28 Subtle Signs of Imbalance
Our body speaks to us in small ways that might not seem significant unless you know about these possible connections. What is listed below is just a sample, it is not necessarily complete nor necessarily proven with scientific studies ,but it should at least give you an idea. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has been much more observant of such clues and even small differences in the feeling of the pulse. Perhaps they did so because, without modern testing, they simply had to pay attention to clues. The items listed may not be the only cause of the clue, but they are common and a place to start your search. Often it may not be necessary to supplement individual nutrients if you have made a more global change in diet or lifestyle such as those covered in the Library page “Basics of Health”.
Clue = something out of balance | Possible Inadequacy or Connection |
Cold sensitivity | Thyroid, Magnesium, iodine |
Constipation | Magnesium, fiber, water, food sensitivity |
Cramping | Minerals (Magnesium or potassium likely) |
Cravings for Chocolate | Magnesium |
Ear wax excess | Low essential fatty acids |
Eye brows – outside 1/3 gone | Thyroid |
Gums – Bleeding | Vitamin C or CoQ10 |
Hearing | Vitamin A |
Hair thinning | Thyroid, medications, many nutrients |
Lips – Dry | Inadequate water |
Mouth – Cracks at corners | B vitamins, perhaps iron or zinc |
Nails – Pale | Iron |
Nails – thin | Biotin, protein, Thyroid |
Nails – White spots | Zinc |
Nerves – Jumpy | Magnesium, copper, B vitamins |
Perspiration on Head to excess | Vitamin D |
Red spots, small on skin | Vitamin C |
Skin – dry, flaky on legs, feet | Essential fatty acids (Booklet) |
Skin – “tags”, e.g. on neck | Blood sugar instability |
Sulfite sensitivity (Wine) | Molybdenum inadequacy |
Tingling in extremities | Blood sugar, chiropractic, B-vitamins |
Tongue – pale | Iron |
Tongue – teeth leave impression | Nutrient malabsorption. See digestion. |
Tongue – red, bumps, grooves, etc. | Many. Search for “tongue diagnosis” |
Tongue – white coating | Yeast |
Upper arms, “chicken skin” bumps | Vitamin A and/ or essential fatty acids (Booklet) |
Waist, women over 35″, men 40″ | Insulin sensitivity |
Warts | Vitamin A |
Copyright 2006, 2014, 2023 by Martie Whittekin, CCN