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By Raffaele C. Sabbatini
Passengers and crew calmer with colour therapy. The experience of flight attendants of the helicopter rescue service of Ancona, Italy
An article taken from an Italian magazine EliFlap in July 1998
Light therapy (treating with light) and colour therapy (treating with colour) both have their origins in the distant past. Thousands of years ago 'doctors' of ancient civilizations healers, witches, shamans and sages from India, China and Tibet knew how light could affect and change the biological state of animal and vegetable cells.
From the Pharoahs in Ancient Egypt came the first suggestions of the use of coloured light therapy in the sun temples. It wasn't long before such therapeutic practice spread to Ancient Greece and Rome. In Medieval times it was common practice to dress in red fabric to ward off small pox.
Doctors Niels Finsen (1903) and Albert S. Saint George (in 1937) were awarded the Nobel prize for their research on the effect of coloured light in the treatment of skin lesions resulting from small pox and hormonal secretions. From 1878, year of the official birth of colour therapy experimentation (with the research paper of the English doctor, E.B. Babbit 'The Principles Of Light And Colour'), much scientific research has been carried out across the world in this field with extremely interesting results; for instance proof of the ability of light to attract or repel certain micro-organisms, to change the normal cytoplasmic flow inside cells (cytoplasmic photosensitivity), to increase the synthesis of DNA in the cell nucleus, as well as the ability to absorb the substances mioglobin, heamoglobin, chlorophyll, collagen and liposomes.
It was therefore not surprising when Cornell University announced the use of blue light to reduce tiredness and other side effects of jet lag. Blue light (light waves between 495-436 nonometres = 1 millionth of a metre) acts as a vascoconstrictor, antiseptic, coagulant and dessicative. It is the colour for meditation, for the sense of deep peace and tranquility for kindness and generosity. This vibrational frequency is, also an ideal regulator of the endocrine system. The pineal gland, situated inside the brain, produces the hormone, melatonin, the synthesis and secretions of which are inhibited by light and conversely stimulated by various factors amongst which, are most probably stressors (anything that disturbs the normal balance). It is possible that melatonin still has unknown qualities but it would seem that it plays an important part in the sychronisation of the daily (circadian) rhythm and in other biological rhythms.
The use of the light visible at light waves 566-495 that the human eye sees as green, has for some time been the subject of experimentation and evaluation by the group of flight assistants of HEMS 'Golden Wings' working with the regional helicopter service based at the hospital of Torrette of Ancona. They have been looking at the possible control and reduction of fatigue brought on by the inevitable stress resulting from such work. The software (programmes and procedures), hardware (machines and instruments), environmental (ambient) and liveware (social relationships) components of the SHEL concept of Edwards and Hawkins all have an influence on a person in the working environment and contribute to the increase in his/her level of emotional and anxious states, which can bring about a reduction in an individual's performance with possible signs of psychotic characteristics that may prejudice the safety of a flight.
Green light, although less researched that red and blue light, seems to have a positive effect on the nervous system. From a physiological point of view, green is the colour of balance of hope, new energy, tenacity and grounding.
In our case, an irradiation of green light is shone directly onto the subject's face with his/her eyes closed (Face Green Light Irradiation, a term invented by us for this type of treatment). The single and multiple light sources are placed at a distance of 20-30cms and the treatment last 15-30 minutes and may be accompanied by background music in the key of F major. On completion of the psychological-balancing treatment the application of a green/blue crystal or emerald on the 4th chakra is recommended. Such treatments are offered to the flight crew as well as any passengers who are particularly emotional or anxious and who face long journeys and need an extended control over their emotional state without the use of medication.
When one considers the harmlessness of the treatment and complete absence of side effects, it would be helpful if airlines on medium or long haul flights had colour therapy machines (there are portable, small sized examples on the market) available for use with nervous fliers or passengers likely to suffer from emotional or anxiety attacks.
Doctor Raffaele C. Sabbatini, MS president of the Flight Assistants' Group HEMS, is lecturer in flight safety and the effects of flying at the operational school of HEMS 'M Trovarelli' of Ancona, Italy. He has many years experience in natural medicine and chromotherapy.
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