What Causes Horizontal Ridges on Nails?

Today we are going to be talking about horizontal ridges on nails.
Do you have horizontal ridges on your fingernails? What about horizontal ridges on thumbnails? Do you have those? 

​Horizontal ridges on fingernails 

​​Horizontal ridges on fingernails 

But before I get into what causes horizontal ridges in fingernails and what this could possibly mean. I want you to understand that your body is talking about you. Your face, eyes, skin, hair and your nails can tell you a lot about nutritional deficiencies, for to add, lifestyle changes and possibly guide you to what tests to focus on if there may be a health concern.
 
Did you know that your fingernails are a window into your health? Not only right now but can tell us what was going on 3 to 6 months ago.
 
In Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine the outside of our body is the window to the inside functioning and can guide us on possible nutrient deficiencies to help turn around symptoms that are keeping you from feeling amazing all the time. We should feel amazing all the time… you should wake up singing
 
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-ife 

Keep in mind that many factors can adversely affect fingernails such as biting your nails, damaging your nail; by hitting it with a hammer, bumping them, and so on. 
 
With these possible reasons out of the way, raise your hands and take a look at your fingernails and let’s dive into Chinese medicine’s interpretation of fingernail health
​

​What Does Our fingernails Say About Our health

 Fingernails and Health

• Thumbs represent the head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat and the mouth.
• Index fingernails, in general, represent the neck and chest area.
• Right index fingernail indicates organs in the right side of the body
• Left index fingernail indicates the left side of the body
• Example; high blood pressure can be seen in the left index fingernail, while oesophagal problems may be seen in the right index fingernail.
• Left and Right fingernail; Since the lungs, breasts, and shoulders are on both sides of the body, both fingernails would need to be examined.
• Middle Fingernails has to do with the blood and chi of the trunk of the body; this would include the organs of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system and the spine from just below your shoulders (T1-T12) to just the beginning of the lower back (L1). 
• Right middle fingernail represents the chi and flow of the gastrointestinal tract, bones of the spine
• Left middle fingernail represent the cardiovascular system
• Ring Finger represents blood-chi in the abdomen, lower back, known as the lumber (spine L2- L5) extending to include the hips, thighs and knee joints.
• Right ring fingernail is the window into the liver and gallbladder, lower back and spine,
• Left ring fingernail shows spleen health, reproductive organs; prostate for men, and uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes including menstrual cycles for women.
• Both ring fingernails; anything to do with the knees, hips, thighs, buttocks, lower back, may be indicated in one or 
• Pinkie fingers represents the lower legs and feet and may have some overlapping with knee, and also reflect problems in the thigh, hip, buttocks, perineum, and pelvic regions

Unhealthy toenails may represent unhealthiness

​When it comes to health we can also look at our feet especially our toenails because we may also find horizontal ridges on toenails. In general toenail health in Chinese Medicine represents the following; 

• Nails of big toes: Spleen, Liver
• Nails of 2nd and 3rd toe: Stomach
• Nails of 4th toe: Gallbladder       
• Nails of little toe: Urinary tract

​Take a look at not only your fingernails, and don’t forget your toenails. Do you have horizontal lines on your fingernails and horizontal ridges on your toenails? They may look like horizontal bumps on your fingernails, grooves, horizontal lines or ripples or bumpy nails. You may or may not have the same horizontal ridges on toenails left or right.
 
We also want to look at the colour, thickness, strength and sheen of our fingernails along with the moons when it comes to referencing the fingernails and of course tie in all the other physical and emotional symptoms and referencing the skin, face and eyes for an overall picture. There are so many clues.
 
We can look at nails and health problems and cross-reference to an associated organ. In Chinese medicine, the nails are considered a by-product of the soft tissues or sinews of the liver and blood flow which nourishes and moistening the nails.
 
If there is a deficiency of liver-blood chi the nails will reflect with dry and brittle nails, ridges, spots, cracks and discolouration of the nailed or a pale look. 

​Right now, take a look at your fingernails look for peeling, cracking, spots, lines, bumps dents.
Pay attention to where they are on your fingernails, are they at the top, the middle or the closer to the tip of the fingernail? Where the imperfections are may also represent an illness or trauma timeline.
 
It takes on average 6 months to grow a fingernail from the top of the bed to the tip. So, if the damage is at about the middle of your fingernail or thumbnail this represents what was happening about 3 months ago.
 
There was enough of a trauma whether physically, emotionally, a diagnosis, surgery something that was traumatic enough for the body to interrupt the growth of the nail. We can also look at the depth of the lines to determine the severity of the illness.

​What Causes Horizontal Ridges On Nails

​Depending on the nail may represent previous trauma to the nail bed, so must be ruled out first. It could also be medication related to many medications including over the counter remedies may require the increased need for certain nutrients.
 
If it is in the middle of the fingernail it represents 3 months ago; think back to three months ago, what was going on 3 months ago?   Fingernails can also be affected by medications, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapies, or a heart attack, severe infection; something traumatic enough to the body that it caused a disruption in the growth of your nail.

Horizontal Ridges On Nails Indicate Malnutrition

​Horizontal ridges on nails may also indicate malnutrition. Take a look at what you are eating. What’s your diet like? Is your diet void of foods high in zinc and B vitamins? Is there a possible stomach acid deficiency? 

Could Horizontal Ridges On Nails Be A Zinc Deficiency?

​Horizontal Ridges On Nails and Zinc Deficiency

A severe zinc deficiency could possibly cause horizontal ridges on nails. Zinc aids in making proteins and DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Our nails are made up of keratin and keratin is a protein.
 
Are there also white spots on the fingernails? The same fingernail as the horizontal ridges or other fingernails? White spots on fingernails may also indicate a zinc deficiency.
 
Perhaps all you need to do is add  zinc-rich foods such as 

Foods highest in zinc

• Sustainable, wild seafood
• Pasture-raised, grass finished beef, lamb, poultry and pork
• Spinach
• Raw organic pumpkin seeds
• Raw cashews
• Cooked chickpeas
• Mushrooms

Karen, I am eating foods high in Zinc what gives?

​Maybe you are eating foods high in zinc and B vitamins and yet, you still have horizontal ridges on your fingernails and possibly white spots. Check in with your digestion. How well are you digesting and absorbing your foods?
 
Are the horizontal ridges on the right middle fingernail? The right fingernail represents the gastrointestinal tract.
 
Zinc requires good stomach acid for absorption. There are numerous things that can affect stomach acid including age. Hydrochloric acid naturally begins to decrease around age 35. Medications such as antacids, acid blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) affect stomach acid secretion. Stress and the lack of chewing your food may also negatively impact stomach acid production thus zinc along with other vital nutrients including B vitamins and protein may not be properly utilized. Remember, fingernails are made up of keratin, keratin is a protein, zinc aids in protein structures.

Other Zinc deficiency signs

• Acne
• Eczema, skin conditions, rashes
• Lack of smell, taste
• Lack of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Weak immunity, catch sickness easily
• Allergies
• Thinning hair, greying hair
• Leaky gut

​How much zinc do I need?

​According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), the average daily recommended amounts for different ages are listed below in milligrams (mg)

​Horizontal Ridges On Nails and Thiamine Deficiency 

​Horizontal Ridges On Nails and Thiamine 

Horizontal ridges on nails may also indicate a Thiamine, vitamin B1 deficiency. Thiamine plays an important role in maintaining a healthy nervous system and improving the cardiovascular functioning of the body. horizontal ridges on the index fingernail represent the chest area,
high blood pressure can be seen in the left index fingernail.
A vitamin B1 deficiency may negatively affect the cardiovascular system, as can zinc.
 
Since lungs are on both sides of the body, it would represent both fingernails. Lungs problems include pulmonary issues, Peripheral artery disease, Raynaud’s disease, systemic infection; asthma, bronchitis may be indicted in both fingernails.
 
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that having higher blood levels of certain B vitamins are linked with a substantially lower risk of lung cancer. Other studies have found that those with symptoms of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and multiple sclerosis 
 tend to have lower levels of thiamin in their blood. 

Thiamine is a part of the B vitamin complex. I will list some foods that are an abundant source of vitamin B1 however, it is better to look at foods that are a great source of all B vitamins as B vitamins work synergistically. In other words, if 1 B vitamin is in a deficient state, probably there are other B vitamins in the same state. Thiamin is important for the growth, development, and function of the cells in your body.

Other Thiamine decency signs may include

• Poor memory, irritability, sleep disturbance
• Muscle cramps
• Abdominal discomfort
• Constipation
• Tachycardia
• Chest pain
• Wide pulse pressure
• Loss of appetite
• Sensation of pins and needles
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in extremities
• Severe deficiency; Beriberi 

How much Thiamin do I need?

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), the average daily recommended amounts for different ages are listed below in milligrams (mg)

​A nutrient test can help you determine what nutrients you are lacking, Something I can help you with. Email me and let’s talk. 

​Foods highest in Thiamine

• Pasture-raised, grass finished beef and liver
• Raw sunflower seeds
• Beans and lentils
• Macadamia nuts
• Asparagus and Brussels sprouts
• Pasture-raised eggs
• and Nutritional Yeast

Horizontal ridges on thumbnails

In Chinese medicine, thumbnails represent the head including ears, eyes, nose, mouth and throat.
Going back to zinc for a moment, let’s say there are horizontal ridges on thumbnails, white spots and some of the symptoms of low stomach acid or gastrointestinal problems are present.

There may be a problem with absorption of zinc. Zinc is needed for vision. According to the American Optometric Association suggests 40 to 80 mg daily of zinc is needed to slow age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression. According to a University of Texas at Arlington study can significantly inhibit the proliferation of oesophagal cancer cell. 

​Zinc is essential to almost 3,000 proteins in the body including essential for wound healing, vision, senses of taste and smell. Take another look at the horizontal ridges on your thumbnail perhaps what is happening in the head, ears, eyes, nose, throat and mouth is transcribed on your thumbnails.
 
Like most minerals, the average North American is deficient in zinc. According to the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for both men and women need to be increased by nearly one-half of the current values in order to meet their requirements for absorbed zinc.
 
Horizontal ridges on nails don’t mean the end of the world. Do not look at your fingernails and think you are doomed. Instead, think of your fingernails as your Snapchat account; constantly dinging you and showing you that you need to pay attention to your story. The clues are right there on your fingernails. 

Your Fingernails Are the Window to Health 

​You have to look at all aspects of your health history, important factors are diet, movement, outlook on life, how well you deal with stress and your level of spirituality, chemicals in your environment all of which impact our health.
 
We can look to our fingernails and our body to give us clues years before an actual diagnosis has been given. All it takes is a trained eye who can then put the right tests in place, tweak your diet and lifestyle and possibly prevent and reverse symptoms. All it takes from you is a willingness and readiness. Are you ready to live the vision you have of your best life?