Ayurvedic Nail Care Tips

Nail Care

Nails are important to the human body because they protect the sensitive tips of fingers and toes, protect them from injury, and help us pick up small objects. It is necessary to maintain our nails properly because nails help you determine the health of your body and are essential to the health of your hands. Good nail care can prevent fungus infections of the nails, painful ingrown fingernails and toenails, and infections of the skin in the hands and feet. If you have diabetes, it is especially important to take care of your nails. Try to break the habit of biting, picking, or rubbing at your nails. Keep your nails clean and dry as often as possible.

Ayurveda says that our nails can give us some indication of which dosha is predominant in our body and, also, which dosha is currently out of balance. People that are predominantly Vata in the constitution or those facing a Vata imbalance have generally thin and easy to break nails. They also tend to bite their nails. Those with a Pitta constitution tend to have smooth nails, pink in color while Kapha qualities of nails make them strong and difficult to break. According to Ayurvedic medicine, the nails are a by-product of the bones (Asthi Dhatu) and, therefore, the health of the bones can be reflected in the health of your nails. In this sense, thin, brittle nails may correlate to thin, brittle bones.

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Signs Of Healthy Nails

Everyone likes to keep their nails healthy and shiny. Just as it is important to recognize the signs of healthy nails, They are as follows:

• Nails and white tips are even lengths.
• The pinkish-white tone of nails.
• Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves.
• They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.
• The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula, the white section at the nail base. It can provide clues about a person's health. The white lunula is healthy and natural.

Signs Of Unhealthy Nails

Some signs of unhealthy nails are:

• Tiny white spots.
• Uneven nails.
• Spoon-shaped nails.
• Red, swollen skin around the nails.
• Peeling or splitting nails could cause dryness.
• Horizontal grooves.

Nail Care Tips As Per Ayurveda

Nails reflect our overall health, which is why it is important to take care of our nails. Here are some tips for keeping your nails healthy, strong, beautiful, and shining.

• Keep your nails clean and dry.
• Cut your nails straight across. Use sharp nail scissors or clippers. Round the nails slightly at the tips for maximum strength.
• Do not bite your fingernails or remove the cuticle. It will damage the nail.
• Do not use your nails as a tool, such as opening pop cans.
• Regular trimming of toenails, keeping them short, will minimize the risk of trauma and injury.
• Avoid digging out ingrown toenails, especially if they are infected and sore.
• Apply sunscreen to your hands and cuticles during the day to prevent sun damage to your nails.
• Massage nails and cuticles with olive oil in slow and gentle strokes to keep them shiny and strong. Alternatively, use mustard oil.
• Wear shoes that fit properly. Also, alternate which pair of shoes you wear each day.
• Wear flip-flops at the pool and in public showers. This reduces the risk of infections caused by a fungus that can get under your toenails.
• To remove stains from your nails, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and soak your nails in this liquid for a few minutes.
• If you use nail polish, then do not use acetone polish removers. If you need to use a nail polish remover, consider buying one that contains moisturizing oils like aloe vera and lavender. These oils neutralize the drying effects caused by acetone.
• When you wear nail polish, give your nails a break from time to time. Leave them without polish for a few days.
• For natural nail polish, rub petroleum jelly on your nails and buff them with a soft cloth.
• To soften the skin of your hands and nourish your nails, rub in some nail cream made of almond oil and honey and leave it on overnight.
• Ayurveda recommends increased consumption of foods like Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach leaves, dairy products, nuts, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds, which promote healthy nails.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Follow a healthy diet. Improper diet can cause nail disorders such as flaky and split nail ends, vertical grooves, and discoloration of the nail bed.
• Use kitchen gloves while cleaning dishes.

Natural Remedies For Nail Care

The main natural remedies to take care of nails are:

• Olive oil and lemon juice

  This is one of the best natural ways to grow your nails faster and make them stronger. Lemon acts as a skin whitening agent, which helps in removing suntan from the skin. Olive oil also helps skincare by penetrating the cuticles of the nail to repair and strengthen them. Soak your nails in a mixture of three tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of lemon juice for 10 minutes. Follow this home treatment for about 10 minutes every day to strengthen your nails. Simply applying warm olive oil to the ends of your nails also serves as an effective treatment to grow your nails. To harden soft nails, soak them in warm olive oil for about 20 minutes on alternate days.

• Sea salt and lemon juice

  Salt softens cuticles and skin and strengthens nails. It is an effective remedy for brittle nails and improves the health of nails. Put 1 tablespoon of fine sea salt and two to three drops of lemon juice in a bowl of warm water. Mix it with your fingers and let your fingers soak in the bowl for around 10 minutes. Repeat it twice a week for the best results.

• Rosewater

  It has antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, and acts as a natural moisturizer. Daily application of rose water to your nails can seal the natural pink tint on your nails. Use rose water regularly after cleaning your fingers thoroughly. And, if there are spots on your nails, then wash them with a mix of lemon juice and rose water. Following this remedy thrice a week will make your nails clean, shiny, and healthy.

• Apple cider vinegar

  It is a popular remedy for toenail fungus due to its antifungal properties. The presence of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can kill many types of bacteria and fungi, thus providing relief from fungal infection. It provides strength to the cuticle and brittle nails. You can soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and vinegar for about 15 minutes, twice a day, for good results.

• Orange juice

  Orange juice is high in vitamin C, which can help to make nails stronger and healthier over time. The presence of folic acid in orange juice also helps nail growth. Squeeze some fresh orange juice from an orange or two. Soak your nails in fresh orange juice for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it thoroughly after that. Apply natural moisturizers after this application, like coconut oil, olive oil, etc. .

• Coconut oil

  The moisturizing properties of coconut oil may keep your nails hydrated to some extent. Coconut oil is great for treating brittle and cracked nails as well as damaged cuticles because of its moisturizing properties. For healthy nails, mix coconut oil and sugar together and massage them into your hands and nails. Rinse off with warm water. For cuticles, massage coconut oil into your cuticles in a circular motion before bed for overnight moisture hit.

• Horse Tail

  Horsetail is an herb that is very beneficial for nails because of its high silica content. The minerals in horsetail can help strengthen brittle fingernails. Thus, it promotes stronger, healthier nails. To make a strong mixture, take a handful of chopped dried horsetail per 2-3 cups of water. Pour the hot water over the herbs and let the tea steep for at least 15 minutes, or up to several hours. This tea can also be used as a skin tonic. Have this tea once a day to get positive results. For strong nails, soak them in a mixture of horsetail.

It's important to have strong, healthy fingernails. The condition of the nails reflects the quality of tissue production in the body. Some of the natural remedies that help to get strong and healthy nails are the use of olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, rose water, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, coconut oil, and horsetail.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned information related to nail care in Ayurveda is taken from various Ayurvedic resources. Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic doctor before starting self-medication.