- Palm reading has roots in ancient India as well as Rome. Palm reading eventually became popular in China, Egypt, Persia, and Tibet, and some time after 3,000 B.C., the practice spread to Greece. Modern palm readers generally use a combination of palm reading methods, and these are a reflection of their training and personal beliefs. Techniques will vary from one palm reader to the next; however, all palm readers use chiromancy.
- Palm readers analyze the lines in the hands and use these lines to first analyze a person's character, and then to predict the future. People visit palm readers in hopes of learning more about future relationships, health and money. Palm reading is not supported by science or research, but instead functions as a pseudoscience.
- Palm readers are also referred to as hand readers, chirologists, hand analysts, palmists and fortune tellers. Some palm readers take various characteristics of the hand into consideration, such as the color, shape, and texture of the skin. A palm reader may also take into account the fingernails and knuckles; this is dependent upon how they were trained as well as their own personal beliefs about which features reveal information about an individual. Palm reading styles also vary depending on the cultural background of the palm reader.
- Some aspects of palm reading are controversial, such as the life line. Modern day palmists do not necessarily believe in the validity of a life line, but use other information gathered by a reading to help forecast a person's future. Information about palm readers that should be taken in to consideration are the reading style, amount of information that can be learned in one reading, and where the palm reader was trained. Many palm readers hold certifications from organizations like the International Institute of Hand Analysis, which is well respected and very popular.
- Palm reading has been around for thousands of years, however modern science has not verified any information about the accuracy of this pseudoscience. Many palm reading enthusiasts and researchers tout that palm reading can predict or diagnose diseases and conditions, such as autism. Some conditions can only be diagnosed by a physician, so be aware of this aspect of palm reading and those who advertise this ability.
