What is Iridology

By Ellen Collinson, Dip.Ir., M.G.N.I. Equine Iridologist & Herbalist

It is an accepted fact that horses are expected to have a bright and shining eye to indicate good health, and that a dull listless eye indicates ill health. Well, there is a science called Iridology which takes this a bit further: by looking into the iris of the eye, an experienced practitioner can determine the integrity of tissue in the various organs of the body. Iridology is a safe, painless and non-intrusive form of diagnosis via the study of the iris using magnification. In this way inherited genetic strengths and weakness plus tendencies towards certain organ/system dysfunctions may be ascertained.

Genetic markings passed from parents to offspring give an overall blueprint of the constitution, and can point out weaknesses often several years before symptoms or discomfort become apparent. The iris is made up of connective tissue containing approximately 28,0000 nerve endings, all of which are connected to the brain, the brain receives continual information regarding the organs and then records this information in the iris markings.

Many illnesses are simply symptoms of an organ malfunction, iridology can reveal the root cause of the illness so that the right treatment is easier and more effective. Professional iridologists agree that acute, sub-acute, chronic and degenerative conditions of the body are all reflected in the iris.

Iridology has been ‘practiced’ since the ancient Egyptians. But was latterly more scientifically chronicled by Dr. Ignats von Peczeley, a German doctor, late last century and then Dr. Bernard Jensen took it to another level of scientific research.

Iridology is now part of the curriculum for many colleges, including the medical schools in Moscow and in the medical department of the University of Paris Nord. Which is probably why the French trainers know immediately what it is that I do when I tell them I am an Equine Iridologist

Although iridology is a recognised tool of diagnosis on humans, it is not widely known or practised on horses in England or Ireland. However, there was a man called Syd Mercer who lived in England and used to diagnose through the eye. During his time in the remount section during the war he noted the connection to injury and to the organs of the body in the iris, and working with a very knowledgeable vet at the time he developed equine iridology, however he did not call it that and was always referred to by trainers as the ‘Magic Man’. Mercer helped a lot of horses to win races, including Barona to win two Scottish Nationals and Rheingold to win the Arc de Triomphe.

Iridology can be of assistance in all avenues of the equine world, for example when you buy a horse you get it vetted, however there can be issues going on in the body that will not show up in a veterinary examination, also there could be old injuries, muscle damage which also do not show up in a conventional vetting. Iridology is similar to an internal vetting except in a non invasive way. .

Another way iridology can be of assistance is to get your horse checked over, say once a year to ensure that there is nothing building up in the system that you are unaware of, also horses are very rarely watched 24/7 especially when out at grass and could easily have sustained an injury through slipping or falling that you are unaware of, but could effect the performance later.

Breeding would be another time when iridology can be most beneficial, for example if you have a mare with an inherited kidney weakness, which can impair performance, you would not want to put her to a stallion with the same inherited weakness, also if a mare has a nervous/ hot or just a worrying temperament you would not want to use a stallion of a similar mental type.

And of course the training of high performance horses, i.e. racing or eventing or endurance riding, can be assisted greatly by the use of iridology as horses who have an inherited or genetic weakness will need a very different training schedule and diet to get the best from them. The horses with a stronger constitution will take hard training or the ‘wrong’ diet for a much longer period of time before it catches up with them, however these are the horses that show ability and then mysteriously ‘lose their form’.

Obviously non competitive horses can also have inherited weakness, and also suffer from problems due to old injuries, wrong diet etc., and many clients are who are non competitive still want to ensure the general health and well being of their horses/ponies and to find out the cause of any problem be it physical or psychological. Most problems be it temperament or lameness for example are treated for the symptom, for example a ‘hot’ temperament is usually treated automatically with ‘calmers’ but if the temperament is affected due to other causes the ‘calmers’ will not work. Iridology can tell you whether the problem is in the mind or whether there is another underlying cause, which can then be addressed.

Trainers would benefit by getting their new young stock looked at, at the beginning of the season, especially two-year-olds coming into training for the first time. They can be given an accurate assessment of any inherited weaknesses such as calcium deficiency, which will lead to sore shins, fractures, bursting, etc. and if any problems arise they at least know where to start looking.

The system of herbal medicine used in my products include the traditions of the North American Indians and several Chinese herbs and formulae. The remedies are made up from powders and tinctures, which are extremely potent and the formulae can include up to 20 different herbs. We make no medicinal claims. Our products are simply to benefit the body towards natural health .