You can tell what's going on inside your body by looking in your eyes.

The iris (the blue or brown part of the eye), when studied by a trained practitioner, shows which of the bodies organs are stressed, hyper or hypoactive or weakened by trauma. Observing as it does at a glance, the entire conspectus of all organs and body systems, iridology offers an unparalleled discovery tool to the practitioner. With just a light source and a magnifying lens, this non-intrusive, non-invasive tool can disclose inherited weaknesses and genetic predispositions as well as currently active acute conditions.

The human iris is a unique repository of accumulated information. Derived from nerve impulses constantly conveying their audit trail of evidence, a depiction of the condition of each body organ is built up over time. Observing these signs in the right and left irides, an experienced iridologist unravels the cumulative record embedded in the trabeculae, or fibers of the iris. At about six years of age, the pattern stabilizes and can reliably be read and interpreted. The information thus open to casual investigation provides immediate evidence of which body systems are weakest, which are normal, and which are currently under strain. This can be quite useful in pinpointing contributing conditions in remote organs that escape notice with other diagnostic tools. This is particularly true with children, whose description of particular body malfunctions can't easily extend past what is immediately hurting.

Contrary to what might be expected, the eye is not a blank slate at birth, but mirrors the genetically transmitted weaknesses of both parents. This can be disconcerting at first blush. But after the initial surprise, it's helpful to know which of your little ones inherits, say, the heart weakness running in your family. This allows you to include a proven heart muscle strengthener like hawthorn berries in their diet early on, nutraceutically guarding against or perhaps even staving off heart problems in mature years.

Very young children cannot override the blink response. When an iridologist illuminates a child's eye to photograph or study it live, the child may fidget, squint, or close the eye altogether, impeding a thorough, sustained examination. Improved, sensitive photographic equipment is becoming available which may eliminate this deterrent, but you'll be well advised to check your child's response before seeing an iridologist.

So what can you expect from an iridology reading of your child? Since the nerve activity originating in each organ and system is reported and depicted in a specific region of the iris, abnormal conditions in a particular organ can be determined by observing these marks. Normal functioning is depicted by undisturbed arrangement of the fibers, while abnormalities in an organ give rise to irregular arrangement. While iridology will not disclose the clusters of symptoms recognized by the allopathic world as diseases, you will be accurately informed of tissue conditions. What it discovers is underlying weaknesses in particular organs and systems that, by their weakened states give rise to many diseases. Sub functioning organs are the most likely sites for occurrence and development of diseased conditions. These conditions can be identified by iridology as acute, chronic or degenerative. Used in conjunction with other diagnostic techniques, these indications can identify primary or contributing dysfunctions.

From a battery of diagnostic tests, inferences can be drawn as to the exact causes of the malfunctions, and a preliminary diagnosis arrived at, the accuracy of which reflects the skills of the diagnostician, plus the number and comprehensiveness of tools available. In Europe, iridology is routinely deployed as one means of assessing the patient. In the United States, where most iridology is offered by alternative/complementary practitioners, you will be given a chart of iris mappings, along with the iridologist's assessment of abnormal organs and systems. Treatments initiated in response to the total assessment will confirm or invalidate the accuracy of the diagnosis. Medical diagnoses typically are correct in the 40-59 percent range. Iridology can often boost that rate for you or for your child…inexpensively, accurately and safely.