Nails a unique window into health

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In order to visit grocery shop, mom got down from the car and while

closing the door, front end of the index finger of her daughter got

crushed in the door gap. The finger, right from the base of nail got

crushed and nail too had a crack. Nearby doctor dressed the wound and

prescribed pain killers and pills to heal the wound quickly. In six

weeks or so, the wound healed, the old nail left the finger but new

nail was dry and rough. Despite doctors assurance that it will become

like old nail, no change occurred in two more months. This is where

ayurvedic consulatation began.

 

Ayurveda treats nails as young bones (Tarunasthi). The doshas or

Vikrutis developed in such bones can be treated by bitter herbs

cooked in milk or ghee, according to ayurvedic traditional texts.

 

Panchtikta Ghrutam fits this requirements quite well, with five major

bitter herbs constituting the receipe. A dose of 1-2 tsp ( 1 for

children and 2 tsp for adults) of this Ghrutam after dissolving it in

warm milk, daily morning empty stomach, will not only take care of

diseases of nails but also makes them beautiful. Apart from this

ingestion, filing the rough nail with a iron file or nail cutter

handle or a shaving blade, and then applying the paste made from cow

ghee and Tankankhar mixed well helps growth of cells. Apply this

paste twice a day. Acharya Bhavprakash notes in a shloka that if this

treatment does not normalize the nail, even a mountain can float in

water.

 

Due to ease with which these treatments can be done, the daughter in

above case could restore the shine and beauty of the nail in two

months. It was difficult to imagine if this nail had an accidental

crush in car door.

 

Infection and formation of pus under the nail will get cured and

healed by a home remedy. Take bees wax, and warm it so that it

liquifies. Remove the vessel from stove and let cool. When it

sufficiently solidifies and remains warm enough not to cause burns,

apply it as a paste on nail, and apply cotton tape dressing so that

the wax is well supported. In a few days the pus formation will

vanish and so will pain. To expedite the cure, one tablet each of

Laghu Vasant Malati and Laghu Manjistha, thrice a day with water will

help. Laghu Vasant Malati has been discussed by this author in a old

post on children fevers. Both medicines together balance the

vitiation of Vata and Pitta. The Pus and swelling reduce quickly and

this restores the nail to original shine.

 

Blackish Nails

 

A slow but important disease of nails blackens them or black-bluish

color develops under tha nail. The reason for this situation is

rupture of small blood vessels under the nails and local blood drying

as a result. Rupture of blood vessels is caused by Pitta unbalance,

reduced platellates. Avoid hot, spicy, chillies, fried items and take

only simple rice, dhal, khitchri, Chapati, Bhakari etc.

 

Goat Milk is the best remedy for this condition. Due to bitter herbs

eaten by Goat, her milk contains medicines which ayurveda terms Rakta

Shodhakas. 1-2 Glasses per day is minimum dose. It increases

platellates, strengthens blood vessels and reduces Pitta. Mixture of

Aamalaki powder and crystal sugar powder 1 tsp each (adult dose,

children dose halved) to be taken with a little water morning and

evening. If fresh amalaki fruit available, take out juice of 2 amala

fruits, mix in 2 tsp honey and take instead of powder and sugar. This

too is adult dose. Children dose to be halved.

 

Crushing of nails and blackening of nails are two major conditions

when a patient visits an ayurvedist. But apart from this, nails are

windows to our health. Their color and texture can indicate a wide

ranging diseases. Author discusses these so that one may be able to

judge that something is wrong, much earlier than dignostic tests may

indicate later. Vaidyas can detect lack of health even in absence of

discomfort or pain for patient. Advantage of using nails in the

diagnosis are that they are easily available for examination. The

conclusions from nail observation may be used to confirm the

indications given by symptoms or Pulse check. Notice subtle

variations in the texture or color - a touch of white here, a rosy

tinge there, perhaps some rippling or bumps in the surface. These

imperfections may not look like much, but to the trained eye they can

provide valuable clues about overall health. Just as eyes are the

window to the soul, so are the nails to health. A bluish tinge in the

color of the nails indicates lack of adequate oxygen in the blood.

Check the lungs and heart. There could be fluid in the lungs, hole in

the heart muscle or improper closing of the aeortic valve. Changes in

the nails can be a sign of local disease like a fungus infection or a

major disease like anemia (Panduroga). Pale, whitish nails suggest

low haemoglobin or R.B.C. count. Yellowish color will indicate

Jaundice(Kamla). Panduroga can cause nail beds to be thin, concave

and may have raised ridges. In one out of ten patients of Psoriasis,

the first symptom will be evident on nails: splitting, pitting of

nail bed. Blackening of the nail will slowly follow as disease

advances. Persistent nail biting or picking points to some mental

disorder. Dry, brittle nails that crack and split easily show reduced

function of glands, especially thyroid. The reducing hormones as a

result of tired ovaries may be seen in the drying nails of the feet,

especially thumb nail. IF thumb is held in two fingures, the dryness

will be evident. A modern science friend of this author has some more

suggestions.

 

1. Whitish nails point to Liver diseases, such as hepatitis.

2. Yellowish, thickened, slow-growing nails suggest possibility

of Lung diseases, such as emphysema3.

3. If yellowish nails with a slight blush at the base, get your blood

sugar checked, Diabetes is a good guess.

4. Half white, half pink nails suggest underfunctioning kidney.

5. Red nail beds suggest heart disease.

6. Pitting or rippling of the nail surface indicate spossibility

of Psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis.

7. "Clubbing," a painless increase in tissue around the ends of

the fingers, or inversion of the nail is a pointer to lung disease.

8. Dark lines beneath the nails are a indicator of possible

melanoma.

 

It is better to use nail changes as supportive to diagnosis. In most

instances, patients will manifest other signs or symptoms of disease

before nail changes become evident. For example, it would be unusual

that nail clubbing was the first thing a patient with emphysema

noticed. Breathing difficulty probably would have been present

already. Do not rush to a doctor if your nail beds turn red. It

could very well be from nail polish. First investigate if there is

any other cause and then take appropriate action. Reddish tinge also

results if estrogen is in excess around perimenopause. Flushing of

the face will support such guess.

 

Many common nail disorders stem from fungal infections, which can

cause the nails to crack, peel, and change color and texture. These

infections often prove difficult to treat in modern science. Ayurveda

will prove a better approach, with the possibilities suggested in the

beginning of this post.

 

Changes in texture, shape, or color that aren't due to a bruise or

fungal infection, including irregular growth, pitting or holes in the

nails, dark brown streaks beneath the nail and cuticle, or long-

standing warts on the nail bed are particular concerns.

 

To strengthen your nails, avoid infections, and improve their

appearance, try the following tips:

· Keep your nails clean and dry.

· Avoid nail-biting or picking.

· File your nails in one direction and round the tip slightly,

rather than filing to a point.

· Don't remove the cuticles or clean too deeply under your

nails, which can lead to infection.

· Avoid nail polish as well as removers that contain acetone or

formaldehyde.

· Close the fists and lightly rub the corresponding nails of

the opposite hands on each other, very lightly, about 20 strokes once

a day. This is known to darken hair also.

· When you oil your hair, a little oil can be applied to nails

also and rub with palm, so that nails shine. Drink adequate water.

Drying of the nails, vertical lines on nails indicate Vata unbalance.

· The whitish moons at the base of the nails indicate storage

of dhatus, especially in young adults. This is a healthy sign, do not

rush to doctor. On the other hand, small whitish spots point to

indigestion, improper elimination etc.

· Consulting a nearby Vaidya is the last but most important

tip. The info hiven here is for patient education rather than self

diagnosis or medication.

 

Dr Bhate