Multi-Perspective Palm Reading is a new type of hand reading that is rising from a detailed review of scientific reports about the use of the hand as a diagnostic instrument (or a tool to study the etiology of various types of disorders & diseases). In Multi-Perspective Palm Reading is the hand studied from 7 different perspectives in order to make an assessment for various specified themes, with the purpose to present a confirming (or prognostic) 'hand-diagnosis'.

During the 20th and 21th century the (academic) scientific community has produced literally tousands of reports that illustrate how the hand can be used as a (potential) 'diagnostic tool' (though it's significance varies with the purpose).

Multi-Perspective Palm Reading was designed in 2011 as new diagnostic-concept with the purpose to present guidelines serving the purpose to make a (reliable) hand-diagnosis for specific themes.

In 2013 a new tool is presented: the 'Multi-Perspective Palm Reading assessment chart', which can be used to make an assessment (for an individual or a specified group of people) based 36 key-hand features in the 7 major hand dimensions (perspectives). The picture below presents an overview of the most common variations among the general population.

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- WHY STUDY HANDS? -

Aristotle.

In the old days, philosophers had started pondering about the design and purpose of the human hand. A classic example was the debate between the Greek philosophers Aristotle and Pline, who debated the cause-and-effect relationship in the hand's development and the emergence of the superior human intellect. Aristotle e.g. said: "The Hand is the Organ of the Organs"

Later, in fields of medical science the hand became recognized as representing the most differentiated external part of the body. Scottish anatomist, neurologist and philosophical theologian Sir Charles Bell described the hand in his 'The hand: its mechanism and vital endowments as evincing design' (1837) as: "The Hand is essentially the Organ of the Mind"

Sir Charles Bell.

Carl Gustav Jung.

Early in the 20th century psychotherapist & psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung described the potential for the human hand in the fields of psychology & psychiatry; quoted from the preface of 'The Hands of Children' (Julius Spier, 1944): "Chirology [hand reading] is an art which dates back to very ancient times. The ancient physician never hesitated to make use of such auxiliary systems as chiromancy and astrology for diagnostic and prognostic purposes as is shown, for instance, by the book of Dr. Goclenius who lived at the end of the sixteenth century. … The totality-conception of modern biology which is based on the evidence of a host of observations and research does not exclude the possibility that hands, whose shape and functioning are so intimately connected with the psyche, might provide revealing and therefore, interpretable expressions of psychical peculiarity, that is, of the human character. ..."

In the 21 century the work of Prof. John T. Manning (psychologist) on the 2D:4D finger ratio attracted attention from popular media & the scientific community. Manning writes in his 2nd book, titled 'The Finger Book' (2008): "In this book I take a tiny sex difference in the fingers - men's tendency to have longer ring fingers relative to their index fingers than women - and use this 'finger ratio' to explain many puzzles about human behaviour and predisposition to disease."

Prof. John T. Manning, who became a.k.a. 'the finger Professor'.

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- COMMON HAND CHARACTERISTICS -


In Multi-Perspective Palm Reading the concept of a 'phantom picture' (see above) and the Assessment Chart (see below) are being used to describe visually the typical hand characteristics in a specific population.

The picture above describes some of the most common hand features (dermatoglyphics + major palmar creases for the palm and the fingers), plus some hand anthropometry data based on the European population. And the picture below presents an overview for 36 key-features of the hand. The section

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- THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MULTI-PERSPECTIVE PALM READING! -

Fingernail clubbing, a.k.a. 'Hippocrates nails'.

Various milestone-developments have preceeded the concept of Multi-Perspective Palm Reading: Since the early days of the Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC) - who first described digital clubbing in patients with empyema, the fingernails have been known as hand features that display significant clues for health related changes inside the body.

But the next milestone-discovery took until 1906, when physician R.L. Down described the link between the so-called simian crease/simian line [single palmar crease] and Down syndrome [trimsomy 21]. However, later studies revealed that the simian line also is linked with many other syndromes and disorders. And thus it became appearant that the simian line in isolation can not serve as reliable a marker for any syndrome in specific, unless it is found in combination with other MPA's or markers (associated with a specific syndrome/disorder).

Likewise discoveries were made regarding certain dermatoglyphic variations (e.g. the fingerprints), which also became known as valuable diagnostic tool for various syndromes. And it took until the 60's (soon after the genetic cause of Down syndrome was discovered) until Lionel S. Penrose was able to present the very first so-called 'phantom picture' for the hand in Down syndrome (see picture on the right). Later likewise 'phantom picture' were developed for the hand in other syndromes and disorders, including: e.g. Fragile-X syndrome, Turner Syndrome & Klinefelter syndrome - which are known to represent the most common genetic disorders (Down syndrome also belongs to this group).

Penrose's phantom picture for the hand in Down syndrome (1963).

And the first decade of the 21th century Professor John Manning's '

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- THE PURPOSE OF 'MULTI-PERSPECTIVE PALM READING'! -

The purpose of this new type of palm reading is to use the hand as a 'diagnostic tool', in order to study & assess worrisome or ambigue signs that may be manifest in a person's behavior- and/or health. Multi-Perspective Palm Reading can serve for (educated) health professionals as a solid diagnostic tool for exploring the possible causes of these signs.

The purpose of hand reading.

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- WHO CAN USE 'MULTI-PERSPECTIVE PALM READING'? -
This advanced type of palm reading is developed & designed for (educated) health professionals who have adopted the hand as a 'diagnostic tool' among their assessments methods.

The professionals may include: psychologists, doctors, alternative therapists & other professional health care workers.

And of course: Multi-Perspective Palm Reading can serve very well as a solid COMPLEMENTARY TOOL for any (educated) palm reader / palmist / hand analyst.

Because this new advanced type of hand reading is not biased by any cultural perspective - illustrated by the fact that it is focussed on themes that relate to:

(1) well defined syndromes & diseases;
(2) psychobiological themes that are nearly all featured in the 'DSM IV diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders' (which was designed to be adopted in all cultures and regions in the world).

The DSM-IV diagnostic manual.

Interestingly, the DSM IV diagnostic system already presents 7 examples in the perspective of seven different mental disorders, which describe how hands can play a role in the diagnosis of various mental states AND mental disorders. NOTICE: The 'universal guidelines' presented by DSM IV were observed & confirmed by educated professionals around the world, who are not associated with the field of hand reading at all! ...more

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- 8 'MULTI-PERSPECTIVE' PALM READING THEMES! -
So far, Multi-Perspective Palm Reading includes 8 specified THEMES. And in each of these THEMES all guidelines for the hand are related to literally dozens of scientific studies reported by academic sources.

The concept of the 7 perspectives has already been applied on 8 specific themes, including: 3 syndromes (Down syndrome, fragile-X syndrome & Marfan syndrome), 2 diseases (diabetes mellitus - type 2, psoriasis & rheumatoid arthritis), and 2 psychology related themes (the Big Five personality dimension Extraversion & schizophrenia).

Multi-Perspective Palm Reading Themes.

But many themes will follow, including: e.g. autism, cancer, congenital heart diseases, depression, intelligence, handedness, hyperactivity, neuroticism, and sexe differences.

More themes will be introduced later, visit the ...