Jenny Dunne 

Iridology is the study of the iris, the coloured part of the eye.

In natural health, the iris is used as an assessment tool to look at constitutional patterns. It can give insight into inherited strengths and weaknesses, tissue tendencies, digestive patterns, bowel markings, lymphatic signs, nervous system stress and areas of the body that may need support.

Iridology is not used to diagnose disease. It does not replace blood tests, scans, medical investigations or medical care. I use it as part of a wider understanding of the person, alongside their health history, symptoms, diet, lifestyle, medication, emotional patterns and overall vitality.

My work with iridology has two main areas: physical iridology and emotional iridology.

Physical iridology looks at the structure, markings, colour and signs within the iris and how these may relate to the person’s constitution and health tendencies.

This does not mean we are diagnosing disease from the eye. It means we are observing patterns and asking better questions.

For example, the iris may guide us to look more closely at digestion, elimination, lymphatic movement, nervous system strain or inherited tendencies. These patterns can then be explored through the person’s symptoms, history and current health picture.

Physical iridology helps students understand how different areas of the body connect. It teaches them to look beyond one symptom and begin to see the wider picture.

Emotional iridology looks at how emotional patterns, stress responses, family imprints and ways of coping may also be reflected in the iris.

This part of iridology does not replace counselling, psychotherapy or emotional trauma work. It is not about labelling people or making assumptions. It is about observing patterns with care and respect.

Emotional iridology can help us explore how a person holds stress, how they express themselves, how they may protect themselves, and how old emotional patterns may influence the body.

In this work, the iris may offer insight into themes such as emotional digestion, expression, sensitivity, nervous system strain, inherited family patterns, mother and father themes, masculine and feminine expression, self-protection, and the way a person may carry or suppress emotion.

For me, emotional iridology is not separate from the physical body. The body and emotions are always connected. Digestion, breathing, hormones, nerves, the heart, liver, kidneys and reproductive areas can all hold emotional meaning as well as physical function.

This is one of the main areas I teach, because it brings depth to iridology. It helps students understand the person, not just the iris.

My iridology training brings together both the physical and emotional aspects of the iris.

Students learn how to read the iris properly — not in a rushed or surface-level way, but with care, structure and responsibility.

They learn the iris zones, the collarette, constitutional patterns, digestive and bowel signs, lymphatic signs, stress rings, nerve rings, markings, colours and tissue tendencies.

They also learn how to look at the emotional meaning behind different areas of the iris in a careful way, without making assumptions or saying things that are not safe or grounded.

The aim is to teach students how to observe properly, understand patterns, ask better questions and support the whole person.

This is not about making assumptions from the eye. It is about learning to observe patterns carefully and use iridology as one part of understanding the whole person — physically, emotionally and holistically.