The common belief is that an itchy right palm means money coming, and an itchy left palm means money going; in many places it is the other way round for women. That is an old belief, not a forecast: an itchy palm does not decide your income or your spending. In Hindi it is hatheli khujlana.
What tradition says
The hand is the body part most directly tied to money: we give with it and receive with it. So an itch in the palm came to be read as a sign about wealth. Following the usual right-and-left omen rule, the belief takes several forms:
| For whom | Which palm | Common belief |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Right | Money coming, some gain |
| Men | Left | An expense, money going out |
| Women | Left | Lucky in many places: money coming |
| Women | Right | An expense in many places |
| Anyone | Both at once | Some say a transaction, others travel |
Some households say you should not scratch an itchy right palm but put your hand on your pocket or purse so that "the money stays". It is a fun family custom and nothing more.
Where the belief comes from
The belief is not only Indian. Old English and European folklore also read an itchy palm as money arriving or leaving; in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar "an itching palm" describes a greedy man. Some old European versions say you should rub the palm on silver. The same belief grew up in different places because everywhere the hand is the symbol of giving and taking money.
The real reasons
Palm skin is packed with sweat glands and we wash our hands many times a day, so the common causes of itching are ordinary:
- Dryness: frequent soap or sanitiser, winter weather
- Contact irritation: dishwashing liquid, detergent, cement, chemicals
- Allergy: to a metal, rubber gloves or a plant
- Eczema: small blisters and itching on the hands
- Sweat: heavy sweating of the palms in the heat
When to see a doctor: if the itch lasts more than two or three weeks, the skin cracks or peels, there are blisters or a rash, or you itch all over, see a dermatologist.
A simple suggestion
If your right palm itches and it makes you smile, there is no harm in that. But do not make money decisions (a purchase, a loan, an investment) because of an itch. A little moisturiser after washing your hands is the most useful answer to this "omen".
Read next
See an itchy foot, eye twitching and money in a dream, or the full list of omens.