Iridology

Iridology is an alternative form of medicine that uses the patient's iris to diagnose the state of the patient's body and their general health. The notion of using the eyes to see what was wrong on the inside was first introduced in Europe in the late 15th century. The term iridology is believed to have first been introduced by a Hungarian physician Ignaz von Peczely in the 19th century.

Practitioners of iridology believes that the nerve endings in the iris can offer information about the health of each of the body's vital organs. The iris can also reveal information about the patient's past or inherited medical problems along with providing information about any disease the patient might be susceptible to.

How Does Iridology Work

Iridologists, with the help of flashlights, cameras and magnifying glasses study the color, patterns and other aspects of the iris and compare it to an iridology eye chart. The iridology eye chart divides the iris into 80-90 zones; each of which correlates to an organ or part of the body. Both the colored part of the eye called the iris and the white part called the sclera are studied.

Usually a picture of the iris is taken and then the iridologist will discuss the weaknesses found in the patient's body along with their strengths. The iridologist will then work with the patient to change their lifestyles and diets so that the weaknesses are minimized and the strengths are multiplied. The iridologist may suggest changes in diet or provide herbs or supplements to help the patient.

What are the Benefits of Iridology?

One of the main benefits of iridology is that it is non-invasive and painless. Since iridology is able to study the body as a whole it does not concentrate on fixing a single problem, it provides a holistic solution.

Things to Consider Before Starting Iridology

Before starting with an iridology treatment it is important to:

• See if the practitioner is licensed or associated with group such as the International Iridology Practitioners Association
• Understand that iridology does not look for specific diseases; rather it treats the body as a whole while healing is performed by changing your lifestyle to bolster your body's strengths.