Lung Tonics

When lung damage occurs, the body is stimulated through a series of events in the immune system to try to fight what it perceives as an injury by "healing" the injury. This process is similar to the body healing a cut or infection. Inflammation, which is a collection of white blood cells, is the initial event which occurs in the lung. In an infection or cut, the white blood cells kill bacteria. In this manner, the body is helped by inflammation. However, white blood cells can, in some instances, damage normal tissue by forming a scar over the area to prevent further damage and heal the cut or damage. In the lung, this healing process can continue until so much of the lung is scarred that the lung can no longer function. Since the scarring occurs in the spaces around the air sacs (alveoli), the lining of these sacs (interstitium) will not permit the flow of oxygen from the air sacs into the blood stream. The body then does not receive adequate oxygen for normal functioning. Once lung scarring or fibrosis is formed in the lung, no surgery or medication can remove or dissolve the scars. They becomes a permanent part of the lung and cannot be removed.

Possible Causes of Lung Damage / Lung Scarring / Lung Fibrosis
In most cases lung damage is caused by inflammation resulting from fibrous growths, mucus buildup, fluid buildup, obstructions or lesions, all leading to loss of elasticity of the lung tissue (the ability to stretch and recoil). Lung tissues may become weakened and break due to adjacent scaring, causing more damage and resulting scars. Lung malfunction may also be the result of lung diseases which are inherited, caused by environmental elements or extended drug use, as in chemotherapy. An allergic disorder, may also cause lung damage. Permanent lung damage can also be the result of chemical inhalation, air pollution, smoking, secondhand smoke, asbestos exposure, breathing dust from mold, parasites, radiation, chemotherapy, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, emphysema , chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, asthma and alcohol abuse.