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from Natural Life Magazine,
March/April 2003 Iridology is the science of analyzing the delicate structures of the iris of the eye. The iris reveals body constitution, inherent weaknesses, levels of health and transitions that take place in a person's body according to the way one lives. There is an old saying that the eyes are the window of the soul. They can also be a window to one’s health. Like fingerprints or faces, no two irises (the colored part of the eye) are exactly alike. The iris structure is so unique it is now being used for security identification at ATM machines and airports. And for centuries, it has also been used to analyze people’s health – past, present and future. The study of the iris for medical purposes is called iridology. The iris contains detailed fibers and pigmentation that reflects our physical and psychological makeup. When an organ or body system is in poor health, the nerve running from that body part will start to recede. When it does, it draws with it various degrees of the layers of fibers which make up the color of the iris of the eyes, leaving darkened marks called lesions. Since every organ and part of the body is represented in the iris in a well defined area, an iridologist can use the various marks and signs to identify weaknesses or overactivity in the body so that future problems can be avoided. Iridology is not used to diagnose or cure specific illnesses. What an iridologist can do is identify the inherited physical and emotional ways in which we react to our environment and what symptoms are most likely to result, the parts of our body or organ systems that are more likely to have symptoms, and the areas in which we are likely to be vulnerable as we age. For example, if the pancreas is seen to be underactive, it could indicate a condition like diabetes. Iridology also recognizes where toxins and inflammation could be, as well as certain chemical deficiencies, to determine your general state of health and constitution. Iridology is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic science, which can be integrated into both orthodox and complementary medicine and used by anyone in the healing professions to better understand and treat their clients. In North America, there are no laws defining or regulating the practice of iridology. However, in Europe, especially in Germany, iridology is well recognized and routinely used by natural health practitioners as a diagnostic tool. Iridology has a long history. In the Egyptian museums, there are pictures in which priests investigate the eyes of the pharaoh. The first published iris analysis can be credited to the physician Philippus Meyens, who in 1670 wrote a book explaining the features of the iris called Chromatica Medica, in which he stated that the eye contained valuable information about the body. One of the earliest iridologists was Dr. Ignatz von Peczely. As a child in Hungary, he accidentally broke the leg of an owl and noticed a black mark appearing in the owl’s eye, which over time changed in form and shading. Studying medicine at the Vienna Medical College, von Peczely continued to be interested in what the eye could reveal about health. He studied the irises of patients before and after surgery, systematically recording, correlating and publishing his research in the book Discoveries in the Realms of Nature and Art of Healing. His Iris Chart was established in 1880. Much of the American medical research originated with the work of Dr. Henry Edward Lane and his student, Dr. Henry Lindlahr. One of Lindlhar’s students, Dr. Bernard Jensen, became a leading researcher and practitioner. He developed an updated Iris Chart and has published a number of books on the subject. Iridology has thus developed into a science that can provide invaluable insight into an individual's health strengths and weaknesses. Learn More Visions of Health: Understanding Iridiology by Bernard
Jensen and Donald V. Bodeen (2002, Avery Publishing) Wendy Priesnitz is the Editor of Natural Life Magazine and a journalist with 30 years of experience. She has also authored nine books. Read her blog. |
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