System and method for reducing stress levels using color, sound, and aroma therapy

• US 9,839,762 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonial Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harmonial Corporation
• Inventors: Berg, Oyvind, Rosse, Elisabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorna, Carrie R
• Application Number:
  US14/947,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/0094 Isolation chambers used therewith, i.e. for isolating individuals from external stimuli other treatment rooms or enclosures A61G10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a system and method utilizing synchronized colors, sounds, and aroma therapy. The visual, auditory, and aromatic stimulation is intended to alleviate stress and/or anxiety by relaxing and stimulating the brain, thereby correcting any neurophysical imbalances. Reduction in the levels of stress and/or anxiety is achieved through the use of the auditory, visual, and aromatic sequences which are individually specific and systematic. The system and method is preferably provided in multiple sessions with each session providing both a mechanism for providing treatment as well as assessment, which is used to form the basis for future treatments.

Claims

1. A non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual comprising:

assessing an individual'"'"'s psychological status by subjecting said individual to a first treatment determining test, said first treatment determining test including administration of a questionnaire containing a plurality of pre-determined questions designed to assess said individual'"'"'s emotional state;

electronically analyzing data obtained from said first treatment determining test;

determining a first treatment session to be administered to said individual, said first treatment session based on data obtained from said questionnaire;

providing a first treatment session to said individual based on data obtained from said first treatment determining test, said first treatment session comprising;

using an electronic display unit to expose said individual to a color treatment, said color treatment including exposure to specific colored light and one or more colored images based on a particular color treatment group; and

using a device for displaying sound to expose said individual to auditory notes, said auditory notes having preset frequencies for said particular color based treatment applied to said individual; and

using an aroma therapy dispensing device to expose said individual to one or more aromas, said one or more aromas chosen based on said color based treatment applied to said individual;

said electronically analyzed data obtained from said first treatment determining test resulting in said treatment session generated having a specific sequence of said colored light, said one or more colored images, said auditory notes, or said one or more aromas, wherein said electronic display unit, said device for displaying sound, or said aroma therapy dispensing device are coordinated to display or dispense said colored light, colored images, auditory sounds or aromas based on said specific sequence determined.

2. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 1 wherein said questionnaire includes a set of questions which, when answered in a predetermined manner, assign said individual to one of said color treatment groups.

3. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 1 wherein said color treatment groups include a red color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color red, an orange color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color orange, a yellow color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color yellow, a green color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color green, a blue color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color blue, a purple color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color purple, an indigo color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color indigo, and a white color treatment group wherein exposure to colored light and one or more colored images is based on the color white.

4. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein the step of exposing said individual to one or more images based on a particular color treatment grouping includes exposing said individual to a video session having a first component which subjects said individual to a video having one or more color images, and moving geometrical shapes.

5. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 4 wherein said video session includes a second session comprising one or more theme-based images.

6. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said treatment session further comprises subjecting said individual to one or more video sessions, said video sessions comprising images, shapes, theme based images, or combinations thereof.

7. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said video session lasts for between 10 and 26 minutes.

8. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said one or more aromas are dispensed intermittently throughout said treatment session.

9. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said second session comprises images that relate to the earth.

10. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said second session comprises images that relate to fire.

11. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said second session comprises images that relate to water.

12. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said second session comprises images that relate to wood.

13. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 5 wherein said second session comprises images that relate to metal.

14. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 4 wherein said auditory notes comprise one or more pitches, frequencies, or arrangements configured to coincide with movement of said color images or said geometrically shaped images displayed.

15. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said blue treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 566 to about 588 Hz.

16. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said red treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 691 to about 720 Hz.

17. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said orange treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 819 to about 845 Hz.

18. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said indigo treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 612 to about 632 Hz.

19. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said yellow treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 440 to about 491 Hz.

20. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said green treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 491 to about 548 Hz.

21. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 3 wherein said purple treatment group includes said auditory notes comprising a note frequency of about 632 to about 678 Hz.

22. The non-pharmacological method of reducing anxiety and stress levels within an individual according to claim 1 further comprising providing additional treatment sessions to said individual, said additional treatment sessions comprising:

exposing said individual to specific colored light and to one or more images based on a particular treatment grouping, said colored light and said images being the same or different as said displayed in prior treatment sessions;

exposing said individual to auditory notes, said auditory notes having preset frequencies for said particular treatment groupings, said auditory notes being the same or different as said auditory notes in prior treatment sessions; and

exposing said individual to one or more aromas, said one or more aromas being the same or different as said one or more aromas in prior treatment sessions.