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Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Volume 46, October 2019, Pages 217-222

The mechanistic basis of chromotherapy: Current knowledge and future perspectives
Samina T. Yousuf Azeemi, Hafiz M Rafiq, Iram Ismail, Syeda Rabab Kazmia, Ameena Azeemi

(authors from institutions in Pakistan)

Abstract

Chromotherapy is a method of treatment that uses wavelengths in the visible region for curing different diseases and medical conditions. Recent advances in photobiology and the speciality of Photobiomodulation are uncovering the cellular and molecular effects of visible range electromagnetic radiation. We discuss the reported effects of visible range radiation on cells (in vitro and in vivo) and the attempted explanations of the underlying processes with regard to therapeutic effects. Some of the important advances in this area are reviewed, especially the effects of visible light on bacteria, enzymes and the use of visible light for wound healing and treatment of psychiatric diseases for the purpose of explaining the therapeutic implications of chromotherapy. We highlight the correlation of wavelengths used between recently uncovered mechanisms of photobiology and conventional chromotherapy. The elucidation of mechanisms of the cellular and molecular interaction of light will help in deciphering the scientific background of chromotherapy and will help in the application of this alternative therapeutic treatment to many other diseases.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096522991930915X

Excerpts:

"Chromotherapy (Common names: Colour Therapy, Visible Range Radiation Therapy) is a method of treatment that uses wavelengths in the visible region for curing different diseases and medical conditions. It is one of the oldest therapeutic systems and has been used by the ancient civilizations of India, Egypt and China for the treatment of a number of diseases that include psoriasis, rickets and skin cancer. Chromotherapy is closely related to light therapy/ photo therapy and Photobiomodulation Therapy/ Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). Phototherapy uses polychromatic light...Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)/ Photobiomodulation utilizes near red and infra-red light for healing and regeneration of tissues. Chromotherapy differs from these two therapies in that it strictly utilizes wavelengths in the visible region, namely colours, and hence this methodology is termed as chromotherapy.

"Treatment modalities utilizing wavelengths in the visible region have been proven to produce biological effects in molecules, living cells and tissues. Wavelengths in the visible region have been demonstrated to be an effective therapy in a number of medical conditions including Dengue Fever, Insomnia, Diabetes, Psychiatric Illnesses, Hypertension, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Immunity, Hyperacidity, Cutaneous wound healing, Chronic joint disorders and Inflammation. Chromotherapy, Phototherapy and LLLT have been used as complementary and alternative therapies whose mechanisms of action on biological samples are increasingly being understood quantitatively...Photobiomodulation, the mechanistic basis of such interaction, has been explained mostly in terms of light-mitochondria interaction involving the primary photo acceptor cytochrome c oxidase and the associated effects on biological samples. The dependence of a number of diseases on mitochondrial functions has implied that light-induced changes to mitochondria may be the underlying mechanism of the therapeutic effects of light. Monochromatic and narrow band light (600–750 nm) has been used for the non-thermal treatment of biological targets. Some of the discovered beneficial effects of light therapy include stimulatory effects on DNA/RNA synthesis and on neuronal growth, cutaneous wound healing, treating chronic joint disorders and reduction in inflammation."

"Monochromatic light has shown bactericidal, bacteriostatic and proliferative effects on bacteria in in-vitro studies. These particular wavelengths have remained of special interest due to their important role in the elimination of bacteria from infected wounds...One of the important factors in such studies is the light penetration through the cutaneous and epithelial tissue, i.e., direct irradiation is subject to the optical window constraint. Whether visible light can effectively reach the intended cells by the same fluency as used in in-vitro studies is an important question in this regard. However, the recent use of subcutaneous light emitting probes and intravascular laser therapy may eliminate this concern completely. The latter methodology, first introduced by Garret et al, is carried out by in-vivo irradiation of blood by a low power laser (in the range 1–3 mW)."

"Conventional chromotherapy has been administered through various sources such as a monochromatic light, broadband light and recently, a new methodology termed as hydrochromotherapy has shown encouraging results. Hydrochromotherapy involves irradiation of water samples with monochromatic light, and then intake of that chromotized water. This is an interesting and unique methodology for the administration of chromotherapy. The phenomena behind the preparation of chromotized water has been described as charge quantization, involving formation of ‘hydration spheres’, which were hypothesized after the spectroscopy of chromotized water."

"ATP synthesis has been found to increase with laser and LED (L-LED) irradiation of mitochondria."

"In the treatment of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD), phobias and panic disorder, a special application of chromotherapy on ears named Auricular chromotherapy, has shown promising results."

"Recently, an emerging idea of water being the photoacceptor has gained much interest, and is being described as a ‘Quantum Leap’ in photobiomodulation. Researches into the intracellular structured water or the exclusion zone (EZ) water have hypothesized the mechanism of photobiomodulation of water. This EZ water, which is formed at the interface of hyrophilic surfaces, has been described as being an energy reservoir: using light to increase its potential energy and acting as a selective supplier of energy for cellular processes. This supplied cell energy in turn can effect signaling pathways in the cells and can lead them towards or away from programmed cell death."

"In conventional chromotherapy, a methodology termed as ‘hydrochromotherapy’ is used. It involves the intake of ‘chromotized’ water: water that has been irradiated through different wavelengths in the visible region. This water is believed to contain medicinal properties and is used for the treatment of various diseases. After the spectroscopy of this water, it was hypothesized that the irradiation of water leads to the formation of nano structures in water or ‘hydration spheres’ that affect the migration rate of ions within the cells, bearing resemblance to the mechanism proposed in the photobiomodulation of water. This research needs further validation so that the underlying mechanism could be fully understood. In conventional chromotherapy, red light irradiated water is prescribed for use in cancerous conditions and for the mitigation of the side-effects."

"The interaction of visible range electromagnetic radiation with cells has important implications for treatment of various diseases and medical conditions through chromotherapy. Cellular interaction of light has been explained mostly in terms of mitochondrial-light interaction. Since changes to mitochondrial function is the key to the underlying diseases, light induced mitochondrial effects may be one of the major reasons for the therapeutic effect of visible range radiation in various diseases. Red wavelength has been used for curing brain disorders including anxiety, with the recovery being dependent on changes occurring in cellular mitochondria and enhanced cerebral blood flow. The mitochondrial dependent process of neurodegeneration has been studied in the light of low level laser therapy: an improvement has been found in Alzheimer and depression patients after exposure to LED."

"Light induced in-vitro changes to enzyme activity is a strong factor in the effect of light on biological samples. In a previous study, it was suggested that in-vivo changes to enzyme activity might be occurring as well, and may explain that the same specific wavelengths which were found to increase the enzyme activity, are already being used in conventional chromotherapy."