NAILS : INDICATORS OF CHARACTER AND HEALTH

The nail is imbedded in the skin and flesh of the finger, from the hidden root, along the sides, and under the surface of the horn. The cells make the root or matrix, the never-ending ducts and capillaries, pushing the passage of horns and this nail (horn like substance) is renewed approximately within six months. These cells need sustenance and special food to make the “Keratin”( keratin (kĕr'ətĭn) , any one of a class of fibrous protein molecules that serve as structural units for various living tissues. The keratins are the major protein components of hair, wool, nails, horn, hoofs, and the quills of feathers. These proteins generally contain large quantities of the sulfur-containing amino acids, particularly cytokine.) Which hardens the horn? Any deviation from good health will affect them in some measure. The endocrine system plays a large in this food supply supported by a generous mineralization in which must be included calcium to make them hard, silica and a trace of arsenic to make them clear, etc.

The correlation between hands and encephalograph readings (graphical record of electrical activity of the brain; produced by an electroencephalograph ) was published in 1951. Dr. Doust of the Maudsley Hospital, London, was working on a pattern of blood vessels under the nail. He found the following as shown in the above illustration: A) in normal people these capillaries developed the straight-across lines of babyhood. B) Into hair-pin shape normally by the age of 8 years, C) Mentally immature people , who give way to

impulse and rage, have developed their pattern into arches. D) Neurotic people have the long form but with a twist in it.

The nails on the fingers would also be taken into consideration while studying a palm. These nails are at the tip of fingers and help in protecting the fingers.

The nails protect the tips of fingers so that the fingers do not get damaged or hurt by a blow from outside and these nails help in enhancing the beauty of the fingers. They are also good conductors of electricity. The natural electricity present in the atmosphere enters the body through these nails. Also the rays from other planets enter our body through the nails and help us to work effectively.

1) The different types of nails are:

Short Nails- Short nails reveal that the man is uncivilized. Such person might have been born in a high family, yet he would be narrow-minded, weak and of wicked tendencies.

Short, hard, and partially covered with skin, and even flesh - Quarrelsome disposition, especially if they are border than long. Seen at its worst on what I call a clubbed thumb

Short and Pale Nails- Such nails reveal the wickedness of the individual. Such a person tells lies at every step and will even deceive his own family. He cannot be trusted.

Short and Rectangular Nails- A person having such nails on his fingers is a heart patient and dies of heart attack.

Short and Wide Nails- Such persons believe in quarreling. Criticizing and interfering in other's works is their sole aim in life. They are stubborn in nature.

A Short nail on the second finger, the nails of the other fingers being almond shaped - Irritability, but only at times; always extreme sensitiveness to criticism.

Short and pale - Deceitful disposition; physical and moral weakness.

Short and red - Violent temper.

Short, square-shaped and bluish - Heart trouble.

Short, quite board and square at the bottom - Passionate anger

Short and triangular shaped; The point of the triangle nearest to the phalanx - Threatened paralysis.

Short, narrow and curved - Danger of troubles.

Hard and Narrow Nails- These persons are generally quarrelsome in nature. Once they make up their mind they shall do anything even if it is wrong. They stick to their decisions.

Square Nails- Such nails reveal the wicked nature of the individual. Such nails show that the man is a coward, timid and subdued.

Short and Triangular Nails- Such nails are generally wide at the upper tip and narrow at the lower end. Persons with such nails are lazy and hesitant to work. They like loneliness and do not like others to interfere in their matters.

Nails wider in proportion to Length- Such persons get angry quickly. They complete any work they have started without leaving it midway.

Short nails and knotty fingers- Such persons are quarrelsome. If such nails are found in the fingers of a female, then she must be dominating her husband and also quarrelsome.

Rounded Nails- Persons having rounded nails at the tip are quarrelsome and take quick decisions. They know how to act on the decision they have taken.

Thin and Long Nails- Such persons are weak-bodied and fickle-minded. They cannot take independent decisions and act on the advise given by others.

Long and Curved Nails- Such persons are not of good character and do have affairs with many women. They get bad names in their lives several times.

Large (both board and long) and rounded at the base - Clear, sound judgement.

Long nails, especially if thin and brittle - Weak physical nature, often lack of intelligence.

Long, thin and curved - Sore throat and weak respiratory organs. If rigid of fluted - A sure sign of consumption

Long thick and curved, somewhat like a claw - Violent disposition in love and other intercourse with one's fellow beings

Long, thin, narrow - Timidity and cowardice; often found in convalescing persons.

Moderately thin and narrow - Excellent general disposition

Nails indictors of health and temper. When Dr. Geikie Cobb had pneumonia , he noticed his own nails turning black. They resumed their normal colour as he recovered. This shows that careful information should be gained of the finger nails in relation to their texture, shape, size, colour, etc. Nails are composed of a substance called keratin in the form of minute hair-like fibres, closely knit together. When they come into contact with the environment form a horn-like substance. The amount f\of hormones and the level of blood in the body decide the colour, size, shape and the shine of the nail.

Palmists have compared nails to be the windows through which the internal functioning of the human body can be ascertained and through this interpretation the character, personality, health, etc. of the subject noted. Nails are known as the mirrors or reflectors of the human personality. Below the nail lie delicate capillaries that are sensitive and linked to the circulatory system. The flow of blood beneath the nails reveal the health and temperament of the subject through the colour under the nails. The texture of the nails should also be compared with the texture of the skin so that the skin and the nails should be of the same grade and finesse. The horn of the nails should be even and smooth in surface all over, devoid of ridges and flutings and brittleness.

Our scriptures state that the influence of the planetary rays filter into the blood through the nails and atmospheric vibrations are also absorbed through them. Garb Samhita states that a person with clear, pinkish nails are fortunate. Nails also act as a psychological link as coarser texture of nails (the fluting or ridging of the nails from top to bottom)show advanced state of nervous disorder. The case can be more serious when the nails become brittle and start breaking.

The appearance of white spots indicate the beginning of the loss of vitality. While the freckles appear and grow larger and slowly cover the whole nail as if the window glass has become clouded. Following this ridges appear and grow more and more pronounced and soon fluted nails manifest themselves. The nails become brittle, losing its shape and evenness, leading to delicacy of nerves, paralysis, etc.

Horizontal stripes and shallow depressions indicate that a person has received mental shock due to unwanted and unpleasant situation faced by him. If the stripes are more than one then it indicated senses of such shocks. These stripes could indicate lack of mineral trace element, which are vital for the brain. The shorter the nail, the more harmful is the stripe to the individual. Nervousness, irresponsibility and weak character , leading to a variety of ailments and nervous disorders are shown by persons who are in the habit of biting nails.

Different types of nails on the same hand show considerable amount of activity of various sorts and the subjects will have ups and downs in life.

Delicate health is also shown by narrow or psychic nails. The native always depends upon psychic energy. The colour of the nail could be white, pink, yellow or blue but there will always be blue colour at the base, indicating poor circulation of blood.

Short nails show a critical turn of mind. The extremely short flat nail with the skin growing down on it shows pugnacity. If it is not very short, then a quizzical investigating disposition. Broad, unless curving around fingers and broadening at the back with pink colour-open, frank nature, honesty of thought , broad thoughts and genuineness is the mainspring.

Nails with square ends on top (tip) and tapering to base, generally found on long fingers or large hands – heart trouble, more of structural defects or organic defects than lack of blood circulation. They will generally be bluish in colour and if there be a moon, the blue colour may cover it too.

The never mistaken nail is the bulbous nail, growing on the bulbous finger tip. Prior to being bulbous, it could have ay shape(narrow, broad, square etc). According to Hippocratus this shows advanced stage of consumption or tuberculosis. Medical science says that it is due to lack of nourishment. The tip of the finger thickens and forms a distinguished pad or bulb and at times it becomes as round as a marble. At times, it shows problems with the spine and lungs and the colour of the nail may be blue. The lungs which remove carbonic acids and fills the blood with oxygen are destroyed. Hence many poisonous impurities come back with the blood.

Bronchial nails have a decided inclination to a curve, very short of being bulbous. They indicate delicacy of bronchial tubes and throats. They are liable to colds and sudden changes of temperature.

Pinkish nails fine state of health and liberal disposition Red nails intense ardour and excess of instinct and

physical energy, with a tendency towards violence

Red short nails Violent temperament. Short with a soft palm born with critic’s attribute Extremely short nails Looking like dots at the end of the fingers-very

easily excited.

White nails Lack of warmth, egoitism and hasty nature Blue nails a) lack of oxygen in the blood

b) during menstruation and menopause there will be tinges of blue colour on nails of women c) blue at the base of the nail indicates heart ailments which are easy to cure.

Blackish tinge indicates diseased blood, liable to be irritable and fall prey to passing sickness

Much shine on the nail There I no need to alarm if the nails maintain their shine, irrespective of the colour.

Short triangular threatened paralysis. Very broad nails (covering the visible end of the finger)

Vigorous, constant, loves the battle of the mind

If the fingers are knotty,a big thumb, hard hand, big mounts of Mars

Pugnacious and disagreeable creature in everything: love, art, eloquence, war, literature, music, etc.

More in width and short in length

Analytical person, highly successful in

Long and thin nails Weak in digestion Swollen and project nails

drug addict, suicidal and lingering diseases

Yellow nails poisoning of blood with bile Spoon-like nails malnutrition, mental disorder Square nails good judgement, honest, hardworking Moons on the nails Half Moon on Index finger: indicates promotion and some

good news Medius finger: gets benefits from machinery related to industry and possibility of getting money Ring finger: rise in status Little finger: profits from business The thumb base: progress and auspiciousness

Too large moons Vascular nerves are sensitive, blood circulation is irregular, thyroid glands not functioning properly, hypersensitive

Irregular moons Hyper tension, glandular problems Medium moons Normal blood pressure, good temperament. Fingernails and the spine When fingernails have protuberance, hangnails, depressions, or deep channels running at an angle upon their surface, they show abnormalities of the spinal system as follows: Thumbnail Skull and first two bones of the neck, axis and

atlas Index finger nail Cervical vertebrae 4,5,6,7, neck to midway

between shoulder blades Middle finger nail Thoracic or dorsal vertebrae (the first 12 bones

from the shoulder blade to the waist or mid-back

Ring finger nail Lumbar vertebrae 1,2, 3, 4 (mid-back to girdle) Little finger nail Sacrum and coccyx ( pelvis and tailbone).

Beryl B. Hutchinson’s study on nails

Small square nails: not well nurtured, meager narrowness of ideas, show lack of warmth, love, restricted sex leading to narrow, restricted jealousies. Have the certitude of righteousness without the capacity to understand or judge fairly.

Wide nails show a quick temper and are frequently short in relation to the finger. Wide and red in colour generally use their fists when angry. But wide nails do not bear malice.

The extreme example of the too rounded nail is known ‘Hippocratic’ nail which that famous Greek observed as a swelling up of the nail and tissues at the end of the fingers, especially the Index finger. He attributed the condition to consumption.

Hutchinson, who does not agree with Hippocratus, feels that it is lack of oxygen that is the real cause and has attributed it to throat and bronchial ailments and blockages in the ducts and capillaries through lack of oxidization.

Long, narrow and filbert shape shows a lack of energy at its root so the temper is gentle and they prefer not to waste their vitality I unpleasurable emotion.

The almond shape nail has been admired by writers and painters. Mangin has found this nail to possess a ‘sensitive nature’, devoted, generous, courteous and refined, with a gentleness of character in harmony with aesthetic tendencies.

Tough in texture, almost tabular and quite often red. When yellow or brown tinged the owners suffer from constipation. In these claw-like nails there is a talon-like ruthlessness to grab and hold. Display temper to gain their own ends, do not have any emotion except calculated determination to win.

The nails, from tip to moon, become so concave that they form a sort of a dish. There could be mineral imbalance but by starvation and inadequate supply of blood causes shrinking of the substance under the nail horn. The nervous is affected and is also found on alcoholics.

Perfect nails, white, almond-shaped and naturally polished, moderately long and thick - Happy nature, satisfactory state of health; strange to say, it has been observed that perfect almond-shaped nails are frequently found on the fingers of conceited and selfish subjects, especially women.

Perfect Nails- Such nails are little longer than wider and have a natural lustre. They are men of high ideals and good-intentioned. They would be successful in their lives.

Classification of nails by Beverly Jagears

The psychic (mental) nail: narrow, fairly long in the nail bed, with a high curved arch, rounded or almond-shaped base. Usually pink with white moons at the base. Have a tendency to lung problems. Have common colds with heavy cough. Susceptible to airborne allergies caused by hair sprays, diesel exhausts and insect sprays.

Frank Nails: (dependable) is a bit wider and flatter over the surface. The cuticle base may also be almost straight across, or very slightly rounded. Balanced personality, secure in themselves, great party guests, good conversationalists and listen to music. Give true opinions. Tendency towards malfunction of major organs.

Critical nails(Precision): A short nail showing considerable flesh on both sides. Very vocal and make some kind of noise continuously. If they have no one to talk, they will turn on the radio or television in another room. They speak their minds. High degree of nervousness and may indulge in alcohol or drugs for recreation.

The Wedge(Irritable): Almost triangular, narrowest at the bottom. Can be subjects to violent extremes of mood. They relieve stress in violent active games such as soccer, hockey, rugby,etc. It also indicates lack of vitamins during prenatal months. Psychological illness. One or two wedge nails indicate fondness of physical activity.

Able nails(Creative):Squarish, often flat at both the ends. Capable people who do their jobs well. Indicate practicality and found on Technical hands. Typical careers-craftsman, creative house keepers, musicians, computer operators, programmers, etc. Predisposed to problems of gastrointestinal or circulatory system.

Sensitive nails(Emotional): Rounded at the base. This highly arched nail has a quick mind and uses his mind well and profitably. Form their own philosophies or interpretations and have original thinking including poets, fiction writers, artists, etc. A tendency to glandular and weight problem, water retention and allergies.

The hand worker’s nail(Multitalented):This broad and flat nail was thought to have inferior intelligence bur many surgeons, draftsmen, architects, engineers, etc. possess this nail. Subject to stress-related problems, varicose veins, diseases of the arteries, congestive or irritative problems of genitourinary and reproductive system.

4. SIGNS ON NAILS

Black Spots - If a person has black spots on his nails then he is likely to meet with great calamity in life. Black spots on nails are an indication of impurity of blood. One is soon to get sick with small-pox, malaria, fever or any other disease connected with the impurity of blood.

White Spots- White sports indicate some obstruction to the circulation of blood and also indicate some future diseases. If such spots are found on the nails then it has to be concluded then that the man is likely to get sick soon.

Half Moon- A half moon on the index finger indicates promotion and some good news. Half moon in the finger of Saturn indicates that the person shall get benefits from machinery related industry and also there is the possibility of getting money. Half moon on the finger of Apollo indicates that the person shall soon rise in status. Half Moon in the little finger indicates profits in business dealings. Half Moon on the thumb base indicates progress and auspiciousness.

Big Half Moon- In some cases a big half Moon which covers almost half the nail is visible. In such cases the contrary of the above results.

Yellow Spots- If yellow spots are visible on one or more fingers, it is certain that the man will meet his death on the near future.

Red Spots- Sometimes red spots are visible on the nails. At times with other bad markings and indication it is a bad omen and the person is likely to get murdered soon.

The different types of nails are:

Short Nails- Short nails reveal that the man is uncivilized. Such person might have been born in a high family, yet he would be narrow-minded, weak and of wicked tendencies.

Short and Pale Nails- Such nails reveal the wickedness of the individual. Such a person tells lies at every step and will even deceive his own family. He cannot be trusted.

Short and Rectangular Nails- A person having such nails on his fingers is a heart patient and dies of heart attack.

Short and Wide Nails- Such persons believe in quarrelling. Criticizing and interfering in other's works is their sole aim in life. They are stubborn in nature.

Hard and Narrow Nails- These persons are generally quarrelsome in nature. Once they make up their mind they shall do anything even if it is wrong. They stick to their decisions.

Square Nails- Such nails reveal the wicked nature of the individual. Such nails show that the man is a coward, timid and subdued.

Short and Triangular Nails- Such nails are generally wide at the upper tip and narrow at the lower end. Persons with such nails are lazy and hesitant to work. They like loneliness and do not like others to interfere in their matters.

Nails wider in proportion to Length- Such persons get angry quickly. They complete any work they have started without leaving it midway.

Short nails and knotty fingers- Such persons are quarrelsome. If such nails are found in the fingers of a female, then she must be dominating her husband and also quarrelsome.

Rounded Nails- Persons having rounded nails at the tip are quarrelsome and take quick decisions. They know how to act on the decision they have taken.

Thin and Long Nails- Such persons are weak-bodied and fickle-minded. They cannot take independent decisions and act on the advise given by others.

Long and Curved Nails- Such persons are not of good character and do have affairs with many women. They get bad names in their lives several times.

Perfect Nails- Such nails are little longer than wider and have a natural lustre. They are men of high ideals and good-intentioned. They would be successful in their lives.

5) BROKEN FINGERNAILS

BROKEN FINGERNAIL - INDEX FINGER Our fingernails reflect the defenses we maintain against the outside world. When a nail breaks (or is filed down, bitten, cut, or torn off by a rampaging gazelle - it doesn't matter which) it indicates a breaking down of some of these protections. The area of life is affected is shown by which nail breaks, while the severity of the break identifies how serious the issue actually is.

Remember that the stationary hand shows long-term issues (often relating to family), while the moving hand indicates current situations.

The index finger reflects the ambitions, Ego, leadership, and power. A broken fingernail here is a sure sign of problems at work. On the moving hand it shows a new or temporary difficulty, while on the stationary hand it tells of a reoccurrence of an ongoing issue.

If your own index fingernail is broken, realize that something has penetrated your defenses and harmed your ego. Identify the cause. This is crucial in order to prevent future reoccurrences.

Once you know the source, remedy the situation by adjusting your own thoughts and ideas. You have contributed to your own misfortune, and only you can correct it. By altering your thoughts, you will change both your actions and your emotions, effectively negating the harm which has been done to your ego.

BROKEN FINGERNAIL - MIDDLE FINGER The middle finger reflects the powers of the mind, and the Super-Ego. A broken fingernail here is a sure sign of some guilt or mental stress, usually caused by monetary problems. On the moving hand (the dominant hand) it shows a new or temporary difficulty, while on the stationary hand it tells of a reoccurrence of an ongoing issue.

If your own middle fingernail is broken, realize that something has penetrated your defenses and harmed your Super-Ego. Identify the cause. What has affected your feelings of self-worth?.

Once you know the source, remedy the situation by adjusting your own thoughts and ideas. Determine how you have contributed to your own

situation and you will avoid future reoccurrences. By altering your thoughts, you will change both your actions and your emotions, effectively negating the harm which has been done to your sense of Self-Worth.

BROKEN FINGERNAIL - RING FINGER The ring finger reflects the emotions, and the Personna (the "mask" we wear). A broken fingernail here is a sure sign of emotional distress, and is caused by fear of failure, loneliness, or self-doubt. On the moving hand (the dominant hand) it shows a new or temporary difficulty, while on the stationary hand it tells of a reoccurrence of an ongoing issue.

If your own ring fingernail is broken, realize that something has penetrated your defenses and harmed you emotionally. Identify the cause. What has caused your feelings of loneliness, isolation, and fear?.

Once you know the source, remedy the situation by adjusting your own thoughts and ideas. Determine how you have contributed to your own situation and you will avoid future reoccurrences. By altering your thoughts, you will change both your actions and your emotions, effectively negating the emotional trauma you have just experienced.

BROKEN FINGERNAIL - BABY FINGER The baby finger reflects the communications, spirituality, and the Id (or Libido). A broken fingernail here tells of an inability to communicate on some level. (This can be verbal, non-verbal, or even sexual communications.) On the moving hand (the dominant hand) it shows a new or temporary difficulty, while on the stationary hand it tells of a reoccurrence of an ongoing issue.

If your own baby fingernail is broken, realize that something has penetrated your defenses and hampered your ability to communicate with others. Identify the cause. What did you need to say that you couldn't? Who did you need to say it to?

Once you know the cause, remedy the situation by adjusting your own thoughts and ideas. Determine how you have contributed to your own situation by not speaking your mind, and you will avoid future reoccurrences. By altering your thoughts, you will change both your

actions and your emotions, effectively breaking through the communication barriers.

BROKEN THUMBNAIL The thumb reflects our willpower and control. A broken thumbnail reveals that the individual's will is being dominated by another. Remember that on the moving hand (the dominant hand) it shows a new or temporary difficulty, while on the stationary hand it tells of a reoccurrence of an ongoing issue.

If your own thumbnail is broken, realize that something has penetrated your defenses and is breaking your will, and is also causing you to doubt your own abilities to control the situation. Identify the cause. What (or who) is causing you to "give up" and sacrifice your own desires? You will know by the helpless or hopeless feelings associated with it.

Once you know the cause, remedy the situation by adjusting your own thoughts and ideas. Determine how you have contributed to your own situation with your self-doubts, and you will avoid future reoccurrences. By altering your thoughts, you will change both your actions and your emotions, and you will find the inner strength to once again stand up for yourself.

6. Bitten fingernails

The thumb: personal will is being blacked or person is being forced to do something. Index finger: Possible lack of self-esteem or self-confidence; may be having problems at work. Middle finger: a feeling of guilt or an emotional problem that cannot be easily solved. Ring finger: Fear of failure. Little finger: inability to communication or (rarely) a sexual problem. ALL fingers: Very rare showing general life problem of major proportions. Nervous

apprehension.

Jennifer Hirsch, the founder of Chirology Centre of South Africa states:

Reasons for NAIL BITING – from the perspective of chirology

It’s not often that I do readings for people who bite their nails. That’s because in chirology biting your nails shows that you have inner resistance to personal growth. So people who munch away at their fingertips might be unconsciously stunting their own growth, and they tend to be less likely to seek counsel from others.

When someone with bitten nails does come for a reading, we first discuss the obvious meanings associated with nail biting such as stress, tension, anxiety, that things feel out of control and worry is their middle name. Then we look a little deeper to try to identify the significant issues of their life where they could do with some help, where there is inner turmoil, each of which fall into categories of our five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether.

First we discuss which nail you favour and which takes the most punishment. If you bite your middle (earth) finger more than any other, your problem may lie in the realm of the physical (earth). Do you have health or financial woes, or perhaps a difficult family life, or maybe you are moving house? Or are you stuck, plain and not so simple, with everything feeling in a state of complete inertia?

People who bite mostly at their water (index) fingers reveal their emotional vulnerability. If a person has heartache they may favour these two fingernails most, to comfort their gut wrenching pain of loneliness, or perhaps a specific relationship crisis, or maybe a friend has let them down.

Is your fire element running self destructively rampant, perhaps gambling or other addiction has you in a grip? Are you unhappy in your work, or perhaps you have no fire energy, instead an emptiness that aspects a crisis? If so, chances are that your ring fingernail (fire finger) is often between your teeth!

The condition of your baby (air) fingernail gives clues to your relationships too, but more specifically to your sexuality as well as to interests and hobbies and to matters to do with money. Are you on the edge financially, or unable to immerse yourself in a body of knowledge? Are there are communication blockages, with others, or perhaps you are blocked and denying aspects of and intimacy with self. Bitten thumb nails often show some kind of separation in the person from their spirituality, or their religious identity, as thumbs are governed by the spiritual principles of chi. Thumbs also represent the will and bitten thumb nails could point to the owner feeling disempowered in their life.

If all your nails are battling to survive, many or even all of the above situations may apply! To sum it up, generally speaking nail biting shows stress, reluctance to grow or to face the truth about certain issues, a deep sense of inner loneliness, diminished self-confidence along with the sense of being unable to solve the problem.