Summary

Brittle and pale nails that are spoon-shaped or have ridges down their length signifies anemia; thick distorted nails can signify a fungal condition or arterial sclerosis; clubbed fingernails can signify circulation problems; white spots can signify vitamin or mineral deficiencies; brittle nails that separate easily from the nail bed, when coupled with dry skin, hair loss, or chills, could indicate a thyroid problem; excessively flexible nails could signify a calcium or protein deficiency; splinters that don't hurt might signify subacute bacterial endocarditis, a serious condition; bluish nails suggests insufficient oxygen, and when coupled with cough and shortness of breath signifies heart failure or chronic lung trouble (without cough or shortness of breath, blue nails suggest exposure to a toxic chemical); and a whitish hue at the fingernail base may signify liver trouble.

Original source:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art31078.asp

Details

• What do your fingernails tell about your health?
• Your nails are a reflection of the health and wellness of your body.
• * Pale, pale/brittle nails, spoon-shaped or with ridges down the length - can signify anemia; this lack of iron can be due to inadequate nutrition (eat more iron-rich foods such as eggs, liver, green-leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses, almonds, poultry, whole grain breads and cereals, avocados, beets, dates, lima beans, pumpkins, peaches, pears, prunes, watercress, soybeans, raisins), bleeding (menstrual, hemorrhoids or because you take aspirin), or that your bone marrow simply isn't making the right kind of blood; if changing the way you eat doesn't help, see your health care practitioner.
• *Thick, distorted fingernails - can signify a fungal condition: tea tree oil applied externally and taking probiotics (either acidophylis or bifidus capsules from your health food store) may help; the condition could also be due to a vitamin deficiency, make sure you're eating 5-10 fruits and veggies a day and take a daily multivitamin; soak fingers in a mixture of warm pacu d'arco and goldenseal tea for 15 minutes a day; avoid all foods that contain sugar or refined carbohydrates because fungi thrive on them; avoid meat, dairy products, cola drinks, grains, processed foods, and fried greasy foods; apply crushed raw garlic or honey on the nails; take two garlic (Kyolic) capsules 3 times daily with meal to neutralize fungi; take acidophilus as directed on the label to supply the friendly bacteria usually deficient if you have a fungal infection distorted fingernails could also be due to arterial sclerosis, so see your health care conditioner to rule that out.
• *Whitish hue at base of fingernails - may signify liver trouble.

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