Nail Problems: Nailing Down a Cure
Nails, Biting, Brittle
Best Single Herb: Horsetail
Best Combinations: Horsetail, rosemary, hyssop, aloe vera, ginkgo biloba; kelp
Other Helpful Supplements: Zinc; vitamin E; food enzymes with hydrochloric acid; vitamin C; calcium/magnesium with vitamin D
Possible Causes: Weak digestion; thyroid problems; malnutrition
Complementary Help: Support digestion
My fingernails are the first to remind me when I haven’t been getting enough herbal silicon, calcium, zinc, and other minerals. If I run out of my daily herbal supplements, in less than 10 days my fingernails begin to tear, break, and bend — even though I keep them very short! If healing begins from the inside out, as Hering’s Law of Cure states, then I also believe the opposite is true: that illness begins on the inside first, and the outward signs show up last.
The body has the ability to prioritize incoming nutrients. In other words, it will take care of your most critical organs first with the nutrients you feed it. But when the incoming supply runs low, then the less critical things, such as fingernails and hair, suffer. These outward signs are a warning signal that gives you clues to nourish yourself to avoid inner deterioration.
Just like the rest of our structural system, the nails, skin, and hair need minerals for nourishment. One of the main minerals for these parts (considered part of the structural system) is silicon. Silicon is a natural substance found in nature that is extremely tough but flexibly resilient. Think of the seaweed and the herb kelp, which grows in long, rope-like extensions and sways in the sea with the movement of the waves. Kelp is extremely flexible, but the next time some washes up on the beach, try to tear it in half. It’s almost like trying to tear a thick telephone book in half! Kelp is rich in silicon, which gives it strength but also flexibility. This is how we want our hair and skin to be. Nails will be firm but should not be brittle; brittle nails will break and fracture frequently under stress. Silicon gives some flexibility to the nails to help them withstand impact.
Terms related to herbs or holistic health
Hering’s Law of Cure states, “All healing begins from the head down, the inside out, and in the reverse order as the symptoms have first been acquired.”
Horsetail for Biting Brittle Nails
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is one of the richest herbs in silicon, and this is why I have chosen it as the best single herb for nail problems. This plant is also known as shavegrass or bottle brush; its spiny projections stick up and out and resemble a brush that could be used to clean bottles, which is where it may have earned this name.
The Latin translation of this herb literally means “horse tail of the fields,” and if you have ever felt a horse’s tail, you will notice how strong and thick these hairs are. This is an example of how silica, a component in silicone, gives hardness to hair.
Terms related to herbs or holistic health
Silica is a compound of silicon and oxygen. It is silicon that gives the hard outer coating to vegetables such as corn, rice, and barley.
Horsetail has been used traditionally as an herbal remedy for torn ligaments; arthritis of all types (especially rheumatoid arthritis); inflammations; skin, hair, and nail deficiencies; and bacteria and fungal infections. It also has been used as a diuretic and as a foot bath for stinky or sweaty feet. Horsetail is rich in many minerals and contains trace amounts of gold, which has proven helpful for rheumatism.
Other herbs rich in silicon, calcium, zinc, and other minerals good for the hair, skin, and nails include: rosemary, hyssop, aloe vera, ginkgo biloba, and kelp.
Nail Readings
The nails, skin, and hair are all outward reflections of your inner health, and we can learn to read these signs with practice and study. For instance, some people read faces for signs of health: Who hasn’t seen someone who is stressed and over-tired without bags or circles under their eyes? This can also indicate liver or kidney stress. The teeth reflect how nourished we are, as the body can rob calcium from these areas to feed other, more critical body parts.
Warnings about the use of herbs
Large amounts of horsetail may be toxic, so try to find this great herb mixed with other herbs designed for the structural system. Using this herb over long periods of time can deplete vitamin B1 from the body. This herb may also be somewhat abrasive to the digestive tract and should be taken only occasionally, or in small amounts mixed with other herbs.
The nails are no different; they are alive and always growing, and they’re quick to show us what might be going on in the body.
Here are some examples:
- Dry, brittle nails that break easily could indicate a deficiency in silicon, calcium, and zinc.
- Ridges along nails could mean that you have poor digestion or lack hydrochloric acid. Try a food enzyme with hydrochloric acid added for a few weeks, and see if you notice a change. Also consider herbal sources of minerals.
- White spots on fingernails may indicate a zinc deficiency. Beware of taking too much zinc, however; about 45-50 mg daily is more than sufficient unless specific conditions apply (such as taking excess calcium). See your doctor or holistic practitioner if you’re taking zinc supplements.
- Thin, flat, spoon-shaped nails can be a sign of a B-12 deficiency.
- A deep blue color to the nails may indicate a lack of oxygen in the tissues due to asthma or emphysema.
- Nails that come off or that separate from the fingers may indicate problems with the thyroid.
- Thick cuticles can indicate poor digestion of protein. Try food enzymes containing hydrochloric acid, marshmallow and pepsin and eat less protein.
- Horizontal ridges across nails can indicate a lack of calcium. However, the nails grow from about a quarter-inch below your nail bed (toward your finger joints). If you bump or damage this nail bed, the impact may make your nail(s) grow out with ridges. I imagine this as the ripple effect, like when you throw a stone into a still pond. The image really makes me think about how we are made up of energy!
- A yellowing and thickening of nails can be a deposit of calcium or other minerals that your body is not absorbing or utilizing properly. Work with a holistic practitioner to help with your absorption, and read the posts for hints on herbs for better digestion. Also check for fungus growth under nails if you see a yellow color. Another possibility is a poor circulatory system that is not fully bringing circulation to the nails.
- Nail biting is usually due to a lack of minerals that nourish the nervous system. You may subconsciously be trying to eat your minerals from your fingernails. To end this habit, begin taking some herbal remedies to nourish the rest of your body and see posts for more on anxiety.
About overcoming an ailment with herbs
Nutritional sources of zinc include capsicum, spirulina, psyllium, safe, garlic, eyebright, bilberry, and gotu kola. Zinc-rich foods include pumpkin seeds, goat’s milk/whey, brewers yeast, and whole grains.
About overcoming an ailment with herbs
Excessive nail-biting can be curbed, especially in children with an herbal spray made from any bitter herb, such as cascara sagrada, gentian, or turkey rhubarb. Make a tea from the bitter herb, and spray onto the fingertips frequently. In the meantime, fix the real problem by nourishing yourself or your child with herbs rich in minerals.