Natural Health

Assessing health through studying the eyes is thought to date back at least as far as ancient Greece and Hippocrates. In the 19th century, this art was revived by a Hungarian called Ignacz von Peczely. As a boy, he was said to have observed how the iris of an owl changed, first when it suffered a broken leg and then as it got better. He went on to make observations of the human iris, often being able to predict someone’s impending illness. After qualifying as a doctor, he drew up the first chart of the iris as a key to health. Peczely and those who went on to develop his work in the early years of the 20th century were ridiculed by the medical establishment.

An American doctor called Bernard Jensen drew up an extremely detailed iris chart in 1950 relating all of the organs and systems of the body to different parts of the iris. Since then, other similar charts have grown out of clinical experience in Europe and the UK. The area around the pupil is said to signify the stomach, and the area around that represents the intestines. The remainder of the iris is divided up into a complex jigsaw relating to all the other body parts. Modern iridologists say that the appearance of the iris does not change but that its distinctive pattern gives a unique map of a person’s genetic inheritance. By studying this map, an iridologist can identify a patient’s constitutional weakness, for example a tendency towards stomach problems or liver damage. However, they also say that some alterations in the body can show up in slight changes of coloring in the iris. For example, a patch that gets slightly lighter can signify inflammation, and an area that gets slightly darker can mean a build-up of toxins. So the old story about the injured owl’s iris may well have a basis in fact.

Why The Eyes?

The eyes – and the irises – are direct offshoots from the brain. Hundreds of thousands of nerve fibers make up the optic nerve and many of these end in the iris. Some iridologists say it is for this reason that the eyes – as a result of the information they receive from the brain – are like VDUs, giving an accurate representation of the state of the rest of the body. Others compare it to reflexology, in which the foot is said to be sensitive to what is happening through all the ‘zones’ of the body.

How Does An Iridologist Work?

Iridologists stress that they do not diagnose diseases but rather analyze the iris to identify possible problem areas. They may talk about evaluating ’tissue integrity’ -which means looking at inherited constitutional strengths or weaknesses. They also claim to identify ‘preclinical conditions’ – minor weaknesses that might lead to symptoms if they are ignored.

An iridologist will probably examine your eyes with a magnifying lens and then make sketches of your irises, noting any areas that suggest possible problems. Some iridologists use a camera to produce a transparency showing the iris, or to produce an image on a computer screen. From their knowledge of the key areas of the iris, or from what they see after placing a grid over the picture of the iris, they will then ask questions to get further information from the patient. Iridologists tend to have training in one or more other fields and may use their skills in homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture or reflexology to prescribe treatment.

What Youe Eye Color Tells You

All eyes are categorized as either blue, brown or a mixture of the two. Lighter eyes are easier for an iridologist to ‘read’. People with blue eyes are said to be more prone to breathing difficulties, while those with brown are more likely to have circulation problems. If your eyes are greenish (a mixture of blue and light brown) then you may be prone to digestive problems.

Iridology Is Good For:

• Bowel problems
• Eating disorders
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
• Organs under stress
• Fatigue
• Inflammation

Iridology:

AVAILABILITY – Limited

MEDICAL EVIDENCE – Sparse

MEDICAL ACCEPTANCE – Limited

SELF HELP – Limited