By definition, Iridology is the science where the practitioner can tell the reflex condition of various organs of the body from the markings in the iris of the eye. “It can determine acute, sub-acute, chronic, and destructive stages in the affected organs of the body through their corresponding areas in the iris.” – Dr. Bernard Jensen, DC
History says that Iridology was discovered by Dr. Ignatz von Peczely of Egervar (Hungary) quite by accident when he was about 10 years old. While playing with an owl, he happened to break one of its legs. He also happened to notice the appearance of a dark stripe in the lower region of the bird’s iris. Eventually, while the bird was healing, the stripe became a tiny black spot, around which were white lines and shading. As a child he didn’t pay too much attention to all those discoveries, but later on as a doctor, he remembered what he saw in the iris, started researching more into the subject, and published a book in 1866.
Nowadays, lots of practitioners use Iridology. Some of them are so passionate about it that they only focus on this part and just read the eye. Then they give you two beautiful iris photos and a report. and then it’s your job to decide what you want to do and with whom you want to work on all those findings.
I am definitely not an expert in Iridology, but I can decently read the main issues. I’m also lucky that I can use cheat sheets, software, and even a very small and chic camera that attaches to my iPhone and allows me to take better pictures of the eyes.
If you are interested in learning more about Iridology, check out Dr. Bernard Jensen’s books. He was a pioneer in the field, and I love that all his case studies come with a ton of pictures.
Now back to my papers and midterms!
Iridology has been practiced since history has been recorded. According to archaeological data from 3000 years ago in Egypt, China and India there was much attention devoted to the study of the iris and its relation to organs of the body. Silver plates with detailed iris pictures were discovered in the Tutankhamon’s tomb (1400-1392 B.C). In traditional Tibetan medicine, the condition of the eyes was carefully noted by doctors who related markings to liver functioning and blood disorders. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the practice started to be investigated in Europe.
In 1867 Ignatz Von Peczely, a Hungarian doctor, qualified in medicine at the Vienna Medical College. His work as a doctor allowed him to study the iris of patients before and after surgery and he systematically recorded his findings, publishing his research in a book entitled ‘Discoveries in the Realms of Nature and the Art of Healing’. He established one of the earliest iris charts linking regions of the iris to organs in the body.
Dr Henry Lane and his student Dr Henry Lindlahr carried out thousands of surgical and autopsy correlation with iris markings before publishing ‘Iridology – The Diagnosis from The Eye’ in 1904.
Dr Bernard Jensen is renowned for his work on developing one of the most widely used iris charts. His passion for natural healing was driven by his own recovery from a medically ‘incurable’ condition at the age of 18, which he then proceeded to resolve using naturopathic treatments. Dr Jensen operated several health sanatoriums in California, receiving many honours and awards over the years including 1982 National Health Federation’s Pioneer Doctor of the Year award. He earned his Ph.D. at the age of 76 climaxing a lifetime of study, work and teaching in the healing arts. He lectured in 55 countries around the world and authored over 40 books on the subjects of natural health care and iridology.
Dorothy Hall was a contemporary of Bernard Jensen and recognised the unique connection between the patterns and colours in the iris and the personality of each individual. In her book ‘Personality and Health Analysis Through the Iris’ she describes how the iris can be classified into structural types by their fibre patterns, each type having its own personality tendencies.
Harri Wolf, M.A., Director of the Institute for Applied Iridology, was an original founder and past-president of International Iridology Practitioners Association (IIPA). He is well known for his charts, training manuals and videos in the field of Applied Iridology. He translated Dr. Lo Rito’s work on ‘time risk,’ the discovery that a trauma or major stress in an individual’s life is recorded at the level of the iris.
Jim Verghis has developed the concept of behavioural iridology. Like fingerprints, every individual iris is unique and provides a visual blueprint of genetic inheritance. He classified the iris into two distinct types. The ‘thinking’ type is characterised by burnt orange to dark brown spots on the iris known as psora. These indicate an activation of the left brain, creating a desire for knowledge and mental stimulation. The emotional type of iris has rounded openings resembling pockets, known as lacuna. These indicate a right brain predominance, which fosters creativity and spontaneous emotion.
John Andrews is recognised for his research and work in advancing Iridology. He has written several books that underline the potential for iridology to provide greater diagnostic clarity in a clinical setting. His aim is for Iridologists to practice in an accurate way and by repeatable methods to cultivate greater acceptance and spectrum of application. Much of Mr Andrews’ recent research has focused on the Inner Pupillary border of the iris.
Iridology research began in 1670 when Dr. Philippus Meyens published a paper describing the eyes of his patients when they became sick or injured. He also noticed changes in the eye that came with healing and was able to link points on the iris to specific parts of the body. By observing the eye, he was eventually able to identify areas in the body in need of support which would show up in the eye long before physical symptoms would manifest.
While eyes have been a focus in civilizations throughout the ages, “modern” Iridology got its start just over 100 years ago. In the late 1800’s, a physician from Hungary and another from Sweden began observing eyes and organizing their findings. This process of observation and correlating has been slow, but it established a foundation for others to build on. The first book on Iridology in America, by an emigrated Austrian physician, was printed in 1904. This was followed by the works of N.D.s and other naturopathic oriented M.D.s.
Working with limited magnification and photography equipment, progress was difficult. Then with the emergence of the AMA and other political and economic influences and the advent of “miracle” drugs, almost all natural medicine practices declined in this country. Dr. Bernard Jensen is credited with keeping Iridology alive in North America.
In Europe, a different political and economic climate created an environment that has allowed Iridology (and other natural medicine practices) to evolve. Extensive research has been carried out in Europe and iridology is now widely accepted as a valuable preventative health care approach. Currently in the U.S. more people are showing interest in iridology as an alternative method for improving health. Now you can experience the benefits of this remarkable assessment tool/technique.
MAIKONG IRIDOLOGY SOFTWARE Installation and operation
