Iridology

Iridology is the study of the colored part of the eye (called the iris) to determine potential health problems. Iridologists believe that changing patterns and markings in the iris can be used to reveal emerging conditions in every part of the body and to identify inherited weaknesses that may lead to physical and emotional disorders. Iridology is used as a preventive practice and as part of the wholistic treatment. If a health problem is detected at an early stage, something can then be done to prevent it from becoming a full-blown disease.

The idea that the eyes are a mirror to the body is an ancient one: The Greek physician Hippocrates was known to examine patients' eyes for signs of illness. It wasn't until 1670, however, that the first actual medical reference to iridology as a diagnostic tool appeared in German physician Phillipus Meyens' book Chiromatica Medica.

How Does It Work?

The basis of iridology is a wholistic concept well accepted in other fields of alternative medicine, namely that when examined correctly, each part of the body contains information about other parts of the body. Iridologists believe that as a degenerative disease slowly develops, the iris will reflect these changes.

Conventional physicians also routinely examine the eye for evidence of internal disease. Using an ophthalmoscope to look at the retina of the eye, a doctor can see how diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure are affecting blood vessels. Likewise, a close examination of the iris by a trained iridologist can give information about high cholesterol and certain metabolic ailments.

Iridologists contend that conventional physicians underutilize the iris as a source of information about an individual's health status. They point out that the iris itself is one of the most complex organs in the human body. Using an iris torch, iridologists can get a view of the ultrafine membrane of connective tissue that shows signs of degenerative diseases well before their presence is manifested in larger organs or the “symptoms” are evident on the host.

What You Can Expect

l examine the irises of your eyes using an Iris torch. (With its numerous fibers and colors, the iris is as unique as your fingerprints.) Iridology is a simple, painless and non-intrusive tool for assessing health and well-being. It can be an integral part of preventative healthcare , the examination and consultation may last an hour or longer. While examining your irises, I will look for subtle signs of developing illness, such as symptoms of stress or a build-up of toxins. I also use a technique called “mapping," where eye charts are consulted to determine problems in corresponding internal organs.

I also use herbs known to feed a particular organ or system, as well as vitamins and minerals, to enhance the body's own healing mechanisms. Even people with hopeless conditions have found relief using the information discovered through a professional Iridology examination. My goal with using iridology is to recognize health problems at their earliest stage, and to suggest ways of keeping disease from developing.

Please be wary of people and shops that advertise “10 Minute” iris diagnosis. Not only is this misleading but it also lends this invaluable scientific field into disrepute. Such claims are unprofessional, as no-one can give an accurate diagnosis without an in depth consultation being conducted. Moreover, marketing companies promoting supplements, sometimes offer crash courses in iridology to their distributors. The goal, of course, is to encourage treatment using the company's products.