Iridology is an alternative medicine technique that reveals patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris which can be examined to determine information about a client’s systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts, which divide the iris into zones that correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as “windows” into the body’s state of health.
Iridologists use specialized charts to distinguish between healthy systems and organs in the body and those that are overactive, inflamed, or distressed. We believe this information demonstrates a client’s susceptibility towards certain illnesses, reflects past medical problems, or predicts later health problems.
The iris is the greenish-yellow area surrounding the transparent pupil (showing as black). The white outer area is the sclera, the central transparent part of which is the cornea.
Iridologists generally use equipment such as a flashlight and magnifying glass, cameras or slit-lamp microscopes to examine a cliient’s irises for tissue changes, as well as features such as specific pigment patterns and irregular stromal architecture. The markings and patterns are compared to an iris chart that correlates zones of the iris with parts of the body. Typical charts divide the iris into approximately 80-90 zones. For example, the zone corresponding to the kidney is in the lower part of the iris, just before 6 o’clock. There are minor variations between charts’ associations between body parts and areas of the iris.
According to iridologists, details in the iris reflect changes in the tissues of the corresponding body organs. One prominent practitioner, Bernard Jensen, described it thus: “Nerve fibers in the iris respond to changes in body tissues by manifesting a reflex physiology that corresponds to specific tissue changes and locations.” This means that a bodily condition translates to a noticeable change in the appearance of the iris. For example, acute inflammatory, chronic inflammatory and catarrhal signs may indicate involvement, maintenance, or healing of corresponding distant tissues, respectively. Other features that iridologists look for are contraction rings and Klumpenzellen, which may indicate various other health conditions, as interpreted in context.
This is an example of an iridology chart, correlating areas of the left iris, as seen in the mirror, with portions of the left hand side of the body. Changes in color or appearance of the iris are said to indicate changes in the health of the corresponding section of the body. Below is the corresponding chart for the right iris.
DR. BERNARD JENSEN – IRIDOLOGY
Dr. Jensen spent over 60 years as a pioneer in the holistic health field, helping to pave the way for the alternative health revolution that we are now experiencing.
Dr. Jensen began his career at the West Coast Chiropractic College where Bernard became the youngest Doctor in the state of California. He then began an intensive study of Iridology. He traveled extensively in search of health knowledge, a search that led him to over 65 countries to observe the lifestyles of the people and their various ways of eating. Each place provided a different health secret.
Following the path of the great nature cure practitioners, Dr. Jensen operated his own health sanitariums in Altadena and Escondido California for over 40 years.
People in search of health and rejuvenation came from all over the world to his Hidden Valley Health Ranch in Escondido, to learn the principles he believed in and taught.
Over the years, Dr. Jensen received several awards, and degrees from all over the globe. Some highlights were, in 1953 he was the recipient of the Ignantz Von Peczely International Iridology Gold medal award in San Remo, Italy. In 1982 he received the National health Federation’s Pioneer Doctor of the Year award. He was awarded the Pax Mundi Award for World Peace in 1984.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jensen wrote and published over 40 books. In 1952, he published, The Science and practice of Iridology, Volume 1, which quickly became a classic in the field and established him as one of the world’s top authorities on the subject. His second volume has received international acclaim. Some of his other wonderful books include Chemistry of Man, Foods that Heal, and Tissue cleansing through Bowel Management. 
After working with over 350,000 patients, Dr. Jensen firmly believed that nutrition is the greatest single therapy to be applied in the holistic healing arts and that “We must treat the patient, not just the disease.”
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