Pause for Your Paws
By Mary Berkery
This title came from a treatment menu that I helped put together for a skin care emporium and spa in Dublin in early 2000. I was consulted to create a menu with catchy names. ‘Pause for your Paws’ was the heading for hands, feet and nail care! Another of our catchy names was ‘The Pink Pamper’, a luxury Rose oil body massage, followed by a rose petal elixir. The client then left with three roses! The Pink Pamper became a much talked about service on TV, Radio and magazines, promoted as a gift for Valentine’s day, Mother’s day and Birthdays. Pause for your Paws never got such highlights. Yet, the service of foot soaks, hand and foot massages and nails care was an important part of this emporium’s offerings.
In this editorial I will look at especially at care of nails. Nails are similar to claws in other animals. Nails protect the sensitive nerve endings of fingers and toes. They also provide support for the tips of the fingers and toes, protect them from injury, and aid in picking up small objects.
Fingernails and toenails are made of a protein called keratin which is comprised of flat dead cells. The living part of the nail is under and behind the cuticle. For this reason, if you’re oiling, it is important to massage the oil around the cuticle to nurture the living cells.
Cared for nails play a big part in an over-all cared for appearance. That attention communicates much non-verbally to others when we meet them. Their condition also indicates your vitality as illness and stress often affect their growth. For example, lines across the toenails can indicate deep stress. White spots on fingernails can indicate a mineral imbalance.
Biting and picking nails can have many causes. In my work over the years, I see this condition when there is poor self and body image. A diet that is high in white sugars or alcohol can create an aggravation in the body, resulting in nail biting or picking too. Working with healthy self-care both mentally and physically can eventually stop this self-negating habit.
Protect & Care
Excessive hand-washing or using household cleaning solutions can rob our skin and nails of vital oil and moisture, resulting in split, peeling nails. Wear gloves when possible for household chores. Detergent hair shampoos, or those for oily hair designed to strip lipids and other natural oils from the scalp can also strip nails of their vital moisture. Change to plant based ingredients such as Trilogy line or Intelligent Nutrients Pure Luxe shampoo
Clipping & Filing
When clipping and filing, it better to use an emery board in place of steel one to prevent breaking or splitting. File toenails straight across and not around the edges as this can encourage in-grown nails. On fingernails, file in a curve, commencing at edge and moving to centre. Dr Hauschka Neem Nail Oil is an excellent product to massage into the nail base after your weekly filing and buffing to smooth and polish naturally.
Nutrition for Nails
Nutritionally, include Biotin rich food in your daily intake as it’s important to have a sufficient supply of biotin for healthy nails. Swiss Chard is a top producer of biotin and a great part of a healthy salad choice or green juice mix. Carrots contain biotin, as well as beta-carotene, which help with general health. Almonds, Walnuts and Other Nuts supply the body with biotin, and are a portable way to get proteins and other nutrition into a diet. Soak nuts overnight before consuming, if possible, for optimum nutrient value.
Let Them Breathe
To conclude – go barefoot regularly! Stretch open feet and hands on the earth with yoga poses such as dog pose. This enhances chi energy to your beloved paws and claws. ?
Mary Berkery is a Life, Wellness and Beauty Coach. For more contact at mary@livingbeauty.ie or on 00353 86 028 2882.
Perfect Products:
- Trilogy line
- Intelligent Nutrients Pure Luxe Shampoo
- Dr Hauschka Neem Nail Oil
Nutrition for Nails:
- Swiss Chard
- Carrots
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Other Nuts
