Inspection of Nails

Question 1

withered and dry nails:

Answer 1

insufficiency of LR and KD yin, or

chronic painful obstruction (bi) with deficiency of Qi and Blood

Question 2

atrophy of nails (nail ‘moon’ becomes smaller/gone)

Answer 2

HT yin def. w/ Blood stagnation,

or epidemic disease

Question 3

soft and thin nails (lose protective function)

Answer 3

qi and blood deficiency,

or chronic painful obstruction (bi)

Question 4

rough and thick, lusterless, dim colour, loss of transparency:

Answer 4

qi and blood deficiency w/ wind attack,

or damp invasion causing qi and blood stagnation

Question 5

striped (horizontal or vertical; too obvious) nails:

Answer 5

blood loss, LR blood deficiency,

trauma, or tinea (fungal infection)

Question 6

brittle, chipped nails:

Answer 6

blood deficiency w/ wind, trauma, or tinea (fungal infection)

Question 7

hook shaped nails:

Answer 7

qi and blood stagnation,

or wind painful obstruction

Question 8

spoon shaped nails:

Answer 8

qi and blood stagnation, malnutrition, SP deficiency, or bi (chronic painful obstruction)

Question 9

ridges on nails:

Answer 9

KD yin deficiency w/ LR yang rising,

or qi and blood deficiency

Question 10

horizontal and vertical stripes together on nails:

Answer 10

dry heat attacking LU,
LR qi stagnation,
or Qi deficiency with blood stagnation

Question 11

twisted and bent nails:

Answer 11

LR qi deficiency (qi stagnation with SP Qi deficiency),

or LR Blood deficiency

Question 12

flat shaped nails (pediatric cases):

Answer 12

qi and blood circulation disorder due to sucking or biting fingers

Question 13

dark red nails/bed:

Answer 13

exhuberant heat

Question 14

crimson nails/bed:

Answer 14

yin deficiency

Question 15

pale nails/bed:

Answer 15

cold syndrome

Question 16

yellow nails/bed:

Answer 16

blood deficiency; damp heat

Question 17

nails turns white with pressure, and colour returns too slowly:

Answer 17

exhaustion of qi and blood

unfavourable prognosis