Colour, health and wellbeing: The hidden qualities and properties of natural dyes

Abstract

Is it feasible that the chemicals present in the natural dyes and colours of both plants and insects, which in the past have been exploited for their colour, could exhibit other properties that in the future will be understood and exploited for the health and wellbeing of mankind?
Historically many dye plants were once regarded to possess ‘magical properties’ with the power to heal and to keep evil away [1]. Today many of these plants that can be used for dye extraction are classified as medicinal and in recent studies have been shown to process remarkable anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-viral activity [2]. The cosmetic industry now employs many natural dyes due to the fact they will cause fewer side affects than the employment of synthetic dyestuffs but they can also provide extra properties such as UV protection, skin moisturising and anti-aging [3,4].
In the context of these facts, this paper asks the question: What possibilities exist within the chemical nature of certain natural dyes to help with healing and well-being and if in the future we will be wearing clothes dyed with such colours from nature that we will be able to enhance our well being as well as be fashionable?.