What is Iridology?
Iridology is the study of the iris of the human eye to allegedly
diagnosis present and even future illness and disease. Ignatz von Peczely (1822-1911) is
considered the modern developer; however, similar practices can be seen in ancient Chinese
methods related to astrology. Occultist Bernard Jensen is considered the leading US
authority.
Iridologists claim that the eyes can "mirror" the health
condition of the body because the iris allegedly displays in detail the status of every
organ system. Supposedly, the iris's connection with the central nervous system permits
detailed information to be sent from the rest of the body back to the iris. Further, each
iris reveals what is happening on its own side of the body an anatomical impossibility,
given iridology theory. (Incoming nerve impulses from one side of the body almost always
cross to the opposite side on their way to the brain.)
Iridology has been discredited in numerous scientific studies and
is, therefore, a form of quackery. Some of these studies are reported in the Journal of
the American Medical Association (September 28, 1979), Australian Journal of
Optometry (July 1982), and the Journal of the American Optometric Association
(October 1984). Nevertheless, iridology can also be used as or in conjunction with psychic
diagnosis and healing.
The problems associated in using iridology include the progression
of a serious illness that iridology fails to uncover; personal anxiety and loss of
finances from misdiagnosis that a serious illness exists, and spiritual problems from
occultic influences in occult forms.
What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a novel form of acupressure employing foot or hand
massage. Reflexology claims to work by manipulating life energies (chi, prana)
through specific foot and hand massage claiming that such massage breaks up so-called
"crystalline deposits" that presumably obstruct pranic energy flow. When
the "flow" is restored, it reaches bodily organs and systems, bringing health.
Nevertheless, foot or hand massage offers none of the pretentious
medical claims made by reflexologists. At best, reflexology gives a good massage; at
worst, it can be a form of psychic development and energy channeling; medically, it is
simple quackery.
What is crystal healing/crystal
work?
Crystal healing, currently one of the most popular New Age
practices, is the use of a supposed "power" inherent within crystals for
healing, developing psychic abilities, spirit contact, and other New Age goals. Crystals
supposedly contain the ability to focus and direct psychic energies for healing and other
occult pursuits.
Crystal work is a form of animism in which inanimate objects are
held to possess spiritual powers that may be contacted, utilized or directed. But in
animism any supernatural power contacted originates from the spirit world. Thus, crystals per
se have no magical powers and only become an implement behind which spirits may
work. When pressed, most crystal healers we have talked with concede the power behind
crystals is spiritistic.
Many similar objects are also believed to possess magical properties
(amulets, magical stones or gems), but one fact discounts this belief: psychic abilities
and powers remain once the implement is dispensed with. In other words, these objects are
only contact material--a disguise through which spirits work to gain influence over
people's lives. The following information taken almost verbatim from our Astrology,
p. 245, supplies other illustrations of this phenomenon:
All divinatory methods utilize some principle object that becomes
the focus and/or vehicle through which spirits work to serve the client and produce the
needed answer to questions, character analysis, future prognostication, supernatural
power, etc. Common forms of divination include: astrology (the horoscope chart); tarot (a
deck of cards with symbols); I Ching (sticks, printed hexagrams); runes (dice); ouija
board (an alphabet planchette); radionics/psychometry (the divining rod, pendulum,
"black box," etc.); palmistry (the hand); crystal-gazing (the crystal ball or
crystal rock); metoscopy/physiognomy/phrenology (the forehead, face, skull); geomancy
(combinations of dots or points); water-dowsing (the forked stick or other object).
Is it logical to expect mere pieces of paper bearing symbols
(horoscopes), simple forked sticks, cards, hands, dice, letters of the alphabet, rocks,
facial lines, or dots, could ever supply supernatural power or miraculous information
about a person or their future? Even the practitioners of these arts refer to
"supernatural influences"--to "gods" and spirits who operate through
these methods.
The potential problems arising from crystal healing include those of
New Age Medicine in general: problems relating to misdiagnosis and occultic influence.
[For more information, see our The Facts on Holistic Health and the New Medicine,
available through The John Ankerberg Show. Telephone: 1-800-805-3030.]
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