Iridology and Body Health

By looking into the eyes we can gain great insight into how to best support the optimal body health of an individual. The iris reveals inflammation, the reaction field it is located and in what stage it is manifesting. The iris reveals body constitution, inherent weaknesses, levels of health and the transitions that take place in a person's body according to the way they live.

I. THE ELIMINATIVE SYSTEMS

The immune and the lymphatic systems work together offering your body both protection and elimination. The lymphatic system acts as your septic system. Cells eat and excrete as you do. The blood carries nutrition, energy and fuel to the cells. Your lymph system removes the by-products and wastes caused from metabolizing these nutrients and fuels.

Low blood pressure, lack of exercise, impacted bowels, congested kidneys/ skin will cause the lymphatic system to back up. Overconsumption of complex proteins, and mucus forming foods will also overburden the lymphatic system. The lymph fluid carries a host of substances that need to be removed from the cells including; excess proteins, fats, glucose, hormones, parasites, chemicals, minerals, immune cells, unhealthy cells etc.

Your lymph fluids move via pressure changes reflected through the vascular system, contraction of skeletal muscles, and contraction of smooth muscles. Lymphatic congestion leads to a heavy immune burdon and response, and cellular autointoxication leading to cellular hypoactivity, weakness, and eventually cellular death. Keeping your spleen healthy helps to keep your immune, lymphatic and blood systems healthy.

THE INTESTINAL SYSTEM

The intestinal system is part of your elimination system. The average colon is from five to six feet long. Mucus from the lymphatic system is dumped into the colon. The colon has mucus secreting glands in the submucosa to assist in proper elimination.

There are no digestive enzymes secreted from the colon, however some digestion takes place due to bacteria. Your food particles and by-products from the stomach and small intestines are mixed together in the colon. Most of the water is reabsorbed so that a solid mass is formed for elimination from the body. The colon has an electrical relationship to all of the other tissues of the body.

THE URINARY SYSTEM

The kidneys are part of your elimination system. They form urine from blood plasma. They play a major role in the regulation of your blood. They help to eliminate your metabolic and toxic wastes. The kidneys are sensitive to over-acidic foods.

THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is also part of the elimination system. The skin eliminates as much bodily wastes as your kidneys on a daily basis. Always clean out the liver and the kidneys to clean out the skin. The skin has many functions including regulating your body temperature.

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

This system is in charge of providing the body with its main source of energy; oxygen. The respiratory system helps to regulate the acid/base balance in the body and eliminates carbon dioxide. This system brings hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen into the body. These elements are life’s most basic foods. Your lungs are both a digesting and eliminative organ

II. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The stomach gives your food time to digest and be broken down so the body can actually use it properly. Absorption of nutrients takes place in your small intestines. Your pancreas supplies the majority of the enzymes needed to break down your food as well as sodium bicarbonate and bile from the gallbladder to activate alkaline digestive enzymes. The pancreas is an endocrine and exocrine gland, meaning it produces hormones that are secreted into the blood. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, acts as a driver that transports glucose through the cell walls.

Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It performs many functions researchers still have yet to discover. The liver stores various amino acids obtained from digestion and reconstructs them for essential body proteins. The liver converts excess glucose into fat for reserved energy. The liver also stores and distributes various vitamins including Vitamin A, D, E, & K (your fat soluble vitamins).

When your blood glucose levels drop your liver converts stored fat and even stored amino acids into glucose to be used as fuel for energy. Your liver also helps to detoxify the body. The liver’s immune cells digest bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from within the blood and the digestive tract. Your gallbladder helps to breakdown fat molecules.

III. THE GLANDULAR SYSTEM

Your endocrine system is the master computer of your body. It tells your cells what to do and how to function through the release of hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes and the likes. The endocrine glands include; pituitary, pineal, parathyroid, thyroid, thymus, pancreas, adrenals, ovaries and prostate. The pituitary gland releases hormone like substances to stimulate the other endocrine glands and tissues to produce hormones, neurotransmitters and the likes.

When the pituitary gland becomes weak, it can affect the whole body creating a chain reaction. The pituitary gland can affect the thyroid and adrenal glands. Lactation problems, rapid aging, underactive or overactive tissue growth, hypo function of the ovaries, hypothyroidism, and neurological weaknesses can be caused by a weakened or congested pituitary gland. The middle of the transverse colon has a relationship to the pituitary gland.

The pineal gland is regulated by light. It helps to synthesize melatonin, which is a hormone that relaxes you and aids in sleep. Refined sugars are highly mucus forming in the body. This can create congestion all through the sinus cavities, head area, bronchi and lungs.

Since the thyroid/ parathyroid is in the throat area, it also becomes congested. This results in hyper (over active) or hypo (under active) glands. The jobs of the thyroid and parathyroid include increasing or decreasing the following; metabolism, the ability of the cells to use and absorb glucose, the use of fats, rate and strength of the heartbeat, rate and depth of respiration, and the rate of calcium absorption from blood, intestines, bones and kidneys.

Since the thyroid/parathyroid affects the bodies ability to utilize calcium, we find that bone problems, depressive disorders and connective tissue weaknesses can be eliminated by regenerating the thyroid/parathyroid glands.

The thymus gland is considered the master gland of the immune system. It is much larger in children. Because of diet and lifestyle it can be almost completely atrophied by old age. The thymus is essential to the maturation of T-cells (white blood cells) that are the natural killer cells. Cell-mediated immunity is vital for helping the body fight the invasions of molds, yeast, fungus, bacteria, viruses and the likes.

The adrenal glands produce neurotransmitters, which are essential for brain and nerve function. These neurotransmitters including; epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, and dopamine affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Low blood pressure (systolic under 118) is always an indicator of adrenal weakness. A healthy blood pressure is 120-130 systolic (top number) over 60-70 diastolic (bottom number).

Long Term effects of adrenal medulla weakness include, but are not limited to; asthma, MS, Parkinsons, panic attacks, shyness , conception problems, memory problems, low energy, and dehydration. The adrenals are also responsible for producing cortical-type steroids or hormones. Many of these steroids act as anti-inflammatory compounds which are vital to fighting inflammatory processes in the body.

If your cholesterol is building up in your vascular walls or in the tissue, what does this tell you? Cholesterol is an anti inflammatory agent, or lipid. The liver produces cholesterol to combat inflammation when the adrenals aren’t producing enough steroids to fight the inflamation. Chronic inflammation can lead to tissue and cell deterioration. It’s important to keep the endocrine system healthy to keep the body in working balance.

IV. THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

This system includes; the prostate gland and the testes in males and the ovaries and the uterus in women. Here we’ll look at the male and female organs as well. The ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone. The adrenal glands are necessary for proper progesterone production. The pituitary gland allows for estrogen to be released. Both are necessary to support ovulation. Estrogen stimulates the inner lining of the uterus to bleed each month, causing menstruation.

If the adrenal glands are hypoactive, this can affect the production and the release of progesterone. This can have a domino effect of acidosis in the body (estrogen is an acid hormone, progesterone is an alkaline hormone) leading to female problems such as; ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, and female cancers. The testes are located in the scrotum. Progesterone, a cortical-type steroid created in the adrenals, helps to counter balance testosterone and estrogen, especially when they create inflammation. Testosterone affects metabolic relationships, the development of; male sexual organs, body hair, deepening of the voice, erections, and the distribution of fat.

V. THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEMS

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord are the centers of communication, regulation, coordination and sensory evaluation of the body. The hypothalamus communicates to the pituitary gland which communicates to the rest of the endocrine system to control the functions and responses of the body. The medulla lies at the base of the skull and is considered the equilibrium center. The medulla has many functions including influencing; blood pressure, heart rate, glandular secretions, mineral utilization, oxygen supply and water retention.

This area is greatly affected by congestion from dairy products and refined sugars. Especially when the tonsils (lymph nodes) have been removed. This causes poor lymphatic drainage of the cerebral areas leading to poor circulation and elimination of wastes from these tissues. Symptoms may include; dizziness, equilibrium problems and blood pressure issues.The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary bodily functions. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in stressful situations, and the parasympathetic nervous system dominates in non-stressful situations.

VI. THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM/CONNECTIVE TISSUE

The muscles serve to support and bring movement to the body. These can become weakened due to acidosis, inflammation, and toxicity. They can be strengthened through cleansing and absorption. Bone growth and repair takes place through hormone stimulation from the thyroid/parathyroid glands. When these glands become underactive due to congestion or weakness, this affects all of the; organs, glands, vascular system, bone and connective tissues.

Bone spurs, bone loss, scoliosis, anemia (low calcium causes poor iron utilization), hernias, varicose veins, prolapses of the; uterus, bowels, breasts, skin, bladder or other organs are all symptoms of these glands underfunctioning.

SUMMARY

The health of the individual cell is dependent on how well the body is absorbing and utilizing nutrients as well as eliminating wastes from the body. In order to keep the body happy and healthy, it’s important to keep the lymphatic system clean. This requires supporting your kidneys to promote the elimination of cellular wastes from the body. The build up of these wastes in the tissues can result in tissue weakness, unwanted symptoms and hypoactivity of cells and glands.

Supporting your digestive system, eliminative systems, glandular system and the likes are important for achieving optimal health and vitality. Every organ and gland has an important function in the body. When one area of the body becomes weak from inherited weakness or congestion, this affects our body, mind, and emotional state of being. Cleaning up and strengthening the body takes time. It’s a rewarding process of self growth and discovery. Make sure you work with a qualified practitioner to help you move through the phases of detoxification and regeneration in an balanced manner.