Iridology - Any credence to it??? 
Author Message
 Iridology - Any credence to it???

I saw a printed up flyer that stated the person was a
"licensed herbologist and iridologist"
What are your opinions?
How much can you tell about a person's health by looking into their eyes?



Sat, 14 Oct 1995 02:06:14 GMT
 Iridology - Any credence to it???

writes:
Quote:
>How much can you tell about a person's health by looking into their

eyes?

By looking at the iris (iridology) - virtually nothing.

Looking at the retina allows one to visualise the small {*filter*}
vessels and is helpful in assessing various systemic diseases,
hypertension and diabetes for example.

Don Mackie - his opinion
UM will disavow



Sat, 14 Oct 1995 23:38:21 GMT
 Iridology - Any credence to it???
Iridology is descendant from a 19th-century theory which mapped certain
diseases to sectors of the iris of the eye.  There's enough natural
variation in color that a skilled examiner can find indicators of
virtually any disease.

Modern scientists consider it to be complete bunk.



Sat, 14 Oct 1995 23:09:35 GMT
 Iridology - Any credence to it???

Quote:

>I saw a printed up flyer that stated the person was a
>"licensed herbologist and iridologist"

I don't believe any state licenses herbologists or iridologists.
--
******************************************************************************
Robert Greenstein           What the fool cannot learn he laughs at, thinking

                            of latent idiocy - M. Corelli


Mon, 16 Oct 1995 03:05:49 GMT
 Iridology - Any credence to it???

Quote:

>I saw a printed up flyer that stated the person was a
>"licensed herbologist and iridologist"
>What are your opinions?
>How much can you tell about a person's health by looking into their eyes?

Its bogus.  See the sci.skeptic FAQ (I edit it).

You can diagnose some things by looking at the eyes.  Glaucoma is the
Classic Example, but there are probably others.

Iridology maps parts of the body onto the irises of the eyes.  By
looking at the patterns, striations and occasional blobs in the irises
you are supposed to be able to diagnose illnesses all over the body.

The two questions to ask any alternative therapist are:

1: How does it work?

2: What evidence is there?

The answer to question 1 takes a little knowledge of medicine to
evaluate.  I don't know about iridology, but I've read a book on
reflexology, which is a remarkably similar notion except that the
organs of the body are mapped onto the soles of the feet.  There are
supposed to be channels running down the body carrying information or
energy of some sort.  Anatomists have found no such structures.
(Always beware the words "channel" and "energy" in any spiel put out
by an alternative practitioner.)

The answer to question 2 is rather simpler.  If all they have is
anecdotal evidence then forget it.  Ask for referreed papers in
mainstream medical journals.  Ignore any bull about the {*filter*} of
rich doctors suppressing alternative practitioners.  Studies are done
and papers are published.  Some of them are even positive.

The word "licensed" in the flyer is an interesting one.  Licensed by
whom?  For what?  It is quite possible that the herbology is real and
requires a license: you can kill someone by giving them the wrong
plants to eat, and many plants contain very powerful {*filter*} (Foxglove
and Willow spring to mind).  It is not clear whether the license
extends to the iridology, and I suspect that if you ask you will be
told that it means "(Licensed herbologist) and iridologist".

BTW, the usual term is "herbalist".  Why use a different word?

--

--------------------------------------------+----------------------------------
These ideas and others like them can be had | GEC-Marconi Research is not
for $0.02 each from any reputable idealist. | responsible for my opinions



Tue, 17 Oct 1995 16:36:47 GMT
 
 [ 5 post ] 

 Relevant Pages 

1. Iridology - International Congress

2. New Iridology/Nutrition/Health World Wide Web Page!

3. New Iridology Mini-FAQ v0.01 On-Line!

4. CNRI Iridology Home Page

5. Iridology Mini-FAQ Part 1/3

6. Iridology Mini-FAQ Part 3/3

7. Iridology FAQ 2/4 - irisfaq2.txt [1/1]

8. Iridology FAQ 3/4 - irisfaq3.txt [1/1]

9. iridology


 
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