The Iris and the Skin

Using iridology as an assessment tool in aesthetics can greatly support and enhance an aesthetician’s skin care practice while expanding his/her overall knowledge of the human body. This assessment tool can offer an aesthetician a point of difference in their business along with advancing their knowledge base and the ability to provide clients with effective treatments, home care products and long-term results.
Our skin is one of the most important and often most neglected organs of the eliminative system of the body. It makes good sense to identify the zones in the iris that give us clues to the state and condition of the skin. The three general factors that influence skin disorders are the nervous system (including emotional issues and stress), the filtration and purity of the blood (the liver and kidneys), and the immune system (allergy and autoimmune disturbances).
The presence of a scurf rim around the perimeter of the iris, known as the skin zone, provides information about the condition of the skin and the blood vessels just beneath it. The presence of a scurf rim shows an accumulation of toxic material due to poor elimination from the skin. Among those with the poorest skin elimination, the scurf rim becomes almost black, while a dense, dark, and wide scurf rim indicates an excessively toxic body, over laden with wastes. Dry and itchy skin, eczema or psoriasis are often conditions that can present themselves when a scurf rim is present.
If the scurf rim appears darker over the lung zone of the iris, it is believed that poor skin elimination has contributed to an overload of toxic material there, and the same is true for other organs such as the kidneys, the liver and the intestines. It may also indicate a suppressed condition in an organ. For example, a dark scurf rim in the feet area of the iris may be the result of efforts to suppress foot perspiration. Suntan products, chemical deodorants, and other toxic substances used on the skin can promote a scurf rim by blocking the sweat glands. In a healthy skin, the capillaries constantly bring waste to the sweat glands, which in turn, eliminate them. At the same time, the cells of the epidermis are constantly shedding and, together with the sebaceous gland’s oil, tend to block the follicle openings unless the skin is kept clean and uncongested.

Food for Thought

Marcus Shumway, a doctor of Naturopathic Ministry from Trinity College, in Indiana and a doctor of Naturopathy from Central State College of Health Science, states that iridology can serve as an excellent assessment tool for aestheticians who are interested in understanding the root cause of their clients’ skin conditions and overall health. He points out that an iridology assessment shows past, present and future tendencies and this information provides clearer insight to the skin conditions present. With this knowledge the aesthetician is in a better position to make effective recommendations for their clients’ health, well-being and personal care needs from the inside out. Shumway does stress that sound training in iridology is crucial, a solid knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the body is needed and a basic knowledge of nutrition and herbology is important as well. He also states that a sincere desire to learn, listen and observe goes a long way in making one a great iridologist.
Through observations with iridology assessments, the aesthetician can provide their clients with programs to improve the health and maintenance of the skin and body through education on detoxification and rejuvenation routines to include: skin brushing, which is an excellent way to improve skin detoxification and lymphatic flow; hydrotherapy, which uses water to stimulate circulation and boost the skin’s eliminative functions; and herbal preparations that can be recommended for both internal (teas) and external (baths and soaks) use.
Expanding our knowledge base and skill set with iridology will allow us to better understand the root cause of many of our client’s health, skin and body conditions, which can only increase the success of the treatments we recommend and the results that we achieve. Locate an iridologist in your area, make an appointment and see if learning more about iridology is of interest to you. Who knows the story your eyes may tell?

Nina Curtis is the founder and president of the Nile Institute, ‘A Source Vitál,’ located in West Hollywood, Calif. and Curtis Communications. Known as the “Aesthetician’s aesthetician,” Curtis has a 25 plus year history in the professional skin care industry, where she is respected as an innovative skin care specialist, educator, lecturer and businesswoman. Originally licensed as a cosmetologist, Curtis has obtained certification in aromatherapy, reflexology, acupressure, energy modalities, reiki, and color light therapy. She received her bachelor degree of science in management and her MBA from Pepperdine University and is also a graduate of the Lynwood Business Institute. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.