Can hand signs signal disease & psychiatric disorders?

Long ago the hands were discovered as a diagnostic tool, and therefore it is not surprizing that many great philosophers have described the significance of hands! Today hands can be used as a diagnostic instrument in order to recognize various medical & psychiatric disorders, such as: schizophrenia, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Marfan syndrome, fragile-x syndrome & Down syndrome. How come?

A few quotes from respected philosophers describing the philosophical importance of hands:

Aristotle (384BC - 322BC)

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher said about the hand:

“… (the hand) is the organ of the organs, the active agent of the passive powers”

Sir Charles Bell (1774-1842).

Sir Charles Bell, the Scottish surgeon said:

“The hand is essentially the organ of the mind, the medium of its expression, and the Instrument whereby its promptings are carried into execution”

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961).

Carl Gust Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist said:

“Chirology [hand reading] is an art which dates back to very ancient times. The ancient physician never hesitated to make use of such
auxiliary systems as chiromancy and astrology for diagnostic and prognostic purposes as is shown, for instance, by the book of Dr. Goclenius who lived at the end of the sixteenth century. … The totality-conception of modern biology which is based on the evidence of a host of observations and research does not exclude the possibility that hands, whose shape and functioning are so intimately connected with the psyche, might provide revealing and therefore, interpretable expressions of psychical peculiarity, that is, of the human character. …”

Today, the hand can be used to study the significance of hand signs in the perspective of quite a few syndromes, diseases, and psychiatric disorders. You can check out many more details about dozens of hand signs via the sources below:

• 34 Hand signs in Diabetes Mellitus (type 1 & 2)

• 29 Hand signs in Down syndrome (trisomy 21)

• 30 Hands signs in Fragile-X syndrome

• 5 Hand signs in Marfan syndrome

• 24 Hand signs in Psoriasis

• 28 Hand signs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• 37 Hand signs in Schizophrenia 

The ‘Weird-Hand-Lines Quiz’ (part 2): connecting 9 lines with 9 medical disorders!

9 LINES & 9 DISORDERS:
CAN YOU FIND THE CONNECTIONS?

Just to avoid misunderstandings, I will briefly describe each of the hand lines in the picture above:

Line 1 = extra crease on the 1st phalange (beyond the distal interphalangeal crease)
Line 2 = extra crease on the 2nd phalange (in 1 or more fingers)
Line 3 = single crease on the pinky finger
Line 4 = extra crease on the thumb
Line 5 = ‘hockey-stick crease’
Line 6 = simian crease
Line 7 = Sydney crease
Line 8 = transverse hypothenar crease
Line 9 = secondary creases: unusually high density

The names of the 9 disorders are:

A = Alagille syndrome (= genetic disorder related to e.g. the liver, heart & kidney)
B = Coffin-Lowry syndrome (= genetic disorder: e.g. mental problems, health)
C = Down’s syndrome (= genetic disorder: trisomy 21, e.g. mental handicap, health)
F = Edward’s syndrome (= genetic disorder: trisomy 18, e.g. low rate of survival)
D = Fetal alcohol syndrome (= caused by alcohol abuse during pregnancy)
E = Fragile X syndrome (= genetic disorder: Xq27, e.g. mental handicap, autism)
G = Pit-Rogers-Dank syndrome (= e.g. growth disorder, mental retardation)
H = Schizophrenia (= psychiatric disorder)
I = Sickle Cell Diseases (= blood disorder)

The QUIZ-task is very simple:
‘Which line (in the picture above) belongs to which disorder?’

(You can submit your answers as a response to this blog post, but you can also discuss the details at the Modern Hand Reading Forum, at:     The ‘Weird-Hand-Lines QUIZ’ – part 2)

Some ‘clues’ for finding the right connections are provided by MEDICAL HAND ANALYSIS.

The ‘hypothenar whorl’ – a characteristic in schizophrenia, Down syndrome… and autism?

New research links the ‘Moon whorl’ with autism! (On top of Down syndrome & schizophrenia) In 1892, Sir Francis Galton published his highly influential book, ‘Finger Prints’ in which he described his classification system based on the number of triradii. On of the 3 most well-known fingerprint types is the ‘whorl’ (next to the ‘loop’ and ‘arch’), which is often found on the fingertips – but rarely found on the hypothenar (in palistry: ‘mount of Moon’)! What was already known about the ‘hypothenar whorl’? Quote from the article: “While the classic palmistry literature describes that the ‘hypothenar whorl’ (a.k.a. ‘whorl on mount of Moon’) can be recognized as a sign for finding a ‘highly imaginative person’, various scientific studies have indicated that dermatoglyphic whorls on the mount of moon are linked with Down’s syndrome + a few other medical problems.” NEW RESEARCH FINDING ON AUTISM! Another quote from the article: “A study on the hands of 30 people with autism (25 men, 5 women) revealed a surprizing high percentage of a specific (very rare) variant of the ‘hypothenar whorl’ – the ‘hypothenar composite whorl’.” Some examples of the ‘hypothenar composite whorl’ are presented below. In the perspective of the fact that in the science of fingerprints the ‘composite whorl’ is related to the ‘double loop’, it is interesting to notice here that the new finding relates to an earlier reported finding which pointed out that the hands of people with autism are often featured with a ‘double loop’ in the fingerprint of the pinky finger and the presence of 2 palmar loops below that 5th finger. In cases you’re interested to learn more about the basics of fingerprint classification – the illustration below describes the 8 most common types of fingerprints (including: 2 ‘arch’ variants, 2 ‘loop’ variants, and 4 ‘whorl’ variants). NOTICE: The ‘composite whorl’ whorl does not belong to the 8 basic fingerprint types (the name ‘double loop whorl’ in the picture below is traditionally described as a ‘double loop’). SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • How fingerprinting works! • Forensic experts say: ‘fingerprints reveal more’! • A historical review of research on dermatoglyphics!

Dermatoglyphics & the ‘atom’ of palm reading – a moment of science!

Dermatoglyphics & the atom of palm reading - a moment of science!

A moment of science: about dermatoglyphics & the ‘atom’ of palm reading! Scientists may not tell your future from reading your palm. But what they can describe your vulnerability for acquiring certain genetic diseases from your individual palm prints! Is there really any truth to palm reading? The study of dermatoglyphics – the medical study of the fine skin ridges on your fingertips and palm – can be described as the fundamental basics of modern hand reading.

Today there is no scientific evidence linking the lines on your palm to your fate or fortune. However, scientists have learned that your palm and fingerprints do have a story to tell! A FEW QUOTES: “The ridges on your hands, fingers, feet, and toes formed while you were still in the womb, five or six months before you were born. They are the result of stress patterns that formed as your hands and feet developed. Because the growth pattern of every fetus is slightly different, your finger and palm prints are absolutely unique. Even identical twins have slightly different patterns.” “Many genetic diseases affect the way that the fetus develops. This results in characteristic irregularities in the palm prints. Scientists have statistically linked dozens of genetic diseases to unusual palm prints. Sometimes even viral diseases can leave telltale traces on an infant’s palm.” “Studies have linked irregular palm prints to such diseases as schizophrenia, fetal alcohol syndrome, and even allergies. While they can’t tell you how long you’ll live or how many children you’ll have, the lines on your palm can tell you something.” A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: • Palm reading – a moment of science! • Hands on cancer: how the reveals varous types of cancers! • The history of fingerprinting! • Biometry: about fingerprints & other hand features! • The hands of Albert Einstein