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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 cannot detect a specific
disease. Rather, it is a preventive practice that helps people to understand
their basic health issues so that they can seek treatment, if necessary, from
the appropriate specialist. According to iridologists, 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.
In the late-19th century Hungarian
physician Ignatz von Peczely and Swedish clergyman Nils Liljequist independently
advanced theories connecting the markings of the iris with tendencies toward
specific ailments. Both men's interests stemmed from experiences in their
childhoods.
As a boy, Peczely accidentally broke
the leg of an owl and then noticed a black mark that subsequently appeared in
the bird's iris. Later, in his medical practice, he noted similar marks in the
eyes of his human patients who'd suffered a fracture. For his part, Liljequist
contracted malaria in his teens and was treated with quinine and iodine. As the
drugs accumulated in his system, he noticed that his blue eyes were turning a
darker color. After he later became a homeopath, he found similar reactions in
his patients as well.
Iridology first became known in the
United States in the 1950's, when Bernard Jensen, an American chiropractor,
began giving classes in his own method, which mainly concentrates on iris color,
the body's exposure to toxins, and use of natural foods as detoxifiers. Although
Jensen's concepts have never been fully accepted by his European counterparts,
most American iridologists have been trained using Jensen's techniques.
How Does It Work?
The basis of iridology is a holistic
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. In chiropractic medicine, for example, misalignments in the spine
are used to diagnose and treat diseases of the internal organs. In Chinese
medicine, examinations of the pulse and tongue are regularly included in the
diagnostic process. Iridolgists 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 can give information about high cholesterol and certain metabolic
ailments.
Iridologists contend that conventional
physicians woefully 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. When a photograph of the iris is
enlarged, iridologists claim they can get a view of an ultrafine membrane of
connective tissue that shows signs of degenerative diseases well before their
presence is manifested in larger organs.
Over the years, many iridology texts
have "mapped" segments of the iris to correspond with various internal organs.
While this concept is accepted by most American-trained iridologists, it
continues to be debated among European practitioners. Although the European
iridologists believe that analysis of the eye can indicate a propensity for
disease, they point to the lack of evidence for any anatomical correspondence
between sections of the iris and specific body parts.
Most American-trained iridologists,
however, continue to maintain that the iris is connected to the brain and acts
as a control panel, giving readouts on conditions in the various parts of the
body. Because thousands of nerve endings make up the iris, they contend, the eye
can indeed provide a system of connections to the rest of the body.
What You Can Expect
The iridologist will examine the
irises of your eyes using either a slitlamp (an expensive piece of equipment
also employed by optometrists and ophthalmologists) or just a penlight and
magnifying glass. Many iridologists will also obtain photographs of your iris
with a specially designed camera, then considerably enlarge the photos so that
the iris appears about the size of a dinner plate. (This can be a rather
dramatic sight, allowing you to appreciate the complexity of the iris's
structure. With its numerous fibers and colors, the iris is as unique as your
fingerprints.) The process is completely painless, safe, and noninvasive.
While examining your irises, both
in-person, and later when reviewing the photographs, the iridologist will look
for subtle signs of developing illness, such as symptoms of stress or a build-up
of toxins. Depending on the practitioner's training, and whether he accepts of
the concept of "mapping," eye charts may be consulted to determine problems in
corresponding internal organs.
The examination and consultation
typically will last about an hour. Unless your iridologist is a licensed
physician, you will not be diagnosed with any specific disease. You will,
however, be told about any risk factors and given preventive health-care
measures to follow.
Many iridologists practicing in the
United States
are trained in another complementary medical specialty, frequently chiropractic,
homeopathy, or naturopathy. In those states where they are licensed to do so,
such a practitioner may be able to give a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Health Benefits
Because iridology is not a treatment
therapy, but rather a way of detecting underlying signs of developing disease,
iridologists will let you know about your overall health as well as any trends
you may be experiencing toward illness. In this way, their goals are similar to
those of all preventive medicine--to recognize health problems at their earliest
stages and to suggest ways to keep disease from developing.
One problem with iridology, especially
in the United States, has been a lack of adequate training among most of the
individuals purporting to be iridologists. Many of the courses in iridology are
little more than a weekend long, culminating in a "certification." And even
though some licensed chiropractors and naturopaths may practice iridology, their
education, by European standards, is often inadequate.
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. The risk of overdiagnosis then may become a problem, since the
practitioner now has secondary motives to "find" conditions on iris examination
that are treatable with the products he's paid to recommend.
Because iridology is frequently
performed by inadequately trained amateurs, it has not fared well in
evidence-based medical studies. The end result is that there is very little
published research on iridology (except in iridology journals), and what exists
is inconclusive.
Two mainstream scientific studies
testing iridologists' abilities to detect gallstones and kidney infection,
published in the British Medical Journal and the Journal of the
American Medical Association respectively, concluded that iridology was not
helpful for either problem. A recent meta-analysis went further and said that
iridology was "not useful and potentially harmful." However, professional
iridologists have faulted these studies for attempting to diagnose conditions
that simply cannot be revealed by their methods.
How To Choose a Practitioner
In the United States, the practice of
iridology is totally unregulated or licensed by any governmental agency or
professional organization. Anyone can claim to be an iridologist with training
that ranges from a couple of days to a full course in naturopathic medicine.
Practitioners trained by the Institute
of Applied Iridology (IAI) in Laguna Beach, California, have an education
program modeled after the European style of practice. Theirs is a detailed
course (72 hours of classroom study, held over several weekends) culminating in
both oral and written examinations with certification, if successful.
Naturopaths trained at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington, can also avail
themselves of an elective course in iridology similar to that given by the IAI.
If you are seeking an iridologist, try
to find one who is either certified by the Institute for Applied Iridology or by
the International Iridology Research Association (IIRI) in
Solana Beach, California.
Unfortunately, among the approximately 10,000 individuals calling themselves
iridologists in the U.S., no more than 150 or so actually meet the standards of
certification.
Cautions
1. Iridology is generally safe, noninvasive, and
painless. However, it has not been proven to be an effective health-care
treatment and shouldn't be used as a substitute for conventional treatment. If
the iridologist uncovers anything of concern, make sure you discuss these
findings with your primary-care physician.
2. Some critics point out that the theories of
iridology were originally developed in northern
Europe, where most people have blue
eyes. They suspect that because of this, iridologists have a tendency to see
blue eyes as the standard for good health and to misinterpret findings in people
who have brown or hazel eyes.
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