Dr Parul R Sheth unearths the many facets of the colour red

Valentines and roses, red lips, cherries, red wine, sports cars, stop lights, red cross - all the colour of love, passion, anger, ego, will, leadership and survival.

Red is used to attract. Red clothing conveys power and energy and the person wearing it may appear aggressive and seductive. For some, red represents vitality, life force, assertion, bravery, vengefulness and virility. For others it may symbolise heat, fire, blood, warmth, power, excitement and danger. Blood red represents strong emotions such as passion, anger and pain. Red suggests extravagance and ostentatiousness.

Gimme Red
If you are young, you'll find yourself choosing the bright, vivid primary colour red. "It's such an amazing color. It can symbolize so many different things. A red rose for passion and love along with a fine, aged red wine - how romantic!" exclaims Neha, an aspiring model. Sumita, a student of Psychology exclaims, "I love red. It reminds me of red balloons, a speeding red sports car, red roses and love."

According to Dr Shubha Thatte, Clinical Psychologist, ex- Head of Psychology, KEM Hospital and G S Medical college, Mumbai, and Trustee and Supervisor, Institute for Psychological Health (IPH), Thane, "A woman's perception of any colour depends on the culture in which she is brought up and so it differs from one another. In India red colour is perceived as auspicious as it is the colour of 'Shaadi ka Joda' in many communities.

Scientists reveal that men and women perceive colour differently. Men cannot pinpoint the subtle differences in colours. You ask a man and he will say the colour is pink but the same shade may be peach for a woman. Also men prefer cooler colours such as white and blue while women opt for warm colours like red and yellow.

"With changing trends even mens' preferences for colours have undergone a serious makeover from dull and light colours to bright ones like red and orange. Seasons impact our choice of colours too - it would cheer you up if you opt for bright and floral attire on gloomy rainy days. When we are happy and cheerful we tend to pick brighter colours like green, pink, etc", says Dr Thatte.

The Power To Heal
Red brings to your mind the Red Cross. Red is the colour of our blood because of 'haeme' - haemoglobin, a red pigment present in it. Colour experts suggest that red has many uses in healing. It can be used alongside other treatments for reducing cancers, for cauterising wounds, drying up sores, etc. Red can warm cold areas, reduce pain and help with depression.
The 'Blues' Of Red
• Red tends to increase our energy and spontaneity, but it may also invite confrontation and even flare things up into a row.
• Valentine hearts are red and perhaps an erotic red in your bedroom would bring a boost to your sex life.
• Sleeping in a red room can give you insomnia.
• Red can make you lose track of time.That's why, you often see bars and restaurants decorated in red to raise your appetite, inspire joviality and also to spend more money.
• Red is good for women with depression but bad for individuals with high blood pressure and stress. The color red has been related to violence, anger and personality disorders.

Red Trivia
• Hannibal, the famous warrior used red on his shield.
• Red is the most used colour by the Chinese. They especially use lots of red on festive occasions.
• Vermilion red has remained the colour of 'sindoor' for Indian women.
• According to the Indian theory of 'chakras', the energy centres of the body, the colour spectrum runs up thespine and the colour red is at the base of your spine.

The 'RED' tips
• Do not wear red when you are angry.
• Wear red for parties if you want to be noticed If you are timid or shy, wear red, others will perceive you as assertive
• Wear red when you feel depressed, the colour will cheer you up.
• If you are an insomniac, do not have red light or red hue in your bedroom’

Colour And Psyche
Colour is essentially the wavelength of light and the photoreceptors in your retina translate these light waves into the perceived colour. According to Dr Alexander Schauss, director of the American Institute for Biosocial Research in Tacoma, Washington, USA, colour stimulates your pituitary and pineal glands, the hormone control centres for your body, thus impacting your psychological and physical health. For example, your boyfriend invites you for dinner at a short notice.

You need to get dressed soon. You run to your wardrobe, fling open the doors and look at an array of colourful tops and dresses. Which of these would you pick? Which colour feels just right for you and which one feels wrong? Colour has a distinct effect on human psyche - your mood, feelings, personality and behaviour. Researchers have stressed that the influence of colour on emotions, health and mental balance, is real. Colours give you the 'look good' and 'feel good' effect.