Iridology and Eyology – Alternative Remedy or Quackery?

Iridology is the understanding that the irises of a person’s eyes are reflective of a person’s systemic health. Here the proverb “eyes are the windows to the soul” is taken rather literally, and it is believed that the eyes can indicate whether the body’s systems and organs are in distress, whether they are overactive or if they are inflamed.

There is the understanding that the information sourced from the irises of the eyes can predict or indicate a person’s susceptibility to certain illnesses in the future as well as past health problems suffered.

Iridology and EyologyEyology is a term used to describe different forms of Iridology such as sclerology, physical and personality.

This alternative practice bases itself on the understanding that a person’s emotional, mental and physical health is connected to the white of the eyes and the markings on the irises and other eye related sciences.

Methodology

Magnifying glasses and flash lights; slit lamp microscopes and cameras are generally used to closely examine the irises of a person. The specific pigment patterns are examined and any irregularity looked at closely. The iris is divided into some 60 to 70 “zones” each of which corresponds to a certain part of the body and Iridology charts point out specifically which zone relates to what corresponding body part. For examples the lower part of the iris corresponds to the kidney and so on.

If changes are detected in the iris, this indicates that corresponding changes have occurred in the other organs of the body. So according to iridologists, each change that occurs in the iris, corresponds to certain changes in distant areas of the body as well.

Contraction rings and other signs are looked for, which may indicate some bodily abnormality.

Uses of Iridology

Iridology is used mainly as a diagnostic tool to try and identify or predict illnesses and disorders in the body.

The argument against and for Iridology

However there is controversy as to whether this can be done accurately by iridologists and many in the scientific world denounce Iridology as quackery or just nonsense.

The argument against Iridology is that the iris is one part of the body that undergoes little or any change at all during a person’s lifetime. Any change is seen only over a very long period of time such as when a person reaches old age, the color of the eyes tend to become rheumy and so on.

However iridologists argue that this is a valuable diagnostic tool that helps to not just identify but predict abnormalities in the body even prior to the manifestation of actual symptoms. It is claimed that Iridology can identify and even predict toxicity, acidity and inflammation in the body; as well as problems such as hardened arteries, congested lymphs and so on.