Nails and your health

The Chinese believes that the nails, like the tongue, can give clues to a person's state of health. Commonly seen nail conditions include:

• Brittle nails: iron deficiency, thyroid problems, poor circulation
• Nails that split and fray at edges/ come off in layers: deficiency in Vitamin C, folic acid and protein
• Extremely thick nails: poor circulation

The shape and texture of your nail can also point to certain health problems, such as:

• Clubbing nails (er, not THAT type of clubbing, but nails that grow downwards with a bulge at nailbed) can imply heart/liver/lung diseases due to oxygen deprivation (most commonly caused by smoking)
• Spooning nails (don't think dirty...these are nails that curve upwards) imply an iron deficiency
• Nails that are too flat against the nail bed may mean you lack Vit B12
• Horizontal ridges on nails can mean previous trauma/ illness

Lastly, the colours and markings of your nail also determine your health, for example:

• Redness on the nail bed: heart diseases
• Yellowing of the nail: smoker or improper use of nail polish
• White patches on nail: localised injury or zinc/ calcium deficiency
• Receding half moons (lunalae): poor blood circulation, shallow breathing
• Large half moons (which cover more than 1/4 of the nail): high blood pressure