by Walter Last
Eye, hair, nail, mouth and skin symptoms are among the early outward warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The following compilations may help in diagnosing and treating these deficiencies. However, increased metabolic requirements for indicated deficiencies may persist for a long time after the outward symptoms have disappeared. Many listed symptoms may also be caused or aggravated by allergies and problems with the blood sugar and fat metabolism.
The right-hand column gives the primary deficiencies first, additional treatment or cause is given in parentheses. For each condition only the more prominent nutrients are mentioned. However, all the typical nutrients should be supplied in increased amounts in the treatment of all conditions.
Eye-deficiency Symptoms
| Symptom | Deficiency / treatment / cause |
| Bitot’s spots – foamy patches on conjunctiva | vitamin A |
| Bloodshot eyes | boric acid for fungus infection, blue light |
| Blurred vision | vitamins B2, B6, pantothenic acid |
| Bulging eyes | vitamin E, nicotinamide, iodine |
| Cataracts (lens becomes opaque) | vitamins B2, C, E, antioxidants (avoid lactose) |
| Color-blindness | vitamin A |
| Conjunctivitis | vitamins A, B2, C (B6, zinc) |
| Cross-eyes | vitamins E, C, B1, (allergy testing) |
| Dark spots in front of the eyes | vitamins B6, C, zinc (liver problems) |
| Dim vision (amblyopia) | vitamins B1, B2, C, B12 (allergy testing) |
| Dry, hard eyeballs (xerophthalmia) | vitamin A |
| Farsightedness (hyperopia) | magnesium, potassium, MSM |
| Glaucoma | magnesium, vitamin C (B2, B1,salt) |
| Hemorrhaging in the back of the eye (retinitis) | vitamin B6, zinc, bioflavonoids (also magnesium, vitamins C, B2, B12, E, pantothenate) |
| Infected, ulcerating eyes (keratomalacia) | vitamin A (vitamins C, B2, B6, zinc, blue light, boric acid) |
| Itching, burning, watery, sandy eyes | vitamin B2 |
| Macular degeneration | vitamins A, B2, B6, magnesium, zinc, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, esp. lutein & zeaxanthin, ginkgo biloba, bilberry, eyebright, MSM, EFA |
| Near-sightedness (myopia) | chromium, vitamins C, E, D, calcium (proteins, avoid sugars) |
| Night blindness (nyctalopia) | vitamins A, (B2, B6, zinc) |
| Red blood vessels in the sclera | vitamin B2 |
| Retinal detachment | zinc, vitamins B6, B2, C, E, A |
| Sensitive eyes, fear of strong light (photophobia) | vitamins B2, A |
| Tics of eyelids | magnesium, vitamins B2, B6, zinc |
Skin-deficiency Symptoms
| Symptom | Deficiency / Treatment / Cause |
| Acne | vitamins A, E, B2, B6, C, niacin, biotin, zinc, EFA*, lecithin, MSM, retinoic acid topically (minimize sweet food & fats) |
| Addison’s disease – adrenal exhaustion: increased tanning, especially on skin-folds, scars, elbows, knees; black freckles | all B vitamins, especially pantothenic acid; vitamin C; all minerals, digestive enzymes, allergy testing, avoid sweet food |
| Arterial spiders (fine branching arteries on face, neck, chest) | antioxidants, bioflavonoids, glucosamine, cartilage, calcium |
| Bedsores | vitamins C, E |
| Blisters | vitamin E |
| Brown discoloration around small joints | vitamin B12 |
| Brown skin spots | antioxidants (weak liver) |
| Dry skin | vitamins A, C, EFA |
| Eczema, skin ulcers | vitamin C, B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, EFA, allergy test, cleanse |
| Eczema, infantile | EPA, zinc, vitamin B6 |
| Edema | vitamin B6, zinc (also vitamin C, magnesium, avoid salt) |
| Fingers white, numb, stiff, swellings (Raynaud’s disease) | vitamins B6, B1, antioxidants, niacin, magnesium/calcium, EFA |
| Fungus infections (e.g. athlete’s foot, ringworm) | B vitamins, (external tea tree oil, intestinal sanitation) |
| Gangrene | vitamins C, E, B1 , magnesium chloride, (urine packs) |
| Greasy dermatitis around eyes, nose | vitamin B6, zinc |
| Greasy skin eruptions (seborrhea) | vitamin B2 |
| Horny red skin on pressure areas (e.g. knees, elbows) | zinc (vitamin B6) |
| Hot flushes | vitamin E, boron, magnesium, calcium (Wild Yam cream) |
| Ichthyosis (fish-like scales) | vitamin A, retinoic acid topically, MSM |
| Infant dermatitis with inflamed pustules around body openings | vitamin B6, zinc |
| Infections of the skin (boils, cold sores, impetigo, and so on) | vitamins C, A, B6, zinc, magnesium chloride (hot Epsom-salt packs, tea tree oil or propolis rubs) |
| Itching | vitamins B, C, EFA, alkalizer, bicarbonate rubs, (allergy tests) |
| Jaundice | vitamins C, E, A, B12, B6, lecithin, magnesium, zinc (blue light therapy, treat gall bladder & liver) |
| Keratosis, horny, goose-pimple-like skin | vitamin A internally & externally |
| Lemon-yellow skin | vitamin B12 |
| Oily skin, white-heads | vitamin B2 |
| Over-sensitivity to sunlight | vitamin B6, zinc, PABA, beta-carotene, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, alkalizers |
| Pale skin | biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, , iron (anemia) |
| Prickly-heat rash | vitamin C |
| Psoriasis | as for acne; blue light, sunlight; avoid gluten |
| Purplish or blue-black skin areas | vitamin C, B2, bioflavonoids |
| Rash | allergy test, alkalizers, vitamin C, calcium |
| Red-brown, often symmetrical discoloration of skin exposed to the sun, later ulceration | niacin or nicotinamide (folic acid) |
| Red-brown or dark-red spots | manganese |
| Rosacea (redness of part of face) | vitamin B2 |
| Scaly dermatitis | biotin |
| Scaly eczema around nose, ears, scrotum, vulva | vitamin B2 |
| Scar tissue | vitamin E, MSM externally & internally, camphorated oil rub |
| Scleroderma (hardening and swelling of skin) | vitamin E, C, A, PABA, MSM, magnesium chloride (zapper, pulser and parasite therapy, tea tree oil packs) |
| Sensitivity to insect bites | vitamin C, B1, calcium, alkalizers, bicarbonate rub/bath |
| Shingles | vitamins B12, C, A, B, E, zinc, lysine, zinc oxide lotion, zapper |
| Skin cancer | vitamins A, B6, PABA, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, carotenes, chlorophyll, propolis, zinc (blue light, escharotics) |
| Skin-folds red, infected | niacin |
| Stretch-marks | vitamins E, B6, zinc |
| Subcutaneous bleeding (red or purplish spots under the skin, bruises easily) | vitamin C, bioflavonoids and rutin, grape seed extract, glucosamine, alkalizer |
| Swellings (for example, face) | zinc, magnesium, vitamins B6, B12 |
| Vaginal itching | vitamins B2, E, C (avoid synthetic underwear, treat Candida) |
| Warts, moles | vitamins C, A, E |
| Weals on the skin (urticaria) | vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin C, (alkalizer, allergy test) |
| White skin patches (vitiligo) | PABA, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, zinc |
| Wrinkles or aging skin | vitamins C, E, A, EFA, bioflavonoids (too much sun) |
* Most skin conditions benefit from external as well as internal application of the indicated nutrients. Retinioc acid is the acid form of vitamin A. EFA means essential fatty acids, mainly linoleic and linolenic acid; recommended are ground-linseed, linseed oil, fish oils and Evening-primrose oil.
Hair and Nail Deficiency Symptoms
| Symptom | Deficiency treatment cause |
| Coarse, brittle hair | zinc |
| Dandruff | vitamins B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin |
| Dry hair | vitamin A, zinc |
| Graying hair | folic acid, pantothenic acid, PABA, biotin, minerals (weak adrenals, avoid sweet food) |
| Hangnails | vitamin C, folic acid, proteins |
| Hair loss | copper/lead contamination: use zinc, vitamin B6, sulfur (MSM), selenium, biotin |
| Nails opaque, white spots/bands | zinc, vitamin B6 |
| Oily hair | vitamin B2 |
| Peeling nails | vitamins A, C, calcium |
| Ridges on nails, longitudinal | vitamin A, protein, calcium (anemia, poor circulation, thyroid/parathyroid glands) |
| Ridges on nails, transverse | fever, infection, inflammation, menstrual problems, period of protein deficiency |
| Scaling of cuticle or lips | biotin |
With graying hair or hair loss improve the circulation to the scalp, e.g. daily inversion such as headstand, shoulder-stand, hanging upside down or using a slant-board. Also vigorously rubbing nourishing or slightly irritating solutions into the scalp, e.g. fresh grass or vegetable juice, MSM with copper salicylate, ginger juice.
Tongue and Mouth Deficiency Symptoms
Mouth problems are often due to amalgam fillings, allergies or Candida infestation (thrush).
| Symptom | Deficiency treatment cause |
| Beefy, enlarged tongue | pantothenic acid |
| Burning, sore tongue | vitamins B2, B6, B12, niacin |
| Cracked lips & corners of the mouth (cheilosis) | vitamins B2, B6, folic acid |
| Distended, purplish-blue veins under the tongue | vitamin B2 (circulation poor, congested) |
| Edema or tooth-marks on tongue | niacin/nicotinamide |
| Furrowed tongue | vitamin B1, pantothenic acid |
| Gums receding, bleeding (gingivitis) | vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, alkalizers |
| Halitosis (bad breath) | vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, propolis, chlorophyll (cleansing, intestinal sanitation) |
| Mouth ulcers, canker | folic acid, vitamin B6, zinc (alkalize, allergy test) |
| Papillae prominent or erased | niacin/nicotinamide |
| Purplish or magenta tongue or lips, also veins under the tongue | vitamin B2 |
| Tongue red at tip or edges; severe deficiency: whole tongue scarlet red, sore | niacin (vitamin B6) |
| Tongue shiny, smooth, beefy; early sign: strawberry-red tip/sides | vitamin B12, folic acid |
| Tongue too small or too large | niacin, pantothenic acid |
| White-coated tongue | intestinal putrefaction, cleansing |
| White patches on tongue | vitamin B2 and other B vitamins (allergy) |
| Yellowish-brown-coated tongue | liver or gall bladder problems |