| The New Age movement has many questionable | | | | massaging various plant oils into the skin or inhaling |
| healing techniques that can hurt your wallet and | | | | their odors can heal disease. This theory was |
| potentially endanger your life. Below is a rundown | | | | developed in the 1920s by French chemist Rene |
| of these unproven therapies which you should | | | | Maurice Gattefosse whose badly burned hand |
| avoid: | | | | supposedly healed better after he plunged it into a |
| Iridology operates on the blind premise that | | | | jar of lavender oil. |
| diseases in the body are manifested in the iris | | | | Aromatherapists use a variety of essential oils to |
| (pupil) of the eye. Abnormal spots, lines and | | | | treat several conditions. Geranium, for instance, is |
| colors, we are told, reflect disturbances in the | | | | used for diarrhea, stomach ulcers and menopausal |
| body which iridologists can supposedly detect and | | | | problems. Chamomile is prescribed for heavy |
| treat with vitamins, minerals, herbs and other | | | | menstrual flow, anger and irritability; peppermint is |
| products. | | | | given to improve memory, treat nausea and |
| While the eyes do reflect certain illnesses like | | | | flatulence; while juniper can supposedly relieve |
| tuberculosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis and drug | | | | menstrual cramps and is used for cystitis and |
| addiction, they do not always exhibit changes | | | | urinary infections. |
| when a person has these disorders. Nor do | | | | While there is no denying the fact that a good |
| specific body parts correspond to certain | | | | massage can reduce tension and temporarily |
| segments of the iris as iridologists claim. | | | | relieve minor aches and pains, there is no hard |
| Three iridologists, including Dr. Bernard Jensen, a | | | | evidence that aromatherapy can cure disease. |
| chiropractor and one of the leading figures in the | | | | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the |
| field, who all claimed they could assess the kidney | | | | oils used by aromatherapisis are rightfully classified |
| function of 143 patients, flunked in a well | | | | as flavorings or cosmetics -- not drugs. As such, |
| controlled study conducted by researchers at the | | | | they have no healing properties. |
| University of California and Veterans' Medical | | | | Some quacks have gone as far to suggest that |
| Center in San Diego. | | | | the oils can be taken internally for their |
| The results of the study published in the Journal | | | | therapeutic effects. This is dangerous since |
| of the American Medical Association, showed that | | | | severe allergic reactions to the oils have been |
| the iridologists were no more accurate in | | | | reported even with external use. |
| assessing kidney function than a fortune teller. | | | | "Some oils are poisonous except in the smallest |
| Those with severe kidney disease were judged | | | | amounts. Pennyroyal is one of several oils that |
| as fine, while those who were well were told that | | | | can cause miscarriages. Marjoram can be |
| they were sick! | | | | stupefying in high dosage. An overdose of saffron |
| To save face, the iridologists said that the test | | | | can trigger convulsions, delirium and even death," |
| was unfairly conducted in spite of the fact that | | | | warned Kristine Gottschalk Olsen in "The |
| the camera used to examine the patients' irises | | | | Encyclopedia of Alternative Health Care." |
| belonged to one of them, and they were given | | | | Taken internally, juniper can cause hallucinations |
| the option to discard slides which didn't help them | | | | and irritate the digestive tract; peppermint can |
| in their diagnoses. | | | | trigger insomnia while chamomile can cause |
| "If iridologists believe that they can ascertain | | | | nausea and vomiting. |
| disease and are in reality unable to do so, it casts | | | | My advice: If you're fond of flowers and their |
| serious doubts on their modality, suggesting that | | | | fragrances, it's best to use them to decorate |
| iridology is a practice without scientific merit," said | | | | your home. Using essential oils to treat physical |
| Dr. Jack Yetiv, a noted physician and | | | | ailments best reserved for a doctor doesn't make |
| pharmacologist, in "Popular Nutritional Practices: | | | | scents - err -- sense. (Next: Will crystals rock |
| Sense and Nonsense." | | | | your world? |
| Aromatherapy is based on the absurd notion that | | | | |