Listen to What Your Nails Tell You

Think twice the next time you are tempted to scoff at an alarmed individual who breaks a nail. The event may signal much more than the need for another manicure. Unhealthy and readily breakable nails indicate a variety of health compromising conditions including chronic bronchitis, thyroid disorders, and vitamin and mineral imbalances (Editors of Rodale Health Books Healing With Vitamins).

Read on for a list of nail abnormalities and the different diseases and/or disorders associated with them.

____________STRUCTURAL NAIL ABNORMALITIES____________

BRITTLE NAILS

• Chronic Hepatitis (2)
• Fungal Infection (17)
• Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism (2, 4, 8)
• Kidney Disorders (18)
• Low Stomach Acid (13)
• Malnutrition (2)
• Omega 3 Oil Deficiency (14, 18)
• Poor Circulation (18)
• Vitamin A Toxicity (12)

BUMPY/BEADING NAILS {picture}

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (1)

CLUBBING/CURLED NAILS AROUND FINGER

• Abnormal Heart Anatomy (4, 8, 24)
• Cancer (3, 4, 8, 24)
• Cardiovascular Disease (3, 5)
• Chronic Bronchitis (24)
• Fistulas (24)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (5, 24)
• Liver Disease (5, 24)
• Lung Disease: Asbestosis, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Tuberculosis (3, 4, 5, 8, 22, 24)

FLAT NAILS {picture}

• Raynaud's Disease (1)

HORIZONTAL DEPRESSIONS (BEAU'S LINES) {picture}

• Autoimmune Disease: Pemphigus (24)
• Cardiac Problems (15)
• Circulatory Disease: Raynaud's Disease (5, 24)
• Malnutrition (4, 5, 8)
• Severe Illness: Measles, Mumps, Pneumonia, Scarlet fever (2, 4, 5, 8)
• Uncontrolled Diabetes (5)

HORIZONTAL RIDGES {picture}

• Arsenic Poisoning (4, 8)

NAIL PITTING/DEPRESSIONS {picture}

• Autoimmune Disease: Alopecia Areata, Reiter's Syndrome (5, 24)
• Chronic Dermatitis: Ichen Planus, Incontinentia Pigmenti, Psoriasis (4, 5, 8, 21, 24)

SEPARATION NAIL FROM NAIL BED (ONYCHOLYSIS)

• Acidosis (24)
• Amyloidosis (24)
• Connective Tissue Disorders (24)
• Hyperthyroidism (2, 4, 8, 24)
• Hypothyroidism (2,4,8)
• Inflammatory disease: Lichen Planus, Psoriasis (5, 8, 20, 24)
• Infection (5, 24)
• Thyroid Disease (5)

SPOON SHAPED/CONCAVE NAILS (KOILONYCHIA) {picture}

• Hemochromatoisis (19)
• Iron Deficiency Anemia (1, 3, 4, 5)
• Nail Patella Syndrome (24)
• Raynaud’s Disease (24)
• System Lupus Erythematosus (24)

VERTICAL RIDGES {picture}

• Iron deficiency (1, 18)
• Poor digestion and absorption of food (10, 18)
• Poor protein metabolism (18)

____________NAIL COLORATION ABNORMALITIES____________

BLACK/BLACKISH BLUE NAILS {picture}

• Malignant Melanoma (9)

BLUE NAILS (AZURE LUNULA) {picture}

• Silver Intake (4, 8)
• Wilson’s Disease (24)

GREEN NAILS {picture}

• Bacterial Infection (1, 16)
• Fungal Infection (1)
• Lactobacilli Deficiency (1)

HALF WHITE/HALF PINK NAILS (LINDSAY'S NAILS) {picture}

• Chronic Kidney Disease (1)

RED/REDDISH BROWN STREAKS IN NAIL BED (SPLINTER HEMORRHAGES)

• Antiphospholipid Syndrome (24)
• Heart Valve Infection (4)
• Malignancies (24)
• Microemboli (7)
• Peptic Ulcer Disease (24)
• Psoriasis (3)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (24)
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (24)
• Vessel Damage (7)

WHITE NAILS WITH BROWN BAND AT TIPS (TERRY'S NAILS) {picture}

• Cogenitive Heart Failure (5)
• Diabetes (5)
• Hyperthyroidism (24)
• Liver Disease (3, 5)
• Malnutrition (5)

WHITE SPOTS (LEUKONYCHIA)

• Low Thyroid Function (3)
• Pyroluria (23)
• Zinc Deficiency (1, 3)

WIDE SQUARE NAILS

• Hormonal Disorders (1, 16)
• Thyroid Disease (3)

YELLOW NAILS {picture}

• AIDS (25)
• Chronic Bronchitis (5)
• Immunodeficiency (24)
• Jaundice (25)
• Lymphedema (5)
• Nephrotic Syndrome (24)
• Raynaud’s Disease (24)
• Respiratory Illness (3, 5)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (24)
• Sinusitis (24)
• Thyroid Gland Inflammation (24)

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Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food

Supplements

2. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC,

Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies

3. Joseph E. Mario,

Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural

Health

4. Medline Plus accessed at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003247.htm

5. Mayo Clinic accessed at

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nails/WO00055

6. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology accessed at

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/onycholysis.html

7. Medline Plus accessed at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003283.htm

8. University of Maryland Medical System accessed at

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003247.htm

9. Medline Plus accessed at

http://m.medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/2439.htm

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The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body

11. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC,

Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal

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Naturopathic Nutrition: A Guide to Nutrient-rich Food & Nutritional Supplements for Optimum Health

13. Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH,

Naturopathic Nutrition: A Guide to Nutrient-rich Food & Nutritional Supplements for Optimum Health

14. Sidney MacDonald Baker, Karen Baar,

The Circadian Prescription: Get in Step with Your Body's Natural Rhythms to Maximize Energy, Vitality, Longevity

15. Sydney Walker III, M.D.,

A Dose of Sanity: Mind, Medicine, and Misdiagnosis

16. Larry Trivieri, Jr.

Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition

17. Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.,

Earl Mindell's Secret Remedies

18. Larry Trivieri, Jr.,

Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition

19. Marshall Editions,

1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses

20. Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph. D., and Jacqueline Nardi Egan,

Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms...How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective

21. Dermatlas.org accessed at

http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/result.cfm?Diagnosis=-946037564

22. Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph. D., and Jacqueline Nardi Egan,

Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms...How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective

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Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging

24. American Family Physician accessed at

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0315/p1417.html

25. Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph. D., and Jacqueline Nardi Egan,

Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms...How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective