Basic Theories and Clinical Study Of Nail Diagnosis

Objective: To reorganize and enhance nail diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and to inherit and develop the essence of nail diagnosis. Methods: In studying the historical literature and traditional theory of nail diagnosis, observing blood supply to nail matrix and clinically comparing characteristics of nail conditions in healthy people, patients with general diseases and malignant tumor patients. Result: (l) Original Theory: Nail diagnosis is recorded in Nei Jing (Internal Classic) and Mai Jing (Pulse Classic) and described in detail in Qing Dynasty. The theory first of all lists nail in the liver-gallbladder system. Red color under nail expresses healthy pa1e color under nail indicates deficiency of blood, and dark blue under nail shows critical diseases. In late Qing Dynasty in l894, Zhou Xuehai reported his method of pressing finger against nail to dynamically observe blood circulation in nail matrix. This method is identical to current method of observing microcirculation. (2) Blood Supply to Nail Matrix: Blood is sufficiently supplied from four directions to nail matrix to make it red; (3) Clinical Observation: l00 healthy people, l00 patients with general systemic diseases and 300 malignant tumor patients were under observation. Nail condition in malignant tumor was characterized by retrogressive changes of nail such as ridges, vertical grooves, horizontal grooves and small fossa and by purple stripes caused by pigmentation in nail with a chemical drug. Patients with metastatic carcinoma often have purple nails, showing disorder of microcirculation. Conclusion: Nail diagnosis, the observation of color under nail in particular is of clinically practica1 value and worth deeply exploring. Importance should be attached to literature and morphology in the research in the nail diagnosis. By Jing Shiying, Wei Hui, Guo Jiasong etc.