PALMISTRY ISN'T ONLY about character analysis or fortune telling, it's a powerful tool in preventing illness too. Lots of underlying health conditions show on the palm, months before they manifest as an actual health problem. Always consult your physician and get a professional opinion about any suspected condition.

• The palm is a major area for scientific investigation on the nature of genetically inherited and actual disease - over 4,000 research papers have been published on aspects of the palm and health in the last 50 years.
   
• There is no relationship between the length of the lifeline and the length of life - if yours is short, don't worry!
   
• The palm lines aren't fixed and will change as your health and your character changes.
   
• Some practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine examine the palm to diagnose illness. There are many acupuncture points on the hands because many of the body's energy meridians pass through them. Some reflexologists massage the palms as well as the feet.

Fingernail Fitness

The nails are an excellent indicator of your general physical condition, so start with them. If you find something wrong with a single nail though, ignore it - you may have just injured the nail bed. Only if there's a matching sign on three or more nails should you take action.

Look at the image of a healthy nail. If you're in optimum health, the nails will look like this: pale rose-pink in colour, unmarked by ridges, white spots or grooves with a natural sheen to the surface. Ideally, they're rounded and have a small moon showing on most of them.

Spotty Nails
One of the most obvious signs to look for is white flecks on the nails (their scientific name is leukonychia punctata). They signal mineral depletion, sleeplessness and a run-down condition. Most of us get these when we're overdoing it. They're often seen on nursing mothers, junior doctors, shift workers, teenagers living on junk food and late nights, and on those recovering from illness. If your nails are marked like this, consider taking a good mineral supplement, as well as sufficient sleep and exercise.

Ridged Nails
One or more ridges (called Beau's lines) running horizontally across the nails, like wrinkles in the surface, mark a period where nail growth was interrupted in previous weeks. It takes around ten weeks for the nail to grow so this means some time back you had a temporary illness; but it could be from some other shock to the system, an accident for instance, or a surgical operation, even an emotional trauma.

A series of fine, longitudinal lines show over-activity of the nervous system, anxiety, adrenal stress and it's an early warning of rheumatic and arthritic disorders. Try to relax, perhaps with an activity like yoga or meditation and take glucosamine sulphate, which is good for the prevention of joint and mobility problems.

Other Signs On the Nails
Tiny, pin-prick like indentations on the nails are symptomatic of underlying skin diseases, like dermatitis or psoriasis.

Streaks of brown discolouration in the nail, usually near the top edge, point to uric acid build-up and some sort of renal (kidney) problem.

Deep red nails indicate the possibility of high blood pressure, where very pale, bluish or purple coloured nails indicate the possibility of low blood pressure, circulatory or cardiac problems.

Sometimes the nails droop, rather like the leaves of a failing plant. If you hold the fingertips six inches in front of your face (as if about to poke yourself in the eyes) and look square on at the nails, their profile should be curved, following the rounded form of the fingertip. If the nails are flat in profile and particularly, if the nails edges droop, there is general long-term fatigue and lack of vitality; not serious or necessarily illness-related, but you need rest and rejuvenation.

No moons on your nails? This very common (they're always present on the thumbnails). It's nothing to be concerned about but shows that aerobic capacity and circulation aren't optimal.

Other Warning Signs

The Stress Factor
Many diseases have their roots in some way in stress conditions. Stress is easily recognized as a mesh of fine lines covering the whole palm (in palmistry this is known as a 'full' hand). Adapting a slower pace of life can prevent many illnesses getting a grip when only the warning stress signs are evident.

Now let's look at some illnesses and the warning signs to look for:

• Anaemia is indicated by cold hands, white nails and lines that are pale even when the skin on the palm is stretched out. Prevention: take iron supplements.
• Allergies are shown by the presence of an allergy line - a curved line on the lunar mount on the lower part of the palm. Prevention: take an allergy test and cut out reactive foods.
• Depleted vitality - check for weak lines overall; flabby, deflated mounts and flesh on the palms; and a tasselled ending to the Earth line. Prevention: you need a good diet, exercise and a holiday!
• Digestion problems are shown by a deep, or multiple Mercury lines. Also by a short, weak earth line or one with many breaks in it. Prevention: eat healthy meals at regular times, don't drink fluid with meals nor snack on junk food.
• Endocrinal disorders are indicated by fine horizontal lines on the fingertips on all the digits (very common, normal and nothing to worry about if undergoing the menopause). Prevention: acupuncture has been proven to help with endocrinal problems.
• Irritable bowel syndrome is indicated by lots of fine lines crossing the earth line creating an effect that makes this line look like it's been partially erased. Prevention: avoid all wheat products, take probiotic supplements, learn to relax.
• Jaundice is easily recognized by yellow palmer skin and nails. Prevention: take the herb milkthistle, avoid fats and alcohol.
• Thyroid problems - if the hands are hot, moist, smooth and silky, there is an overactive thyroid. If it's under active, the skin is cold, rough, dry and doughy. Prevention: get plenty of rest, eat foods high in iodine, i.e. seaweed, seafood.

If you've found something you're worried about, don't panic! Few of us are without a few negative signs. Take professional advice - have regular check ups. A good diet and a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and rest will alleviate or prevent most conditions.

© Johnny Fincham, 2008

If you want to learn palmistry to professional level, read Johnny Fincham's book: Palmistry - Apprentice to Pro in 24 Hours from O Books (ISBN 978 1 84694 047 7). Click on the book cover below to purchase.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johnny Fincham has studied, researched, practiced and written about palmistry for 22 years. He’s "the UK’s greatest hand reader" according to the Daily M ail. He’s written over 200 features on palmistry and three books and has read the hands of various celebrities. His latest book, Palmistry – Apprentice to Pro in 24 hours (O-Books) has revolutionised palmistry, dragging it into the 21st century, and making it much easier to learn.