Iridology - An Analysis Of Its Genuineness As An Alternative Health Therapy

Iridology is one of the naturopathic areas of alternative medicine. It is the study of the patterns of the iris and the pupils which are two main constituents of the eyes. The purpose of Iridology is with a view to discovering the root cause of different ailments and to reveal an appropriate cure for such ailment. Ancient writings variously refer to the importance of the eyes to the well-being of the body. For example, a passage in the Bible refers to the eye as being "the window of the soul."

Iridology focuses on the coloured nerve endings which reflect in the unique coloured part of the eyes. The very fact that each individual has a unique iris color pattern has created interest for hundreds of years. The very first person to deeply study the iris and pupil - what is now being called iridology was a Hungarian physician in the 19th century. Ever since, other iridologists have come to believe that the nerve endings in the eye are connected to the brain and represent a map with links to the genetic make-up of the body. Hence, for example, through careful study, levels of inflammation of body tissue and toxins in the body can be detected through a study of the iris.

It must be noted however that these practitioners do not claim to identify illness per se, but to be able to detect weaknesses in the system.

Most conventional medical doctors pass the claims of Iridolgy as being false if not total quackery. Several tests that they have carried out may prove this to be the case. However, it must be noted that most of these tests were set up from the point of view of conventional medicine and does not take into account the fact that most alternative medical disciplines tend to take a holistic approach - all the naturopathic elements for example reflexology, acupunture etc coming together to present a unified view of the state of a person's well-being.

In the words of a foremost American Iridologist, Bernard Jensen, "Nature has provided us with a miniature television screen showing the most remote portions of the body by way of nerve reflex responses". Many testimonies of the efficacy of some of the Iridologists' methods abound and beg for the medical community and indeed the general public to take it more seriously. Conventional medicine sure does not have all the answers. And when it comes to prevention, maybe we all need to look at alternative medicines as a "window into the soul" to help us take preventive actions with this better understanding of our bodies complimentary provided with medical science.