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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: NAIL PROBLEMS
Description: The finger and toenails are hard platelike structures designed to protect the tips of the fingers and toes, areas that are full of nerve endings and more vulnerable than many other parts of the body to injury and pain. Nails are a substructure of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and are composed mainly of keratin, a type of protein. The nail bed is the skin on top of which the nails grow. Nails grow from 0.05 to 1.2 millimeters (approximately 1/500 to 1/20 inch) a week. If a nail is lost, it takes about seven months to grow out fully. There are a variety of different problems that can affect the nails; there are also other health problems, including hearts disease, respiratory problems, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies that can cause telltale changes in the nails.
Symptoms: The nails can reveal a great deal about the body’s internal health.
 | Thickened and curved nails most often affect the big toe of elderly people and may signify poor circulation or a vascular system that is beginning to degenerate, or thyroid disease. |
| Pitting may signify alopecia areata (hair loss or tendency toward hair loss during stress) or anemia. |
| Pitting together with separation of the nail from its normal attachment to the nail bed may be seen in psoriasis. |
| Brittle, ridged, and curved nails may be seen in anemia secondary to iron deficiency. |
| Brittle nails may be seen in thyroid problems, iron deficiency, kidney disorders, and/or poor circulation, or be a symptom of an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. |
| Vertical lines in nails may suggest poor nutrient absorption, iron deficiency, or decreased general health or poor protein metabolism. |
| Horizontal lines may occur with severe stress on the body, either emotionally, from disease and/or infection. |
| Flat nails may suggest poor circulation from Raynaud’s disease. |
| Nail beading (bumps) may suggest arthritis. |
| Nails that chip, crack, peel and break suggest poor mineral levels often secondary to low digestive enzymes or food allergies. |
| Red skin around the cuticles may suggest poor essential fatty acid metabolism, cuticle biting and nervousness, or connective tissue disorders, such as lupus. |
| Nails that appear thin and brassy in color, often ridged, suggest tendency to lose hair. |
| Nails that are very square and wide may suggest tendency toward hormonal disorders. |
| Black splinter-like marks under the nail bed may come from bleeding disorders or heart disease. |
| Greenish color may indicate bacterial disease. |
| Whitish color nails may suggest anemia or kidney disorders. |
| Whitish nails with pink color near the tips may suggest liver disease such as cirrhosis. |
| Yellowish color or elevation of the ends of the nails may suggest bronchial, lung, or lymphatic disease, or may be secondary to continual nail polish wear or nicotine staining from smoking. |
| Bluish color may be iron deficiency, heart, or respiratory disease or heavy metal poisoning. |
| Darkening of the overall nail bed may suggest vitamin B2 deficiency. |
| White spots on nails may signify zinc deficiency. |
Incidence:
Causes: Unless due to localized trauma (usually crushing or pressure), fungus (often associated with acrylic nails for cosmetic purposes), or bacterial (tinea and candidiasis) nail changes are usually signs of metabolic and nutritional changes within the body.
Treatments: The following table lists supplements that promote healthy nail growth.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Free-form amino acid complex plus extra L-cysteine and L-methionine |
As directed on label, on an empty stomach. Take with water or juice, not with milk. |
The building materials for new nails. Also supplies sulfur, which is necessary for skin and nail growth. |
|
Silica or horsetail or oat straw |
As directed on label. |
Supplies silicon, needed for hair, bones and strong nails. See under Herbs, below. |
|
Vitamin A |
25,000 IU daily. If you are pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 IU daily. |
The body cannot utilize protein without vitamin A. |
Herbs:
| Alfalfa, black cohosh, burdock root, dandelion, gotu kola and yellow dock are rich in minerals, including silica and zinc, as well as B vitamins, all of which strengthen the nails. Horsetail and oat straw also are good sources of silica. |
| Borage seed, flaxseed, lemongrass, parsley, primrose, pumpkin seed, and sage are all good sources of essential fatty acids, which nourish the nails. Caution: Do not use sage if you suffer from any kind of seizure disorder. |
| Butcher’s broom, chamomile, ginkgo biloba, rosemary, and turmeric are good for circulation, which nourishes the nails. |
Recommendations:
| For healthy nails, be sure to get plenty of quality protein and take a protein supplement. Eat grains, legumes, oatmeal, nuts and seeds. Eggs also are a good source of protein, as long as your blood cholesterol levels are not too high. |
| Fresh carrot juice is excellent for strengthening the nails. It is high in calcium and phosphorus. |
| Eat a diet composed of 50 percent fresh fruits and raw vegetables to supply necessary vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Eat foods that are rich in sulfur and silicon, such as broccoli, fish, onion, and sea vegetables. Also include in the diet foods that are high in biotin, such as brewer’s yeast, soy flour, and whole grains. |
| Drink plenty of quality water and other liquids. Cuts and cracks in the nails may indicate a need for more liquids. |
| Excessive consumption of citrus fruits, salt and vinegar can result in a protein/calcium imbalance that may adversely affect the health of the nails. |
| For splitting nails and/or hangnails, take 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast or wheat germ oil daily. |
| Supplement your diet with royal jelly, a good source of essential fatty acids, and spirulina or kelp, which are rich in silica, zinc and B vitamins, and help to strengthen the nails. |
| To strengthen the nails, try soaking them in warm olive oil or cider vinegar for ten to twenty minutes daily. |
| Keep you nails relatively short. Nails longer than one-quarter inch beyond the fingertip break and bend easily. |
| Do not cut the cuticles. Use baby oil or cream and gently push them back. |
| Do not pull at hangnails. Cut them with sharp clippers or scissors. Keep your hands moisturized to help prevent hangnails. |
| Soak your nails before trimming them. Nails are most likely to split and peel when they are dry. Apply hand cream each morning and evening to prevent nails from drying out. |
| Avoid detergents and chemicals such as bleach or dish soap as much as possible. Wear cotton-lined gloves when doing dishes, laundry, or when using furniture polish to protect your hands from harsh chemicals. Wearing gloves is especially important for people who work in jobs where their hands are exposed to chemicals. Not only does this damage the nails, but it causes the skin surrounding the nail bed to dry out and crack. This can lead to bleeding and can be quite painful. |
| If you are diabetic, see your health care provider if your cuticles become inflamed, because the infection can spread. |
| If you wear nail polish, use a base coat underneath it to prevent yellowing. |
| Use nail polish removers as little as possible. They contain solvents that leach lipids from the nails and make them brittle. These solvents are also potentially highly toxic, and can be absorbed through the skin. |
| Never apply artificial nails. They destroy the underlying nail and also contribute to the development of fungal infection of the nails. The chemicals and glue used are dangerous to the body and are readily absorbed through the damaged nail and nail bed. |
Considerations:
| Discolored nails can be caused by prolonged illness, stress, nicotine, allergies, or diabetes. If your nails are green, you may have a bacterial infection or a fungal infection between the nail and the nail bed. If you have a fungal or bacterial infection, and especially if you are taking antibiotics, acidophilus is needed. |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
227-15 |
Ultra Nails Gelatin 650 mg. capsules |
As directed on label. |
$5.95/100 |
|
NS6ONS |
Amino Acid-Free Form 600 mg. capsules |
As directed on label. Take on an empty stomach with water or juice, not with milk. |
$17.95/100 |
|
958-15 |
Vitamin A 10,000 IU softgels |
As directed on label. |
$3.95/100 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive GuideCompiled by the Burton Goldberg Group
