Alternative Therapy for Graves Disease. Color Therapy (Chromotherapy) for Hyperthyroidism

by Svetla Bankova

Blue Color for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism

The effects of color on our moods, health and way of thinking have been studied by scientists for years.

Even an individual preference of one color over another may be related to the way that color Using color as an aid in healing is not based on any well-developed science. Indeed, most medical professionals are rightly skeptical of claims about color therapy (also known as chromatherapy and colorology), and it should never be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. Each of us has colors that we prefer and some that we dislike. Any reaction of an emotional nature to color, either positive or negative can indicate how color can be used to promote healing and well-being.

How color be an “alternative therapy for Graves Disease”? Color is simply energy—energy made visible. As human beings, it’s the only energy we can actually see.

The familiar spectrum of the different light wavelengths (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) is visible when we see a rainbow, or when we view the colors created as light is refracted through a prism. Dr. Max Lüscher, a Swiss professor of psychology and the inventor of the Lüscher Color Test, felt the significance of color originated in prehistory, when human lives makes the individual feel.

Color can be described as light- visible radiant energy of certain wavelengths. Photoreceptors in the retina, called cones translate this energy into colors. The retina contains three kinds of cones: one for blue, one for green and one for red. We perceive other colors by combining these colors.

According to Dr. Alexander Schauss, director of American Institute for Biosocial Research in Tacoma, Washington, when the energy of color enters our bodies, it stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands, which as we know are very connected with the thyroid. This in turn affects the production of certain hormones, which in turn affects a variety of physiology processes. This explains why color has been found to have such a direct influence on our thoughts, moods and behavior- an influence that many experts believe is distinctly separate from psychological and cultural factors.  Remarkably, color seems to have an effect on blind people, who are thought to sense color as a result of energy vibrations created within the body.

As you see, alternative therapy for Graves’ Disease can be found even in your surroundings. Clearly, the colors you choose for your clothes and for your home, office, car and other surroundings can have a profound effect on you and your child. Colors have been known to ease stress, to fill you with energy and even to alleviate pain and other physical problems. This idea, it should be noted, is far from new. In fact, the “color your world” concept is part of the ancient Chinese design technique Feng Shui.

The familiar spectrum of the different light wavelengths (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) is visible when we see a rainbow, or when we view the colors created as light is refracted through a prism.

In the late 1950s, the color researcher Robert Gerard took this a step further. He noted that in human beings, both psychological and physical activity appears to increase as the wavelength of the light increases. In other words, reds, oranges and yellows are just naturally more stimulating to us than greens, blues and purples. He felt the color blue could be a supplementary therapy—for example as a tranquilizer and relaxant in anxious individuals and as a way of reducing blood pressure in the treatment of hypertension. Later research tends to support his conclusions.

I am not going to explain and go over all the colors, but just the ones I feel can help the Graves’ disease healing process. I consider color therapy as one of the alternative therapies for Grave’s Disease.

Blue is the color of the throat chakra. Blue has a relaxing, peaceful and calming effect. Blue lowers the blood pressure, the heart rate and respiration. In one study children prone to aggressive behavior became calmer when placed in a blue classroom. Blue has also found to make people feel cooler in hot and humid environments. To help relieve the pain of ulcers, back problems, insomnia, pain, rheumatism and inflammatory disorders (like thyroid disorders), surround you and your child with blue and focus your minds on the body part you want to heal (in this case the thyroid) while looking at the color. One good place to do this is the countryside, where the blue of the sky and the water can impart a feeling of calming.  I have also noticed that swimming in the sea or ocean also has a great effect, no matter that the water is salty. You can do a short meditation every day by gazing into a blue picture, like the one on the left, for 10-15 minutes.

Blue also will help the easy flow of communication whether it is with other people or listening to your own thoughts and feelings. Using the color blue in a situation of relaxation and repose will encourage quite communication and feelings of peace.  

Put Blue in your life (even just a scarf) when any of these 4 needs are present:

· a need to calm, agitated, excitable or chaotic states

· a need to communicate clearly

· a need to help with new information or in seeing information in context

·  a need for peace, detachment, solitude, and rest

I started to experiment with this color and adding more of it to my life. I changed the curtains in my bedroom from red to blue and tried to put a little bit of this color everywhere I can, scarves, cloths, table cloths, etc. To my big surprise it definitely had a big effect on my overall condition. I became calmer, I could go to sleep easier, and I really felt in peace.

 My recommendation: Try to avoid bright colors like red, orange etc. because they are energy stimulating and this is the last thing that you need when dealing with  a Graves’ Disease condition. To see other alternative therapies, click here:

Alternative Treatments for Hyperthyroidism. Natural Cures.

by Svetla Bankova

Many people today are looking for cures and remedies and alternative treatments for hyperthyroidism. And no wonder- since the traditional medicine fails to provide safe and reasonable treatment. Many people as well are tired of taking pills that are causing more harm than good and if you are one of them, please, keep reading.

So, the big questions  here is- is there a way out without destroying your thyroid and your body even more? What natural treatment or cure would mean and how this can be used to treat Hyperthyroidism?

The natural remedies are free of chemical substances, they are a natural way to help your body recover from a disease.

I have a few suggestions here for you about alternative treatments for hyperthyroidism that I tried on myself and they helped me a lot:

1. Your diet- generally, avoid foods that have too much iodine, because they can make you even more “hyper”. These foods to avoid are sea food for example, any artificial sweeteners like aspartame, coke,  or coffee.

For more information about hyperthyroidism diet click here: Hyperthyroidism Diet Recommendation (or on the book):

2. Your fitness program– if you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism you should avoid any active exercises- the reason is because they can give you palpitations and make you even more “hyperactive”. Instead- try yoga, thai-chi etc.

3. Meditation- Many people approach meditation as another technique to study at an evening class, like aerobics and pottery. But after a few sessions people often realize that mediation is much more. With practice, mediation becomes a mode of living and a new way of seeing everything: relationships, work and home life, your past, present and future. Along the way it can bring profound relaxation, increased mental clarity, inner peace and spiritual enlightenment. This is a list of just a few of advantages if you decide to incorporate meditation in your healing process from Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease.

1. Stress release;

2. Calmness and inner quite;

3. Reduced negativity;

4. Focused concentration;

5. Instant energy;

6. Living in the present, instead of worrying about the future and feeling guilty about the past;

7. Alleviates a chronic ailment like insomnia; helps deal with anger; 

A short mediation plan will consist of 30 min meditation in the morning and 30 min before going to sleep.

Fitness and Physical Exercises 

Tai Chi- the moving form of meditation

Tai Chi is a fitness program that was developed to promote the flow of energy within the body.

Through slow flowing movements, Tai Chi increases strength and muscle tone, enhances range of motion and flexibility, and improves balance and coordination. As well, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine believe that although these positions are low impact and low intensity, they have the power to break up energy blockage, and re-establish the flow of this vital force.

All Tai Chi movements are pairs of opposition, i.e. left and right, yield and thrust, etc., which reflect the attempt to harmonize the two opposing forces of yin and yang.

Ultimately, Tai Chi is a moving form of meditation where precision movements and controlled breathing are synchronized to enable the practitioner to flow with the direction of energy in and around the body.

Tai Chi offers a variety of quality of life benefits, such as improved cognitive ability, decreased levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and muscular tension, improved circulation, speed of rehabilitation following surgery, injury, or serious illness, and enhanced energy combined with an overall sense of well being. It is especially helpful for people suffering from Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease.

 Qi Gong

Qi gong is the ancient Chinese art of developing internal energy and unlike yoga, places less emphasis on stretching movements and postures, and more on how to feel and move energy within the body.

Some of the basic routines involve standing still for periods ranging from a few minutes to hours at a time, to create awareness of the movement of energy in the body.

Other exercises involve flowing movements that are gentle and almost rhythmic in nature in an attempt to generate and conserve energy, rather than burning calories.

Although qigong is not a highly aerobic exercise, it’s benefits include toning the body, creating greater flexibility and a tremendous sense of relaxation. And as we know relaxation is a critical step, if you want to heal your Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease.

As well, the controlled breathing during a qigong session helps to provide inner focus, relieve blocked energy, and increase energy levels. 

Treating Hyperthyroidism with Yoga and Breathing Exercises

Stretching, Yoga and meditation for Graves’ Disease

Yoga normalizes the function of the thyroid, pituitary, pineal and adrenal glands by stimulating it. It limbers and stretches the neck, strengthens and tones the nervous system. It’s the thyroid gland which is mainly responsible for your correct weight and youthful appearance (it controls metabolism). Yoga stimulates the thyroid gland to work at peak efficiency. As pituitary gland also get stimulated thus helps improve their function. One of the most valuable exercises is called “Ustrasana”- an exercises especially helpful for people suffering Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism.

 Breathing Exercise:

Sit on your heels on a blanket or mat, clasping your hands behind you. Breathe in, and then as you breathe out allow your head to drop backwards. At the same time, raise your arms a little behind you.

Breathe normally. When you are ready to release the posture, release your hands on an out breath and bring yourself back to sitting upright. Repeat this 3- 4 times a day.

Incorporating different alternative methods will not only speed up your healing process, but eventually will cure your Hyperthyroidism without RAI treatment or surgery.

I believe that once your symptoms are under control and your test are in normal range your eyes will start to improve. So besides treating the symptoms I would recommend treating the cause of Graves’ Disease and  Hyperthyroidism as well.