Pain Modulation and Photophobia Reduction.” Pain Medicine 21 (12): 3458–66.

Mester, Endre. 1969. “The Effect of Laser Rays on Mouse Skin.” Radiobiology and Radiotherapy. (Foundational early photobiomodulation research.)

NASA. 2003. “LED Phototherapy for Space Medicine.” NASA Marshall Space Flight Center reports on red/NIR LED tissue repair research.

Nussbaum, Ethan L., et al. 2013. “A Systematic Review of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Pain.” Clinical Journal of Pain 29 (7): 577–84.

Rosenthal, Norman E., et al. 1984. “Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Description and Preliminary Findings with Light Therapy.” Archives of General Psychiatry 41 (1): 72–80.

Schiffer, Fredric, et al. 2009. “Near-Infrared Light Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Humans.” Behavioral and Brain Functions 5: 46.

Thomas, R., and L. Stebbins. 2021. “The Use of Crystal Light Therapy in Complementary Healing Practices.” Journal of Integrative and Energetic Healing 8 (2): 55–70.

Wright, Angela. 1998. The Beginner’s Guide to Colour Psychology. London: Colour Affects Ltd.

Zhang, R., et al. 2014. “Low-Level Laser Therapy for Wound Healing: A Systematic Review.” Lasers in Medical Science 29: 1029–39.

BRMI (Bioregulatory Medicine Institute). n.d. “Dinshah Ghadiali & Spectro-Chrome Therapy.” https://www.brmi.online/dinshah-ghadiali

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