Practices:

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Iridology

Iridologists claim that colors, patterns and other characteristics of the iris (the colored part of the eye) are indications of health and disease. Various machines and software can be purchased for diagnosis. Practitioners use iris charts, which divide the iris into many zones and which, they claim, correspond to various parts of the human body. An analysis can be obtained over the internet by sending the practitioner photographs of the iris. There is no standardized training for iridology and courses can be taken through the internet, by reading a book, or using a CD. It is not a licensed health care profession and there is no regulation of the practice in Florida. Iridologists often sell dietary supplements such as herbs which are claimed to benefit the supposed health conditions uncovered by the iridologist’s diagnosis.

The concept of iridology is biologically implausible, not based on generally accepted scientific principles, and there is no evidence its methods are efficacious in detecting or treating human disease. Both the Journal of the American Medical Association and the British Medical Journal published controlled studies in which iridologists were given detailed photos of both sick and healthy people to see if they could differentiate between the two. They could not.

The Board of Acupuncture has enacted a rule which permits acupuncturists to practice iridology, although it is questionable whether they have the statutory authority to do so. Rule 64B-4.008, Fla. Admin. Code (2008).

Irridology may be in violation of Sec. 456.065, Fla.Stat., which prohibits the unlicensed practice of a healthcare profession. For the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, the Florida Department of Health urges all persons aware of unlicensed activity to report it. For further information, go to “Your rights as a healthcare consumer under Florida law.”

References:

www.irisdiagnosis.org

R.Barker Bausell, Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine (New York:Oxford Univ. Press, 2007): 271-272

P. Knipschild, “Looking for Gall Bladder Disease in the Patient’s Iris,” British Medicine Journal 297 (1988): 1578-81.

A. Simon, D.M. Wothen, and J.A. Mitas, “An Evaluation of Iridology,” Journal of the American Medical Association 242 (1979):1385-87.