So What Is Iridology?

Iridology (also known as iridiagnosis is an alternative medicine system of diagnosis which suggests that the ‘health status‘ of all the body’s internal organs can be located on the iris. The iris is the coloured area of the area which surrounds the pupil. By knowing where an organ appears on the iris and being able to identify a healthy or unhealthy appearance a practitioner is able to identify signs of mental and physical problems.

Iridology is a non-invasive, safe technique of diagnosis, which does not require needles or drugs & can provide a useful guide to an individual’s overall health & wellness.

The History Of Iridology

Iridology dates back to a 19th century Hungarian physician called Ignatz von Peczely. He noticed when he was treating a man with a broken leg that the man had dark streaks in his iris. He also saw a similar set of markings on the iris of an owl he had found which coincidentally also with a broken leg. As the man’s leg healed the markings grew paler until the leg healed & the markings had disappeared.

It was from this point he started to examine a wide range of patients with a variety of ailments & began to see a correlation between the illness and type of marking & location within the iris.

It wasn’t until the 1950s, that iridology was taken forward & developed dramatically by Dr. Bernard Jensen an American naturopath & writer. Dr Jensen divided the iris into six rings or zones, which he suggested, correspond to the body as follows:

The Innermost Ring -The stomach
The Second Ring – The small & large intestines
The Third Ring – Relates to the blood & its circulation; the lymph glands
The Fourth Ring – The body’s organs & hormone-producing endocrine system
The Fifth Ring – To the musculo-skeletal system•The Outermost Ring The skin & organs responsible for elimination of toxins

What To Expect When You Visit An Iridologist

When making the observation the iridologist may use any one or all of the following pieces of equipment – a slit lamp microscope; torch; magnifying glass or camera.

The observations that the iridologist makes are compared against ‘iris charts’ which split the iris into zones that directly relate to areas of the body. The underlying platform of iridology is that that eyes act as a ‘window’ to a person’s health & well being. This ‘window’ enables the practitioner to see whether areas or organs within the body are healthy, inflamed or ‘over active’. It also enables them to assess a person’s past/ possible future health problems & consider if the patient has a susceptibility to certain diseases.

It is important to understand that iridology is simply a method of diagnosis & analysis – it is not a therapy or treatment. It is however an effective alternative system of diagnosis which helps practitioners better understand & treat their patients & build a diagnosis.

Practitioners who provide this analysis will most likely be trained/ qualified in other areas of alternative medicine such a homeopathy; naturopathy; kinesiology; nutrition etc. When the iridologist has made their diagnosis they will ask you questions on your health (past & present) & your medical history & lifestyle.

Taking all of this data on board the practitioner will suggest a suitable treatment or complementary therapy, which could help the patient. In addition they will probably suggest changes in diet or lifestyle & possibly the taking of nutritional/ herbal supplements.

Important:
Anyone suffering from epilepsy should avoid this treatment as the diagnosis makes use of bright lights, which may cause problems. Always consult a doctor first.

Article Submitted By
David Ibbotson, GoToSee Journalist

Date Published
11/04/08

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