Abstract: The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart. [1] Signs & symptoms are the first and prime hint for any disease to be diagnosed prior to any specific investigational (if required) conclusion. Moreover objective signs & symptoms play an imperative role in the diagnosis. Examining the nails itself reveals many hidden disease conditions and an important element of either local or systemic examination of any patient. Based on observation of the nail changes is one such clue to make any diagnosis (provisional/definitive). Good, healthy nails are objects of admiration. They also protect the terminals of the limbs and the delicate tissues contained at these sites. The appearance, shape and color of our nails not only reflect the status of our health but can give valuable information about the underlying disease condition. This article is a small attempt to help the profession in gathering information on nail changes and their importance in both diagnosis & treatment and not in any approach to understate our basic prescribing guidelines.
Introduction
The nail plate is a keratinized structure which is continually growing through life. Its germinative cells are located in proximal portions of the nail bed and underneath the nail fold. The white lanula is the visible matrix. The nail–bed beneath the nail plate contains longitudinally arrayed
vascular loops, which is the basis of longitudinal hemorrhages in the nails with disease or after trauma. The lateral nail and the proximal nail fold (epionychium) protect and seal the bed and plate from the environment and organisms. [2] (See Figure 1)
The cuticle is stratum corneumextending from the proximal nail fold. The prolife reactive
component of the matrix determines the thickness of nail and its growth rate. The nail bed is beneath the matrix and the hyponychium. As distinct from other proteins of the
integument there is no subcutaneous tissue in the dermis under the nails which allows this tissue to reflect changes in serum albumin clinically as painless of the nail bed in anemia or the half and half nail in renal disease. [2]
The nail plate grows continuously during life. Finger nails grows faster than toe nails,
mean growth being 3mm/month for fingernails and 1mm/month for toe-nails. Complete replacement of fingernails therefore requires about 100-120 days (4 months). The total
regeneration time for toe nail is 12- 18 months. As consequences of the nails slow growth rate, diseases of the nail matrix become evident only after a considerable delay and require a long time to disappear after treatment the rate of nail growth varies among different individuals and among different digits of same individual. The nail growth rate is slow at birth, slightly increased during childhood and usually reaches maximum in 2nd and 3rd decades of life. Then, after the age of 50, it decreases sharply. There are few factors which alter normal nail growth and described below- [3]
Other Common Nail Disorders and Their Signifi cance
1. Clubbing of nails-there is exaggerated longitudinal curvature and loss of the angle between nail and nail fold (i.e. no dip). Also the nails feel boggy. The cause is unknown but may be due to increased blood fl ow through multiple arteriovenous shunts in the distal phalanges. [3] Clubbing may be hereditary, idiopathic, or acquired and associated with a variety of disorders, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, infective endocarditis, and a variety of pulmonary
conditions (among them primary and metastatic lung cancer, bronchiectasis, lung
abscess, cystic fibrosis, and mesothelioma), as well as with some gastrointestinal diseases
(including infl amatory bowel disease and hepatic cirrhosis).[12]
2. Tinea unguium (or fungal infection of nail) – this commonly accompanies tinea manuum and pedis. All the nails are rarely affected. Involved nails become thick, fragile, yellowish or greyish brown in color and develop subungual hyperkeratosis (accumulation of so keratin under the nail
plate). [3]
Miasmatic expression of
nails
About miasm, Dr. C. Hering in his introductory remarks in 3rd American edition of Organon rays “thinks it (i.e. miasm) not of vital importance so long a physician holds the principal tools of the
master & the materia medica of our schools and so long one always selects
the most similar medicine possible.”
J. H. Allen in contrary to second point (in italics) said that- “The fact is we cannot select the most similar remedy possible unless we understand the phenomenon of the acting and basic miasms; for the true similia is always based upon the existing basic miasms, whether
we be conscious or unconscious of the fact. The curative remedy is but the pathopoesis of a certain pathogenesis of an existing miasm.” [13] Therefore, we need to know the
miasmatic expressions of the nails too for better understanding of any
case before us.
Psoric nails have a dry, harsh appearance. Nails are brittle, break or split easily. On pressing the tip of the nail, the nail beds present an anemic appearance. [13,14]
Sycotic nails are thin or ridged and thick as a result of hyper or excess deposition of tissue.
Wavy, corrugated nails with protuberance, irregular shaped nails with irregular but thick edges
are sycotic. [13,14] Syphilitic nails are thin as paper, bend easily, brittleness and
are sometimes spoon shaped that is natural convexity is reversed. Pitted nails with indentations
which may be longitudinal or transverse are found in this miasm.[13]
Tubercular nails as per J. H. Allen, paronychia is the common tubercular inflammation as we
met with in pale-skinned, anemic tubercular subjects. Pustules form often on the lower extremities or about the fingers or hands. The nails of those patients are brittle, break
or split easily, often we have hang nails which are so characteristic of a tubercular taint. Many of the tubercular nails are spotted or show white specks in them here and there. Sometimes anterior
edges are serrated or slightly scalloped. Not infrequently, with no warning whatever, we have
pustular inflammation about the nail. So often the nails drop off and grow again. The periosteal
inflammation commonly known as felon is truly a pseudo-psoric inflammation. The fingers of
tubercular individuals are long and do not taper gradually but are blunt or club shaped at their
extremities.[13]
Repertory
While discussing the repertorial presentation of different related rubrics on nail changes, we have
limited our self only to important repertories where such rubrics on these nail changes can be find out. The rubrics on different nail changes are more prominently found in the repertories like
Synthesis Repertory by F Schroyens, Homoeopathic Medical Repertory by R Murphy, A Concise Repertory by S R Phatak, O E Boericke’s Repertory etc. Thus the related rubrics from these repertories are mentioned above in tabular form.
Conclusion
Dr. Elizabeth writes “stress the importance of objective symptoms which cannot lie. All doctors
know the importance of minute observation, for diagnosis and prognosis of sensing through
odour, gait, skin texture etc., the deep processes going on of which the patient is often unaware. There are physicians who claim that, by thorough knowledge of certain small parts of the body, they can diagnose the hidden condition of the whole and even of its parts.
There are those who feel that a study of the tongue will teach you much or of the iris of the eye; or of the sensitivity of the nasal mucous membrane.” [15]
This discussion has been an attempt to describe the peculiar features reflected through the nail
changes, which could help us in both clinical diagnosis as well as prescribing in homoeopathy. In
any case, we should not forget the basic guidelines for homeopathic prescription i.e. individualization. We cannot come to a conclusion by observing the changes of nails
only, how much peculiar they may be. The basis of Homoeopathic prescription should be the totality of symptoms of the patient, as viewed and interpreted from the standpoint of the prescriber. These peculiar changes in nails only an indication of any particular
disease, miasmatic background
or can be part of totality of any case. They can also be helpful in cases where there is paucity of
symptoms. Like rain drops make an ocean, words make a sentence these sorts of little observations also help us to portrait the whole picture of the disease & proper treatment thereof.
References
1. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ quotes/s/stjerome190064.html
2. Feneis, Heinz (2000). Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy (4th ed.). Thieme.
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7. h? p://www.google.co.in (image)
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11. Boericke OE. Skin. Repertory attached with New Manual of Homoeopathic
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12. Braunwald E. Cardinal Manifestations and Presentation of Diseases.
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th ed. New Delhi:
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13. JH Allen. The Chronic Miasms Psora and Pseudo-Psora, Vol. 1. Reprint ed.
New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 1987: p. 12, 252-3.
14. Hend NJ. A Study of Nail Diseases. Bulletin of National Institute of Homoeopathy 2012; 15(1): 31-6.
15. Wright E. Know the Patient. A Brief Study Course in Homoeopathy, Reprint ed. New
Delhi: B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2005: p. 15-
22.
About the Authors
1. Dr. Abhij it Chakma; MD (Hom.); Senior Research Fellow (Homoeopathy) of Clinical Research Unit (H), Agartala (Under CCRH, Dept. of AYUSH,
Ministry of H & FW, Govt. of
India)
2. Dr. Sangeeta Sharma; MD (Hom.); Lecturer, Dept. of
Community Medicine, Virar Homoeopathic Medical College,Veer Savarkar Marg, Virar East, Thane, Mumbai- 401305
Source: The Homoeopathic Heritage