Iridology is still more of a 'fringe' therapy than say homeopathy or reflexology but is becoming more and more popular in South Africa.

Here's some information about what it is, what it purports to do and any caveats you should consider before finding yourself an iridologist.

What is it?

Iridology is the study of the iris, or coloured part, of the eye. This structure has detailed fibres and pigmentation that reflect information about our physical and psychological makeup. It identifies inherited dispositions (how our body reacts to our environment and what symptoms are most likely to occur), risks (what areas or organ systems are more likely to have symptoms) and future challenges (where we are likely to have more problems as we age). Iridology helps identify inherited emotional patterns which can create or maintain physical symptoms, as well as identify lessons or challenges and gifts or talents available to us.

How does it work?

The iridologist will examine the irises of your eyes using either a slit lamp (a piece of equipment also employed by optometrists and ophthalmologists) or just a penlight and magnifying glass. Many iridologists will also obtain photographs of your iris with a specially designed camera and then considerably enlarge the photos so that the iris appears about the size of a dinner plate. (This can be a rather dramatic sight, allowing you to appreciate the complexity of the iris's structure. With its numerous fibres and colours, the iris is as unique as your fingerprints.) The process is completely painless, safe, and non-invasive.

While examining your irises, both in-person, and later when reviewing the photographs, the iridologist will look for subtle signs of developing illness, such as symptoms of stress or a build-up of toxins. Depending on the practitioner's training, and whether he accepts of the concept of "mapping," eye charts may be consulted to determine problems in corresponding internal organs.

The examination and consultation typically will last about an hour. Unless your iridologist is a licensed physician, you will not be diagnosed with any specific disease. You will, however, be told about any risk factors and given preventive health-care measures to follow.

Should I try it?

If you are not feeling 'right' or would like to have a check-up to see if there are any problem areas in your body, then I would suggest an appointment with a qualified iridologist.

Because iridology is not a treatment therapy, but rather a way of detecting underlying signs of developing disease, iridologists will let you know about your overall health as well as any trends you may be experiencing toward illness. In this way, their goals are similar to those of all preventive medicine - to recognise health problems at their earliest stages and to suggest ways to keep disease from developing.

The basis of iridology is a holistic concept well accepted in other fields of alternative medicine, namely that when examined correctly, each part of the body contains information about other parts of the body. In chiropractic medicine, for example, misalignments in the spine are used to diagnose and treat diseases of the internal organs. In Chinese medicine, examinations of the pulse and tongue are regularly included in the diagnostic process. Iridologists believe that as a degenerative disease slowly develops, the iris will reflect these changes.

Conventional physicians also routinely examine the eye for evidence of internal disease. Using an ophthalmoscope to look at the retina of the eye, a doctor can see how diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure are affecting blood vessels. Likewise, a close examination of the iris can give information about high cholesterol and certain metabolic ailments.

Iridologists contend that conventional physicians woefully underutilise the iris as a source of information about an individual's health status. They point out that the iris itself is one of the most complex organs in the human body. When a photograph of the iris is enlarged, iridologists claim they can get a view of an ultrafine membrane of connective tissue that shows signs of degenerative diseases well before their presence is manifested in larger organs.

Using the road map or blueprint contained in the iris, you can find out how well you are put together (and how much abuse your body can handle), where your body will tend to get sick, (including which organ systems are at greater risk), what specific underlying reasons contribute to your symptoms (which may vary from person to person with the same symptoms), and what emotional or behavioural factors are influencing these patterns. In short, it can show you where you came from, where you are headed, what kind of body you have for a vehicle, and what type of driver you are. With this knowledge, you can more effectively approach health challenges and also identify which preventive medicine practices would be most important for you to pursue.

Have you tried it?

Yes... I was amazed at how accurate a reading my eyes gave the iridologist.  I went to a homeopath who is also a medical doctor (as well as an iridologist) and he had no previous medical history of me.  He sat me down at his slit lamp and proceeded to look at my eyes.

He told me of scar tissue in my breasts, told me of disc problems I had in my lower back, told me I had previously experienced a large gall stone, as well as information about my general state of health at the time. Impressive!

Cautions and caveats

Iridology is not a restorative therapy; it doesn't cure and it doesn't pinpoint particular ailments Iridology identifies weaknesses or over activity in the body so that future problems can be avoided. For example, if the pancreas is seen to be under active, it could indicate a condition like diabetes. Iridology also recognises where toxins and inflammation could be, as well as certain chemical deficiencies to determine your general state of health and constitution.

Some critics point out that the theories of iridology were originally developed in northern Europe, where most people have blue eyes. They suspect that because of this, iridologists have a tendency to see blue eyes as the standard for good health and to misinterpret findings in people who have brown or hazel eyes.

Maureen Cram is a qualified EFT therapist. She and her partner, Matthew Green, run their company Stuff Busters from Randburg, Gauteng. They specialise in weight and nutrition issues, sports performance improvement, helping children and animals.  As well as one-on-one sessions, remote (via phone) consultations work extremely well. Visit their website www.stuffbusters.co.za, email her on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or phone her on 083 600 6965.