PARONYCHIA (NAIL INFECTION) – OVERVIEW, SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENT

Paronychia is a disease of the proximal and lateral toenails and fingernail folds that can occur regularly or after an injury or procedure. It is one of the most common diseases of the hand, and it is important to know how to treat it correctly. Nails are, in many cases, thought of as immaterial and an indication of beauty. Notwithstanding, they play a significant role in the human body. More often than not, they are underestimated, assisting us with digging, opening, scratching, picking, throwing, and holding our fingers and toes. Although nails fill some needs, they can without much of a stretch become tainted and harmed. Assuming that they are left untreated, these diseases can harm the nails and the skin. In this article, we will discuss Paronychia, a nail infection, and how to treat it with Ayurveda.

Paronychia is a disease of the nails or toes. This can happen alone or after an injury or manipulation. Paronychia is one of the infectious diseases of the hands. Paronychia causes infection in the affected area due to disruption of the protective barrier between the nail and the nail fold. Painful paronychia is usually limited to one nail; However, many screws come into play when using drugs. There are two types:

Paronychia is caused by damage to the nail and its protective layer, called the cuticle. Injuries (such as manicures and pedicures), infections (including bacteria, viruses, and fungi), abnormalities, and inflammatory diseases (such as psoriasis) are predisposing factors. Bacteria can enter the moist nail crevice and cause colonisation of the area. The most common paronychia is caused by trauma, nail-biting, excessive nailing, and artificial nails and may involve a foreign object. The most common bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococci and Pseudomonas are often seen in chronic infections. Less common pathogens include gram-negative bacteria, dermatophytes, the herpes simplex virus, and yeast. Children are seriously injured by nail-biting and thumb-sucking habits that directly cause oral diseases, including aerobic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Eikenella corrodens) and anaerobic bacteria (Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Porphyrella).

In Ayurveda, nails are considered material from bones (Asthi Dhatu) and are developed during Tritiya Avastha Paak (the third digestive phase). Ayurveda refers to paronychia as “Kunakha or Chippa”. Kunakha means Ku (evil) and Nakha (nails). This is why it is known as a condition that causes nails to deteriorate. Ayurveda considers this state a pitta-dominant state and a tridosha state. Washermen, hospital workers, and cleaners are victims of this problem. Ayurveda mentions various herbs and oils that help treat paronychia. The Ayurvedic treatment of paronychia is based on the following lines and principles:

Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), mentioned in classical Ayurvedic texts, is a good herb for all skin types. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a natural blood purifier that prevents acne infections and heals wounds. Its taste is bitter-sweet, and it is considered “Varnya” (good for the skin) in Ayurveda.

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is one of the most widely used Ayurvedic herbs because it is an immune booster. Besides being immune, it has cooling properties and balances Pitta dosha, helping to reduce skin irritation, and inflammation and promote healthy skin. Its vipaka is sweet (digested taste) and helps reduce itching and redness.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a herb that is effective in the treatment of skin diseases. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Contains Nimbin, which prevents skin problems like acne and pimples. The herb has a bitter taste and is known in Ayurveda as Kandu Ghana, which means medicine that helps reduce itching and skin inflammation.

Khadir (Acacia catechu) is an Ayurvedic herb mentioned in the Charak Samhita, one of the oldest Ayurvedic classical books. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi and is therefore considered the best remedy for paronychia.

Planet Ayurveda is a GMP-certified company that produces 100% vegan products designed by MD Ayurveda doctors. All the formulations have standardised extracts of natural herbs. None of the Ayurvedic formulas contains food additives, starches, additives, yeasts, or added flavours. Here are the following Planet Ayurveda formulations that can help treat paronychia:

Kaishore guggul is a polyherbal formulation that is made up of various Ayurvedic herbs such as Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Goskhur (Emblica officinalis), Vidanga (Emelia ribes), and many more. Guggul helps in fighting the disease, reducing inflammation, and healing skin wounds.

Dosage: 1-2 tablets, two or three times a day.

Septrin tablets are polyherbal formulations made up of Haldi (Curcuma longa), Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Pippali (Piper longum), etc. It manages the three doshas: Kapha, Pitta, and Vata. All these herbs are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and have healing properties, which make this combination good for the treatment of paronychia.

Dosage: 1-2 tablets, one or two times a day.

Planet Ayurveda’s Jatyadi Oil is an oil-based formulation of many Ayurvedic herbs that helps treat skin conditions that are made up of Chameli (Jasminum officinale), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), and many more. All of these drugs have anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties. Jatyadi oil is mixed with Dashang Lepa and Kushta rakshasa oil and applied to the affected area.

Application: Locally applied over the affected nails.

Although nails may seem like an insignificant part of the human body, they affect the overall health of our body, so keeping them healthy is very important. Paronychia can cause problems if left untreated, so it’s important to treat paronychia. Although traditional medicine can cure paronychia, it is best to find natural Ayurvedic medicine for paronychia that can help cure the problem permanently. Planet Ayurveda gives you herbal remedies that can treat paronychia.