In traditional medicine, doctrine of signatures is followed. This means that different herbs and foods are classified for their healing properties according to their colour and shape. For example, yellow plants, such as dandelion, are known for their liver healing properties. This principle can also be used in our daily diet. I learnt from my mother, as a child, that a meal should always contain a variety of colour; this is a part of a balance diet. If we eat a diet which is lacking in some colour, such as green vegetables, then our diet will be out of balance and health problems relating to that colour will occur.

It is well known that different colours have different effects on us. Red and yellow are warming and stimulating. Turquoise, blue and violet are cooling and sedating. Green maintains balance and harmony. Our food can have a similar effect.

Each colour has its own energy vibration and will vibrate with different parts of body. The colours represented by chakras also represent part of body most affected by that particular colour. So each organ has its own colour that it relates to. When colour is provided through diet, it will energize corresponding chakra, or energy centre, and provide positive vibration through body's organs and glands in that area.

A rainbow diet will provide you with all nutrients and vitamins you require. The nutrients provided in a food will relate to requirements of chakra colour corresponds to. Each food will energize, cleanse and heal its corresponding chakra. The outer cover of food usually represents colour vibration it radiates to and action it will have on us. Some foods have more than one colour vibration, for example a pink grapefruit radiates to both yellow energy from skin and pink from flesh. A Haas avocado radiates to both indigo and green.

It is best to include foods of all colours in our diet, but when our system is out of balance, we can concentrate more on certain colour foods. This will help to harmonize body and bring it back to equilibrium.

Red foods help us to have plenty of energy and meet life's challenges. The assimilation of food and removal of toxins is enhanced. Red helps us to get in touch with our basic life-force energy and keeps us motivate and able to achieve our life's goals. It gives us courage, strength and a feeling of confidence. Depression can be lessened with extra red plant foods. As red is our base, it can help us to be more grounded. Red stimulates adrenal glands giving us ability to survive. Red is excellent for those suffering from anaemia, blood disorders or who are always cold. If you are run-down or extremely tired, re foods can be stimulating and energizing. Red fruits and vegetables can regenerate depleted energy, build up immune system and help to clean out retained toxins and bad vibrations.

Orange supplies us with plenty of energy and an alert mind. It enhances our immune system, also improving blood circulation and digestion. Orange is a warming colour and radiates joy. It helps to remove blocked emotions and enables us to express ourselves more, allowing us to enjoy stronger relationships. It is also linked to our sexuality and our sex organs. Oranges encourages us to be more sociable, outgoing, and optimistic. It is a creative colour as it opens up our minds to new things. Orange is a great tonic for both physical and mental aspects of our lives, giving boosts to spleen and digestive and sexual organs. Anti-oxidants are high in orange foods; these help in destroying toxic cells and in repair of some cellular damage.

Most culinary herbs, in general, have a medicinal quality that helps with digestion. Many of them are calming to system. They help ease process. Herbs such as Caraway, Cardamom. Cayenne, Ginger, Peppermint and Thyme can help relax stomach muscles, supporting movement of food through system. This helps to reduce bloating and gas. Using these herbs in cooking can help decreases occurrence of indigestion problems. Making a teas from one (or a combination) of these herbs can help relieve these symptoms. Also many of them are digestive stimulants, helping g to improve process.

Sage has been traditionally associated with longevity and is a great medicine. properties of Sage make it ideal for mouth problems. For ulcers a tea can be made up, using a teaspoon of dried herb to a cup of boiling water. The tea, when cooled, can then be used as a mouth wash. This is ideal for any mouth inflammation, including gum, throat and tonsils infections. The antiseptic qualities of Sage also make it suitable as a skin wash and for healing of wounds. Sage can also be used to dry up breast milk, so should not be taken internally if pregnant or breast-feeding. Hot flushes of menopause can be eased greatly by drinking of sage tea, up to five times a day, or when needed.

Thyme and Sage are really good together, not just for taste, but also medicinally. Thyme has anti-microbial properties, so mixed with Sage or on it's own, is ideal for mouth and throat infections. It can ease sore throats and can also help sooth irritable coughs. Thyme has a use as an external wash for infected wounds, or to prevent an infection from forming.

Rosemary is well known for its use as an anti-depressant. It may also be helpful in calming headaches, especially where nervous tension is cause. The herb can relieve indigestion caused by nervous tension. Rosemary is a memory herb, so it is great around exam time, or any time memory needs a boost. a mouthwash can also be made out of Rosemary, being particular good to freshen breath. Rinsing hair with Rosemary can be beneficial for those suffering from scalp irritations such as dandruff or psoriasis.

Parsley is a great breathe freshener, known for being able to even kill smell of garlic. If you have fresh parsley, take a couple of sprigs and dip them in vinegar, then chew them thoroughly before swallowing. Parsley can be used to ease fluid retention and urinary problems. Make a strong tea out of leaves and allow to steep for 40 minutes. Drink this 4 times a day.