What Your Nails Reveal About Your Health

Hi friends. Happy SUMMER!

It's officially PITTA SEASON! Cucumber, mint, coconut, lime and tons of herbs should be making an appearance on your plate and in your diet right now :) Today, I'm delving a bit deeper into explaining to you the importance of nail diagnosis. When you come in for an Ayurvedic consultation with me, you will be asked to stick out your tongue and also to show me your nails. This is because these two places are key maps to the current state of your health and offer the practitioner a very accurate read on what's going on with you. It's also a great way to validate your dosha constitution and tells me what I may suspect is going on systemically from your description of symptoms. Areas of imbalance that can be seen through nail analysis include:

• Bone health

• Malabsorption

• Lung issues

• Heart issues

• Metabolic conditions

• Inflammation

• Parasites

• Psoriasis and other skin disorders

• Autoimmune conditions such as Lupus (SLE) and alopecia

• Thyroid issues (hypo or hyper)

• Digestive issues

• GI tract issues

• Liver issues

• Vata, Pitta or Kapha disorder

• Vata, Pitta, or Kapha constitution (not by itself, but used as a helpful indicator)

Here are some of the common nails I see. I hope you'll find this interesting and useful.

Vertical lines or grooves.

This indicates malabsorption of nutrients. The deeper the lines the stronger the deficiency. This could be the result of poor digestion, inflammation in the GI tract or other reasons. A deeper look into the person's symptomology is necessary to determine the root cause.

Red, puffy cuticles

Indicate parasitic infection or another infection in the system. This could be caused by traveling to a developing country, improper hand washing or even from playing with pets. A less common cause is from lupus or other connective tissue disorders.

No Moons

The absence of moons (lunula) on the nails represents low digestive strength which causes poor metabolism. This can lead to a build up of toxins in the body. This can weaken digestion and is the root cause of many illnesses. Remedy this right away! Don't worry, It's not difficult to fix when you learn what to do.

White spots on nails

If you find you have one spot here or there that goes away, it's most likely due to a trauma to the nail and nothing to worry about. When you have recurring spots on multiple nails its a good sign that you are nutrient deficient or not absorbing calcium, zinc or magnesium. CAUTION: Don't start supplementing until you know for sure that your digestion is working well. This is most often easily fixed by proper diet and timing of meals.

Good health!

A sign of good health is a strong pink moon (lunula) on all fingers, (the thumb is easiest to see) along with strong, smooth and pinkish nails. Very pale nails could indicate anemia. Try pressing on the nail to see how fast the color comes back. If it takes a moment or doesn't gain pinkness, you might have low iron and should consider getting tested.

Look how much you can learn just by a quick peek of your nails.

For those who get manicures regularly, you may have other nail issues presenting due to polishes, removers, and techniques due to the process. Periodically, go without a mani to allow your nails to heal and to check on your health.

Properly digesting your food is the very first and most important thing you can do for good health. Eliminating easily everyday and timing your meals appropriating can make a HUGE impact on your health.

Have a great week!

Julie