We can utilize the particular vibrational influences of color to enhance our physical and mental well-being.  It’s simple and takes little time or effort to mindfully incorporate a bit of color therapy into your life. Of course, painting your walls to achieve healing benefits of color will have a profound and noticeable effect. Other subtler but more practical methods include a color breathing meditation or drinking color-infused water. Color infusions can be made by using tinted bottles or transparent filters over bottles of water. Set your water-filled container in a window for 1-3 hours and drink to your health.

The following is a guide to begin using color for health (see Color for Wellbeing for additional mental/emotional benefits):

Red can be used as a sensory stimulator, liver energizer, and a blood builder.
eat:
Tomatoes, beets, red cabbage, plums, red apples, cranberries, and radishes.
wear:
Rubies and garnets.

Orange can be antispasmodic, a respiratory stimulant, thyroid energizer, and an agent that helps promote milk production after giving birth (galactagogue). It also relieves flatulence or distention of the stomach due to gas.
eat:
Carrots, oranges, peaches, pumpkins, and apricots.
wear:
Amber and citrine.

Yellow is a lymphatic activator, a motor stimulant, a nerve builder, and a cerebral stimulant. It also can help with digestion.
eat:
Lemons, grapefruits, yellow-fleshed squash, corn, bananas or pineapple.
wear:
Gold is a powerful yellow metal. Topaz has some shades of citrine; and some types of diamonds are good sources of yellow in gemstones.

Green is a pituitary stimulant, an antiseptic, disinfectant, detergent, and a muscle and tissue builder.
eat:
Green grapes apples, cucumbers, lettuce, and green beans.
wear:
Jade and emerald.

Blue reduces fever, promotes relaxation, relieves itching, soothes irritations, and stimulates the pineal gland.
eat:
Blueberries, blue plums, blue corn and blueberries.
wear:
Lapis and sapphires.

Indigo can be used as thyroid and respiratory depressant, sedative, pain reliever and astringent.
eat:
Alternate blue foods like blueberries, blue plums with purple/violet foods such as grapes, blackberries, beet tops and purple broccoli.
wear:
Blue/Purple Lapis Lazuli.

Violet/Purple can be utilized as a cardiac depressant, a motor depressant, circulatory stimulant (veinous) and as an analgesic. It can also lower blood pressure and reduce body temperature.
eat:
Purple broccoli, kale, grapes, beet tops and blackberries.
wear:
Amethyst.

Source: adapted from articles by Wendy Melton from http://www.ehow.com/how_2149539_use-color-violetpurple-color-therapy.html

Step 1:
Sit upright or lie down in a quiet and comfortable location.

Step 2:
Imagine your body being bathed in blue light from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet for four minutes.

Step 3:
Imagine green light entering through your navel and spreading out through your body. Take just one minute with the color green.

Step 4:
Inhale the color of your choice (utilize this starter color guide→colorguide), and imagine it spreading through your body.

Step 5:
Exhale and imagine the complementary color leaving your body (Complementary colors are found opposite one another on a color wheel. For instance, the complementary color for blue is orange, and the complementary color for green is red).

Step 6:
Take two minutes to mentally engulf your entire body in white light. Once you’re done, gently stretch your body, slowly “waking up” from your color meditation. This is a quick and free way to relieve tension and anxiety just about anywhere–even at your office.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2031569_relieve-anxiety-through.html

Eco Friendly Paint

If your remodel plans include painting, it’s well worth your time to look at the eco friendly paint options that are available on the market today. Traditional paint emits lots of nasty chemicals that contribute to poor indoor air quality, and are bad for the health of the humans in the building. Understanding the risks associated with traditional paint and knowing your options will help you to make wise and well-informed choices when choosing paint.

What’s Wrong with Traditional Paints?

It’s been said, by the EPA, that the air indoors is up to 5 times worse than the air outdoors. Since most of us spend most of our waking hours indoors, that fact should be extremely concerning.

To understand why traditional paints are harmful, it’s important to understand something called VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that are found in paints and other products. When the paint is applied to your wall, the VOCs are released into the air. The highest concentration of VOCs is released when the paint is applied, but paint can actually continue to “off-gas” these harmful chemicals for up to 5 years! Traditional paints have a high concentration of volatile compounds – sometimes more than 400 grams per litre.

But, you’ve got to paint your house, right? The solution to having a beautiful home while being healthy and environmentally conscious is to choose eco friendly paint.

What is eco friendly paint?

There are a number of eco friendly paint options available on the market now, we’ll try to explain them all to you in terms that are easy to understand. I don’t know about you, but when people start throwing scientific terms at me, I get lost in a hurry!

In theory, eco friendly paints include any paint that is approved by the EPA as having a low concentration of VOCs, also known as low VOC paint. Because these paints have a smaller concentration of VOCs, they are healthier for you and the environment.

But, let’s take it a step further. Beyond low VOC paints, there are also zero VOC paints and even natural paints that are made with natural products, making them especially green. Understanding the options that are available to you is key in making decisions. Let’s break down each eco friendly option.

Low VOC Paint

We’ve already established that low VOC paint has less than 1/2 the chemicals that are present in traditional paints. The EPA regulates what can be marketed as a low VOC product, and they state that paint must meet the following standards:

~ Paint must have less than 200 grams of VOCs per liter of paint

~ Stains must have less than 300 grams of VOC’s per liter of paint

Those guidelines are actually pretty loose, and one brand of low VOC paint could actually be much better than another! There is another rating system, called Green Seal, that limits the amount of VOCs in paints that they certify to less than 50 grams per liter. In short, if you are shopping for Low VOC paint, it’s probably best to look for the Green Seal on the paint that you buy.

Zero VOC Paint

There are now eco friendly paint options on the market now that have zero VOCs. These products, too, are managed by the EPA. To qualify a paint as zero VOC, there must be less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter to meet this distinction. The drawback to zero VOC paints is that they cost more than regular or low VOC paints. If you are considering purchasing zero VOC paint, it’s also important that you check the can carefully to make sure that formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, biocides, and fungicides have not been used to manufacture the paint. While not considered VOCs, these are all ingredients that can affect your air quality.

Natural Paint Choices

Natural paint is another option for those looking to improve indoor air quality and the health of their families. There are a growing number of options available on the market, but cost and color choice may be a factor in whether or not you decide to use a natural paint product.

An example of an all natural product is clay paint. It’s definitely an eco friendly paint option, but there are a few drawbacks. First, it’s only available in earth tones so you are going to have some limitations when using clay paint. The other major drawback to clay paint is that it can’t be wiped off or cleaned. You either have to use a low VOC sealer on top of your paint, or touch up every area that gets dirty. It’s not our intention to turn you away from clay paint, as we feel its a very green option for people who are going for an earthly look in their home – we just want to be completely honest about the pros and cons!

Another natural paint option is to use something called milk paint. Milk paint is sold in a powdered form and is made from Casein, a byproduct of milk. You simply mix it with water and then apply it to your walls. The major drawback to this type of paint is that it only comes in a matte finish, which makes cleaning difficult.

Possibly the best natural option is lime wash. Lime wash is made by mixing limestone with water. It can be used both indoors and out, and can be purchased in a wide range of colors. It’s a pretty cost-effective choice, which makes it even better in our opinion! The only drawback to lime wash is that it can not be used on drywall or already painted surface. It does work very well on wood, plaster, concrete, and brick.

Things to remember when painting

~ Even if you are using eco friendly paint, you should still protect yourself, especially during application. Use proper protection to keep yourself and your family safe.

~ Always paint in well-ventilated areas. Even if you are using a low VOC or Zero VOC paint, it will emit some gasses, especially until the paint is dry. Good ventilation will help to reduce any negative affects.

Ever tried making your own paint? It’s surprisingly easy and effective. You can save cash as well as the environment by avoiding the use of petrochemicals. Limewash paint doesn’t smell and, like more expensive paint, you can clean up with plain water.

History
Historically, limewash was used to protect and decorate the exterior and interior of buildings. Today, limewashes are used in the restoration of historical buildings and for decorative finishes.
Limewash is a traditional material that has been used for thousands of years. Unlike modern paints (which lay on the surface of the substrate), limewash instead acts like a stain by penetrating deep into the pores of the substrate. This process creates a peel-free surface that allows the substrate to breathe and the limewash remains vapor permeable after it cures. It is a beautiful, traditional material that mellows gradually while it wears away. Over time it develops the weathered patina that characterizes the Old World charm of Europe.

Perks
It is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and contains all-natural ingredients. Limewash also has hygienic properties and acts a mild fungicide due to its high PH, which is why limewash was traditionally used in hospitals and sick wards. Limewash is also suitable for buildings that may be exposed to graffiti. Because the limewash absorbs into the masonry, it prevents the pores from absorbing stubborn paint stains.
The refractive nature of lime wash paint means it will reflect heat away but not light. In fact it intensifies light which is why it is often seen in Mediterranean countries. It’s suitable for unpainted wood, plaster, and masonry, not for drywall, though, due to its non-porous qualities. It can be applied to unpainted porous surfaces, such as the walls of your new mud brick or adobe house. The best thing about lime wash is, when it
starts to look grubby, you can just apply another coat.

Make it
To get started you just need hydrated lime from your hardware store. All you have to do is mix it with water to get a cheap and attractive wall covering. Lime wash paint is perfect for exterior and interior paintwork.
You don’t need to measure your ratio of hydrated lime to water, but you do need to watch the consistency. When it is the consistency of thick cream, you have added enough water. You can make as much or as little as you need. Store in a plastic bucket that has a lid or in an empty ice cream container for small jobs.
Make sure the mixture is lump free and don’t use it right away. Cover and leave for a few days and then add more water until it has the consistency of milk. There still may be some lumps that won’t dissolve so it is wise to strain the paint through a fine strainer or muslin. Discard the lumps. Your paint is ready to use.

Tips
As it is, this paint is perfect for outdoor use. Don’t try to wash it when it becomes grubby, just slap on another coat. You can use lime wash paint on fences and other outdoor woodwork, sheds, exterior house walls and stone.
If you want to use it indoors or on surfaces you want to wash, you will need to add a binding agent. You can buy a product called Bondcrete™, which is added to your lime wash to make it washable and longer lasting. You won’t need much of the binding agent to turn your lime wash into a durable indoor paint.
You may want to color your paint, although the white dries to a great finish that looks good anywhere. You can use natural earth dyes such as red and gray clay or natural plant dyes such as the juice from mulberries and beets. If you don’t want to go to these lengths, the tubes of acrylic paints used by artists and crafters will add color to your paint. Just squeeze in as much as you need to tint the paint to the desired color.
Pigments can also befound in your spice cabinet. Spices such as turmeric and saffron give a lovely fragrance as well as beautiful golden hues.

Happy paint-making!

(adapted from Rustic Girls “make your own paint” www.rusticgirls.com)

It’s widely acknowledged that colors affect our emotions, our well-being, and our relationships.
Want to create more calm, serenity, and relaxation in your home? A peaceful home atmosphere can help you to keep the flame of Valentine’s Day romance glowing even after the roses have faded and will add to your everyday well-being like nothing else!
Even if you don’t want to paint the walls with these colors, try introducing them in the form of area rugs, toss pillows, candles, artwork, photography, or other decorative accents.
Relaxing Colors
Green Nature’s color, calming and gently energizing at the same time. Green is a harmonizing and balancing color for those in need of refreshment. Think rolling meadows, grass, the freshness of spring and summer leaves, sage, pine, celery, lettuce. And always remember that fresh potted plants are a perfect way to bring green into any room.
Blue Soothing, meditative, restful, peaceful, spiritual. Lowers blood pressure. Think cloudless skies, deep waters, sapphire, lapis lazuli, azure, cerulean.
Purple Comfort, protection, spirituality, calm. Think royal purple velvet, wizard capes, plums, clusters of ripe grapes.
Lavender or Violet Healing, calming. Think fields of French lavender and sweet-scented violets.

(adapted from article by Annie B. Bond) http://www.care2.com/greenliving/calming-with-color-how-to.html