We often find it difficult to perceive our own health condition, but observing our hands may provide clues because they can reflect our health condition to a certain extent. In traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis, the method of observation (visually examining) is particularly important in the preliminary assessment of health issues.
Palm diagnosis is a method of assessing the health condition of patients by observing their hands with the naked eye, without the need for special tools. Doctors pay attention to changes in palm lines, symptoms, features, and colors as part of the diagnostic basis.
### Palm Lines and Health Tiny horizontal lines in the palm, especially faint small lines on the emotion line, may indicate liver issues. If the health line appears faint and forked, red or purple spots appear on the Mount of Venus or Mount of Luna, liver health examination should also be considered. Changes in palm color are also important: normal light yellow with a glossy sheen is a sign of health, but too deep or abnormally yellow may be associated with gastritis, anemia, or colitis. Red palms that are brighter than normal may indicate hypertension or other circulatory system issues; while paleness suggests poor blood flow or anemia. Red or purple spots on the palms should be a warning sign of liver disease.
### Nails and Health Nail morphology also reveals health information. For example, central nail bed concavity or spoon-shaped nails may be related to anemia, thyroid problems, or rheumatic disease. Horizontal lines on the nails may reflect malnutrition or temporary effects of serious diseases such as measles or heart disease.
### Finger Shape and Health Finger flexibility is closely related to health. Specific abnormalities of the fingers, such as limited movement of the thumb, may be related to cardiovascular diseases; changes in the shape of the index finger may indicate spleen and stomach or liver and gallbladder issues; problems with the middle finger may reflect heart and small intestine dysfunction.
Overall, the health signals provided by the hands are rich and intuitive, and early signs of many common diseases can be captured through hand diagnosis. Therefore, paying attention to subtle changes in the hands can sometimes serve as an early warning for our health, allowing us to timely detect and address potential health issues.
