Mr John Andrews
Advanced Iridology Journal Editor, Iridology & National Therapies

We all remember when alternative medicines hit the headlines, from reflexology to acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, shiatsu and umm, iridology? The art of iridology has been an enigma amongst most and yet it seems the most fascinating of the so-called alternative approaches.

John Andrews, a leading iridologist, led an informative workshop on the history of iridology and its potential benefits to pituitary patients, particularly those who may still be perplexed or confused about their condition.

So what is iridology? Quite simply it is the art and science of observing the eyes (particularly the iris, pupil and inner pupillary border) through a microscope or slit-lamp and finding out information about you. This information can instruct you on physical, emotional, genetic and mental levels. Some researchers even suggest a spiritual component. Although predominantly misunderstood in the medical fields of the UK and North America, iridology has a greater medical acceptance, integration and scientific basis in many other countries and health care traditions. For example, in the former Soviet Union numerous clinical trials related to iridology have been conducted since the 1940s and 1950s. Research has continued and a clinical trial involving 80,000 patients concluded that iridology had a statistical accuracy and competence of approximately 80% across the range of all general disease. Another study, in South Korea, recorded accuracy for iris diagnosis from 92% for digestive disorders to 75% for cardiovascular disease. The South Korean government accepts these results. Similar results proving the reliability of iridology as a diagnostic tool in countries such as Brazil, Italy, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and Germany have also been recorded.

In general, people's tendencies for problems can be identified by the colour of the iris. Brown pigment relates to the function of the liver and digestive system; yellow pigment relates to kidney functions and all this involves and orange pigment relates to pancreatic functions. The left and right irises carry different information about both sides of the body, the organs, genetic inheritance and family medical history.

The identification of hypoglycaemia perfectly illustrates the beauty of iridology. Just to clarify when we refer to "hypoglycaemia" - we do mean hypoglycaemic coma in diabetes (which is often the medical definition of hypoglycaemia, in the USA and the UK). This is a tendency to low or erratic blood sugar levels. A tendency to this can and often does create a myriad of acute and chronic symptoms, which not only leaves the patient feeling overwhelmed, but the practitioner as well!

Iridology simplifies this, as well as other conditions such as pituitary and hypothalamic problems, that may at first appear bewildering. This was illustrated with many case histories relating iris signs to many pituitary and general endocrine patients' case histories.

In addition to diagnostics, iridology has become a therapy with the use of precise lights on reflex areas in the iris to treat those who have suffered emotional trauma or patients experiencing illness related depression. Clinical tests have provided convincing results in the treatment of asthma, allergies, pain syndromes and back injuries in Russia with 75-80% success.

In conclusion, iridology has much to offer medicine and medical practitioners are becoming firm stakeholders in this fact. Iridology will most certainly become an integrated diagnostic method. John has initiated an iridology research study involving naturopathic and medical practitioners in the UK, Canada, Greece, Brazil, Italy and Ireland. The study is looking at particular signs and combination of signs in pituitary-based problems and assessing the significance of them in terms of differential diagnosis, genetic factors and severity of tendency.