A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions

From Abracadabra to Zombies


reader comments: iridology

28 Mar 2004
The first statement in your 'definition' of Iridology is categorically false and a misrepresentation of what Iridologists say about the science of Iridology.

Iridology is NEVER used to "diagnose disease", any more than a thermometer is capable of "diagnosis".

NO Iridologist who has any knowledge of what Iridology is would make such an assertion.

reply: Iridologists may not diagnose specific diseases or disorders, but they look at the iris for indications of healthy or unhealthy organs. Most people I know would consider it a diagnosis if told: "It looks like there's something wrong with your kidneys." This may not be technically correct, but I don't think it is worth quibbling about.

Concerning "confirmation bias", how would you respond--what conclusions would you draw-- to the following things I have observed? (Be HONEST.):

1) A dark red-brown coloration--usually indicative of inorganic iron--is observed in the appendix area. Patient says she is taking prenatal vitamins with iron and states that she had been in the ER two weeks previously with a severe abdominal pain and assumed that it was an appendicitis.

reply: Was it appendicitis? Anyway, yes, collecting anecdotes is what I would call a method of confirmation bias.

2) Sharp degenerative lesion observed in the prostate area on both irises. Patient goes to the doctor and is diagnosed with chronic prostatis, which is asymptomatic.

3) Degenerative lesion is observed in the undefined area just below where the heart is located on the chart. Patient goes to the doctor and is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and is scheduled for surgery. Patient states after surgery that he has not felt better in 20 years.

4) Degenerative sign is observed in the diaphragm/upper abdomen area. Patient gets a chest X-ray that demonstrates loops of bowel in the lung fields and is diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia.

5) Deep degenerative sign is observed in the area of the hip joint. Patient has one leg shorter than the other and has not been wearing the lifts in his shoes for several months.

6) Chronic sign is observed in the peritoneum/abdominal wall. Two weeks later patient suffers inguinal hernia on the same side while shoveling snow.

7) Hyper-acid stomach ring observed. Patient drinks 2-3 quarts of Pepsi Cola each day.

reply: That's a lot of Pepsi. Did the patient mention this before or after your diagnosis? Was there a noticeable protrusion about the patient's midriff?

8) Dark and degenerative lesion observed in chest wall. Patient complains of severe pain over a period of a couple of years. Dr. says that there is nothing there but bones and muscles; can ONLY be a muscle strain. Rib X-rays are negative; all mammograms are negative. Patient FINALLY diagnosed with cancer of chest wall with MRI or PET scan. Patient comes to see Iridologist.

Patient DIES because of doctor's incompetence...

reply: We'll take your word for it.

And because there are people like you who LIE about the usefulness of Iridology as an ASSESSMENT technique rather than a "diagnostic" technique.

You ought to be ASHAMED of yourself

Retired Iridologist bankrupted by the lies of the media about the science of Iridology

reply: Really? Because I use 'diagnose' instead of 'assess' in describing your craft, patients are dying? I must have no conscience because I feel no shame at such an indiscretion.

Sorry you went bankrupt. Maybe you should move to Canada. Iridology is thriving there, despite liars like me and others in the media.

I wrote to "Retired Iridologist" and asked him if he wanted his name removed from his posted comments. Here is his reply:

OF COURSE I want my name removed.

My guess is that my statements will be 'creatively edited' to make me sound like some kind of a nutcase.

I can tell from the website that your goal is to criticize as much as possible, not taking any real time to investigate something before damning it to hell.

You don't appreciate how desperate people are for information about how they can prevent disease rather than merely wait until the damage is done, and then to go to the doctor whose only answer is poisonous drugs or surgery.

My experience with people like you is that you have NO conscience, just like everyone else in the media.

People are DYING because of the kinds of lies propagated by your web site--a condemnation of Iridology is what was chosen by "Science Magazine" to be specifically singled out for condemnation. This is disgusting, when "therapeutic touch" would be a MUCH more appropriate candidate for such treatment.

You appear to have swallowed unquestioningly the propaganda of the American Medical Association and the American Pharmaceutical Association and their associated economic interests.

I know for a FACT that I have helped people toward health with what I have been able to see in their irises; and that the woman with cancer of the chest wall could have benefited if I had seen her two years earlier than I did. As it was, she died maybe 4 months after the dx of cancer. Of course, the doctor LIED and said it was breast cancer; but my attempt to pursue this by contacting the local prosecutor for criminal negligence failed because of the view of Iridology presented in a local newspaper condemning it as nonsense after doing NO real investigation into the matter.

My belief, however, is that 'what goes around comes around'.

Maybe you have a condition that could be assessed by an Iridologist to be diagnosed by your doctor.

But, thanks to the LIES you tell, the only people remaining in the profession are half-wit New Age whackos that have NO appreciation for its scientific value and will not have ANY idea what they are looking at.

It's called Gresham's Law.

Eventually all research Iridologists will be bankrupted and driven from the profession because they are NEVER given the opportunity to present their case in the media.

Don't write to me again.

iridology

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