In Taoist medicine, the kidneys are one of the five vital organs, and they are the main source of energy. When they are full of energy, one becomes high-spirited, with plenty of stamina and an abundance of vitality. This is due to the fact that the health of the kidney is directly related to the health of their corresponding organs. The kidneys are directly connected to the bones, hairs, nails and ears. By observing the shape and condition of a person’s ears, one can determine the general strength and condition of the kidneys.

Just by observing the nails of an individual’s one can determine the health of the kidneys and the other internal organs. The fingernails can provide clues to the overall health. But do you know how to read these signs? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in the nails. Keep reading to learn what are the secrets of your nails might reveal. For example :

Pale Nails: Very pale nails are sometimes linked to aging, sure sign of decrease in vitality in the kidney region. But they can also be a sign of serious illness, such as:

• Anemia
• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

White Nails: If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. Sometimes the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble. Since the kidney is supposed to be the thermostat of the body and it is in no position to maintain the equilibrium of the body heat, hence the livers get affected.

Yellow Nails: One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease or psoriasis.

Bluish Nails: Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn’t getting enough oxygen. This could indicate an infection in the lungs, such as pneumonia.

Rippled Nails: If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis, again this is related to imbalance of body heat – failure of the thermostat of the body (kidney). Psoriasis is a skin condition that starts in the nails 10% of the time.

Cracked or Split Nails: Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. Cracking or splitting combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection.

Puffy Nail Fold: If the skin around the nail appears red and puffy, this is known as inflammation of the nail fold. It may be the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder.

Dark Lines beneath the Nail: Dark lines beneath the nail should be investigated as soon as possible. They are sometimes caused by melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer – imbalance in the spleen or pancreatic region.

Gnawed Nails: Biting your nails may be nothing more than an old habit, but in some cases it’s a sign of persistent anxiety that could benefit from treatment. Nail biting or picking has also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. According to Taoist philosophy, too much of anxiety affect the spleen pancreas.

Yellow discoloration: in your fingernails may result from a respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis, or from swelling of your hands (lymphedema). In yellow nail syndrome, nails thicken and new growth slows, resulting in discoloration. Nails affected with this condition may lack a cuticle and may detach from the nail bed in places.

Clubbing: Clubbing occurs, when the tip of the fingers gets enlarged and the nails curve around the fingertips. This condition results from low oxygen levels in the blood and could be a sign of lung disease. Clubbing is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and liver disease.

Spoon nails (koilonychia): are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Spoon nails may be a sign of iron deficiency or anemic in nature.

Beau’s lines: are indentations that run across the nails. They can appear when growth at the area under the cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness. Diseases or illnesses associated with Beau’s lines include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Circulatory diseases, such as peripheral artery disease
• Illness associated with a high fever, caused by pneumonia, scarlet fever, mumps or measles
• Malnutrition

Onycholysis: with such a condition the fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed. If the nails show signs of detaching, this may be associated with:

• Injury or infection
• Thyroid disease
• Drug reactions
• Reactions to nail hardeners or acrylic nails
• Psoriasis

Nails Are Only Part of the Puzzle. Though nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are the first sign. And many nail abnormalities are harmless — for instance, not everyone with white nails has hepatitis. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your nails, see a dermatologist at the earliest and don’t forget to visit www.sevangee.com for overall health, fitness and wellness.

Parts of this article have been taken from David Bjerklie’s article called “You Are What You Eat” that appeared in Time Magazine in October 2003.

The gist of David Bjerklie’s article is that modern investigative, nutritional sciences have confirmed the accuracy of an ancient philosophy shared by early herbalists called “The Doctrine of Signatures”. It said that whole foods resembled that organ of the body or that physiological function for which if eaten would benefit that part. Here are some examples of these natural signatures:

	A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. According to science, eating carrots greatly enchances blood flow to the eyes. Carrot gets their orange colour from a plant chemical called beta-carotene, which reduces the risk of developing cataracts. The chemical also protects against macular degeneration an age-related sight problem that affects one in four individuals over the age of 65. If one tries to pop a pill of beta-carotene it doesn’t have the same effect, says scientists at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, USA.
	A Tomato has four chambers and is red in colour, so also the heart is red and has four chambers. Research has confirmed that tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and it is indeed pure heart and blood food.
	Grapes resembles the alveoli of the lungs. The lungs are made of branches of ever-smaller airways that finish up with tiny branches of tissue called alveoli. These structures allow oxygen to pass from the lungs to the blood stream. A diet high in fresh grapes has shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer and emphysema. Grape seeds also contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which is thought to reduce the severity of asthma triggered by allergy. One reason that premature babies struggle to survive is that, these alveoli do not begin to form until 23 to 24 week of pregnancy.
	A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are similar to those of the neo-cortex. Scientists claim that walnuts help in developing over three dozen neuron-transmitters within the brain enhancing the signalling and encouraging new messaging link between the brain cells. Walnuts help warding off dementia. They also extract and break down the protein based plaques associated with Alzheimer’s diseases, according to a study by Dr. James Joseph of Tuft University in Boston.
	Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and are shaped exactly like the human kidneys (hence their name).
	Celery, Rhubarb, Bok-choy and more look just like bones structure. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are made up of 23% sodium and these foods have sodium in them. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
	Brinjals, Avocadoes and Pears are good for the health and functioning of the womb and cervix of the female and look just like these organs. Modern research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances the birth hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and can even prevent cervical cancer. It even takes exactly nine months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit, just like a human baby! There are said to be over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only been able to study and name about 141 of them).
	Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Studies have shown that Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the sperm count as well as overcoming male sterility.
	Sweet Potatoes resemble the pancreas and can actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
	Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
	Grapefruits, Oranges, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
	Eating a Banana will cheer you up and put a smile on your face. This popular fruit contains a protein called tryptophan, when digested it gets converted into a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which is a mood regulating chemical in the brain. Banana can be termed as an antidepressant drug, since it adjust the level of serotonin production in the brain.
	Onions look like body cells. Modern research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all the cells of the body. Even the tears that onions produce wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.
	Cheese is not only good for bones, but it resembles the bony structure. Cheese is rich in calcium, a vital ingredient for strong bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, in later part of life. If calcium and phosphate are combined together it provides main strength to bones and powers the muscles. A study at Columbia University in New York showed teens who had increased calcium intake from 800mg a day to 1200mg, which is equal to an extra 2 slices of cheddar cheese – boosted their bone density by 6%.
	Ginger looks like the stomach and it also aids in digestion. Indians and Chinese have been using it for over 5000 years to calm stomach and cure nausea, and motion sickness. It also slows down the growth rate of bowel tumors.
	A Mushrooms when sliced in half resembles the shape of the human ear. Mushrooms improve hearing abilities, since they contain Vitamin D, which is healthy for bones, especially the 3 tiny bones in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.
	Broccoli – the close-up of tiny green tips on a broccoli head looks like 100 of cancer cells. A team of researchers at US National Cancer Institute found if a weekly serving of broccoli was enough to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 45%.
	Ginseng root looks like a human body, and it is a holistic cure for nearly all ailments.
	A working companion, Garlic, also helps in eliminating waste materials and dangerous, free radicals from the body.

“The news isn’t that fruits and vegetables are good for you, it’s that they are so good for you, they can save your life.“