Iridology was developed in Hungary in the 19th Century and involves the study of the Iris of the eye (the coloured sector) and the Pupil, using microscopic analysis of the surface structures to determine the health of the whole body. Genetic strengths and weaknesses, levels of inflammation and toxicity, the efficiency of the eliminative organs all build up a picture of both current health status and predispositions. An Iridologist may use a specialist camera to take pictures of a client's iris, or simply examine them with an ophthalmoscope and will not claim to diagnose an actual disease with these methods, but to identify weaknesses in the body.

Iridology is a safe, non-invasive and inexpensive method of analysis that can be integrated into both orthodox and complementary medicine. Medical research in several European countries and Russia in particular has established greater acceptance of Iridology. In Russia, a trial involving 800,000 patients found Iridology to be 85% accurate in diagnosis; in South Korea clinical trials by the government found that on average Iridology was 78.2% accurate but with an impressive 90.2% accuracy in the diagnosis of digestive system disorders. By contrast, orthodox medicine considers other diagnostic techniques as reliable if they are accurate within a range of 30 - 40%.

Iridology has much to offer medicine. It is already taught to medical students in certain European universities. In the USA, a professorship has recently been conferred on a Fellow of The Guild of Naturopathic Iridology by a leading medical teaching university. His role there is to instigate the teaching of Iridology in particular plus other forms of complementary medicine. Gradually Iridology will become an integrated diagnostic method.

The human iris and pupil - the eye- is one of the most intricate structures in nature and is one of the most visible parts. Its thousands of nerve endings are connected to the brain via the hypothalamus, giving readouts on conditions in all organs and systems of the body. The iris provides accurate information about our constitutional type, helping patients to understand their strengths and weaknesses, thereby enabling them to become more personally aware of what they can do to help themselves in both the short and long-term. As bodily tissues become inflamed or congested, the iris registers the processes, enabling the Iridologist to determine the root cause of current disorders. For example, a toxic digestive system may be responsible for seemingly unrelated problems such as migraines, skin disorders or joint problems

A few minutes focused observation of the eyes will point you in the right direction, saving a great deal of time, energy, guesswork and frustration. By establishing the root cause of disorders, an appropriately trained and qualified Iridologist can advise the most effective forms of therapy that will attain the best results for the individual - a truly wholistic approach. Members of The Guild of Naturopathic Iridology are qualified not only in Iridology but also in at least one other therapeutic science e.g. herbal medicine, homoeopathy, orthodox medicine, nutrition, naturopathy.

For further information about Iridology visit the website www.gni-international.org