Nakha Pariksha in Doshaja Prakriti: A Conceptual Ayurvedic Review with Special Reference to Calcium Deficiency

  • Unique Paper ID: 206390
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 2
  • PageNo: 1266-1271
  • Abstract:
  • Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine, emphasizes individualized healthcare through the concept of Prakriti, which determines an individual's physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics. Among the various diagnostic approaches described in Ayurvedic classics, Nakha Pariksha (nail examination) is an important non-invasive clinical method that reflects the condition of Dosha, Dhatu, Agni, and overall health. Nails (Nakha) are considered closely associated with Asthi Dhatu, and their morphology reflects the quality of tissue nourishment. Modern medicine also recognizes nail changes as valuable indicators of systemic diseases and nutritional deficiencies, including calcium deficiency. Calcium is an essential mineral involved in bone mineralization, keratinization, neuromuscular activity, and cellular signaling. Chronic calcium deficiency commonly presents with brittle, rough, thin, and fragile nails, which closely resemble the nail characteristics observed in Vata Prakriti and Asthi Dhatu Kshaya. This conceptual review critically analyzes classical Ayurvedic descriptions of Nakha Pariksha in Doshaja Prakriti and correlates them with modern knowledge of calcium metabolism and deficiency. Relevant information was collected from Ayurvedic classics and contemporary scientific literature. The review highlights the potential of Nakha Pariksha as an economical, non-invasive, and clinically useful tool for identifying constitutional predisposition to calcium deficiency and Asthi Dhatu depletion. Integrating Ayurvedic diagnostic principles with modern nutritional assessment may improve preventive healthcare and promote personalized medicine.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{206390,
        author = {Dr. Akanksha Shrikant Mahajan and Dr. Vishal Madhukar Khandre and Dr. Prakash R. Chondikar and Dr. Vrushali Hitesh Patil and Dr. Radhika Kulkarni and Dr. Prajakta Kakade},
        title = {Nakha Pariksha in Doshaja Prakriti: A Conceptual Ayurvedic Review with Special Reference to Calcium Deficiency},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {2},
        pages = {1266-1271},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=206390},
        abstract = {Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine, emphasizes individualized healthcare through the concept of Prakriti, which determines an individual's physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics. Among the various diagnostic approaches described in Ayurvedic classics, Nakha Pariksha (nail examination) is an important non-invasive clinical method that reflects the condition of Dosha, Dhatu, Agni, and overall health. Nails (Nakha) are considered closely associated with Asthi Dhatu, and their morphology reflects the quality of tissue nourishment. Modern medicine also recognizes nail changes as valuable indicators of systemic diseases and nutritional deficiencies, including calcium deficiency. Calcium is an essential mineral involved in bone mineralization, keratinization, neuromuscular activity, and cellular signaling. Chronic calcium deficiency commonly presents with brittle, rough, thin, and fragile nails, which closely resemble the nail characteristics observed in Vata Prakriti and Asthi Dhatu Kshaya. This conceptual review critically analyzes classical Ayurvedic descriptions of Nakha Pariksha in Doshaja Prakriti and correlates them with modern knowledge of calcium metabolism and deficiency. Relevant information was collected from Ayurvedic classics and contemporary scientific literature. The review highlights the potential of Nakha Pariksha as an economical, non-invasive, and clinically useful tool for identifying constitutional predisposition to calcium deficiency and Asthi Dhatu depletion. Integrating Ayurvedic diagnostic principles with modern nutritional assessment may improve preventive healthcare and promote personalized medicine.},
        keywords = {Nakha Pariksha, Prakriti, Asthi Dhatu, Calcium Deficiency, Ayurveda, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Nail Examination.},
        month = {July},
        }

Cite This Article

Mahajan, D. A. S., & Khandre, D. V. M., & Chondikar, D. P. R., & Patil, D. V. H., & Kulkarni, D. R., & Kakade, D. P. (2026). Nakha Pariksha in Doshaja Prakriti: A Conceptual Ayurvedic Review with Special Reference to Calcium Deficiency. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 13(2), 1266–1271.

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