Ayurveda suggests paying attention to clues from our body to create a life of physical, mental, and emotional balance. One such clue can be found in the appearance of our nails. Ayurveda views fingernails as the waste product of bones or Ashti Dhatu in Sanskrit. The formation of bone begins with nutrient consumption, building cells, forming tissues, organs, and systems in the body. Any unusable tissues for bone formation are expelled through hair and fingernails, making them an indicator of the body's condition. Fingernail health can often linked to an imbalance in the doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Those with a vata constitution tend to have brittle, dry, dark, crooked, and rough fingernails, while those with a pitta constitution have soft, pink, tender, and pliable nails with a sheen. Individuals with a kapha constitution have thick and durable, soft-textured nails with a uniform shape. Healthy circulation and pranic flow are indicated by large moons or lunula present at the nail bed base, indicating a healthy digestive fire or agni. The absence of lunula suggests compromised digestion, poor metabolism, and potential toxin buildup in the system, according to Ayurveda. Pale nails may indicate anemia, while bluish nails may indicate poor oxygen absorption or a heart condition. Yellow nails may signify poor liver function or the presence of liver toxins, while red dots or excessive redness may indicate an excess of red blood cells. By observing their color, texture, and shape, we can gain important insights into our health.<\/p>\n
Below are some nail abnormalities due to dosha vitation:<\/p>\n
Vata Vitiation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n 1. Bluish-Purple Nails<\/span>: Fingernails that appear to have a blue-purple hue may indicate a lack of oxygen in the body system, potentially causing hypoxia or cyanosis (oxygen-deficient tissues). This may be due to derangement of vata, which consists of air and ether, or a pulmonary infection such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, or emphysema. To rebalance vata, consider incorporating a balancing practice like pranayama or yoga into your daily routine and engaging in calming activities like self-massage or drinking warm ginger tea.<\/p>\n Pitta Vitiation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n 1. Red and Puffy Nail Fold<\/span>: A red, puffy border along the nail fold is typically a sign of parasites or infection in the system. Parasites are prevalent in many individuals and have multiple causes. A less common cause of the red nail fold can be through Lupus or another connective tissue disorder. To balance heat, incorporate cooling and soothing flavors, colors, and activities into daily practice, and avoid skipping meals and consuming hot, sour, or bitter flavors.<\/p>\n Kapha Vitiation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n 1. \u201cParrot\u201d Nails<\/span>: Fingernails that grow into a parrot beak shape with a hooked and pointed tip may suggest the possibility of a chronic cough. In addition, a bump at the end of the fingernail could indicate a disturbance in kapha, which may signal a chronic lung infection.<\/p>\n As kapha is characterized by the elements of water and earth, restoring balance to this dosha may involve maintaining an active lifestyle and following a regular, invigorating routine.<\/p>\n Combination of the Doshas in Nails<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. White Spots<\/span>: White spots on nails are very common among a large number of individuals. However, if this is just a one-time occurrence, it may just be due to trauma to that part of the nail. Often, however, this is seen on more than one nail and is a recurring issue. If so, this simply means that there is a calcium, zinc, and\/or magnesium deficiency in the body. This may be due to a poor diet or could be the result of malabsorption. Once this issue is removed, the white spots should stop appearing after the nail has grown out. Paying attention to the clues offered by our nails can help us take proactive steps towards maintaining our health and wellbeing. Consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner can be helpful in understanding the possible underlying dysfunctions in the body that may be related to nail abnormalities. Such a practitioner can provide guidance on the appropriate treatment options, which may include dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies, and other natural therapies. It is always advisable to seek professional help from a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for a comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment plan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ayurveda suggests paying attention to clues from our body to create a life of physical, mental, and emotional balance. One such clue can be found in the appearance of our nails. Ayurveda views fingernails as the waste product of bones or Ashti Dhatu in Sanskrit. The formation of bone begins with nutrient consumption, building cells, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1294"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1294"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1297,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1294\/revisions\/1297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/susamaayurveda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n2. Clubbed Nails<\/span>: Although rare, clubbed nails resemble a club's form by overgrowing the tip of the finger and indicate a frail heart and lungs. Poor circulation of prana, the life force, causes clubbed nails, indicating that body tissues lack oxygen.
\n3. Nail Biting<\/span>: Excessive Vata in the body can be indicated by nail biting, which is a common symptom of high anxiety, worry, or fear. This habit can either be chronic or acute, and those with this habit often do it unconsciously, resulting in nails that don't grow beyond the nail bed.<\/p>\n
\n2. Horizontal Lines or Grooves<\/span>: According to Ayurveda, a deep line that runs horizontally to the nail is an indication of a strong illness, infection, or depletion that occurred during the time that specific part of the nail was growing. It can also mean an issue of metabolism, showing vitiated digestion at the time of growth. If there are multiple horizontal lines on the nail, this indicates a recurring issue and most likely shows a chronic condition (whether metabolic, infection, depletion, etc.). In some cases, these multiple lines can relate to the involvement of an under-active thyroid.
\n3. Pitting of the Nails<\/span>: Pitting of the nails, which appears as small holes in the nails, may indicate inflammatory skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis, or connective tissue disorders like alopecia or lupus. This condition suggests increased or aggravated pitta within the body system.<\/p>\n
\n2. Longitudinal Lines<\/span>: Longitudinal lines or ridges in the fingernails suggest malabsorption of nutrients in the body. The deeper or more prominent the lines, the more severe the deficiency. This texture indicates primarily vata imbalance, although derangement, inflammation, or toxins in the gastrointestinal tract may mean that pitta or kapha is disturbed.
\n3. Yellow nails<\/span>: Yellowish fingernails suggest the presence of a fungal infection, which can affect one nail or many. It can be more common during old age, and may also be a result of genetic predispositions to liver disorders or tuberculosis, weakened immunity, lung infection, toxins in the body, or side effects of medication.
\n4. Pale Nails<\/span>: Pale nails indicate a decrease in red blood cells in the body or anemia, which may be caused by an iron, folate, or vitamin B12 deficiency, excessive bleeding from menstruation or an injury, chronic diseases, or other autoimmune conditions. In extreme cases, spoon nails (Koilonychia) that appear concave in the center of the nail may result, so it is best to address pale nails at the first signs.<\/p>\n