What Is Honeycombing In The Lungs? - What Causes Honeycombing?

ABSTRACT

Honeycombing is the characteristic pathological finding in pulmonary fibrosis which denotes the appearance of different sizes of cysts in the severely scarred lung tissue. This pathological change is found in many interstitial lung diseases. This write-up will be all about Honeycombing and its management through herbal medicines offered by Planet Ayurveda.

INTRODUCTION

Honeycombing is the pathological condition produced in the lungs resulting in the breaking up of the walls of the alveoli along with the formation of airspaces which are randomly distributed in the lung tissue lined by the fibrous tissue. It is an important finding in interstitial lung disease which denotes the end-stage fibrosis and scarring of the lung tissue. The main appearance representing honeycombing is that of cystic spaces which have thick walls and its diameter measures around less than 1 cm. However, honeycombing is not a specific finding and can be present in any end-stage interstitial lung disease. Honeycombing presents with signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis in interstitial lung disease. Unfortunately the recovery in ILD with honeycombing is dreaded because of its poor prognosis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms in honeycombing pathological finding are usually those of pulmonary fibrosis and ILD as it is found in it. Some of the major signs and symptoms are:

• Dyspnea i.e. shortness of breath with any activity and in end stage without activity also
• Chronic dry cough
• Exercise tolerance is diminished
• Shallow and fast breathing
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Weakness
• Pain in muscles and joints
• Loss of appetite
• Discomfort in chest
• Unexplained weight loss
• Clubbing of tips of toes and fingers

CAUSES

As already discussed, honeycombing is a pathological finding associated with end stage interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Hence it is clear that advanced interstitial lung disease leads to honeycombing so the causes will be same of that ILD. Usually the causes of honeycombing are not known. However some of the risk factors are associated with it like:

• Infection of viruses, bacteria and fungi leading to interstitial pneumonia

Breathing in Substances like

• Silica dust
• Asbestos
• Talc
• Coal dust
• Bird proteins from chickens, or exotic birds
• Certain anti inflammatory or antibiotic drugs can also cause honeycombing

DIAGNOSIS

Patients diagnosed with ILD with severe symptoms are usually suggested to go for CT scan (Computed tomography) which can depict even the early honeycomb changes in the lungs. Hence the early diagnosis can prevent further damage to the lungs and improve prognosis and late diagnosis can worsen the condition with certain irreversible changes.

TREATMENT

Honeycombing is when the change appears in worse condition and scarring is very severe which is known to be irreversible. Treatment given in conventional systems is not specific and effective every time. However there are certain medications and therapy given to manage the symptoms to some level like corticosteroid and oxygen therapy.

Ayurveda is the alternative system of medicine which deals with diseases to treat them naturally and also presents the healthy and natural way to live life so that diseases can be prevented. There are numerous herbs and natural compounds in Ayurveda which possess therapeutic properties naturally. They have the capability to reverse the pathological conditions to a certain extent without causing any harm to the body.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR HONECOMBING IN THE LUNGS BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda is a recognized brand in the herbal pharmaceuticals field that produces herbal medicines and products that are prescribed to patients suffering from various diseases by experienced MD Ayurveda doctors. All these products are free from any kind of chemicals, additives, preservatives, colors, dye, fillers and yeast and are purely vegetarian and herbal. Production of these medicines is done under strict supervision of MD Ayurveda doctors, following the principles of classical Ayurvedic texts. For honeycombing, Planet Ayurveda offers a certain combination of herbal medicines which help in managing the condition naturally.

Product List

1. Praanrakshak churna
2. Vasaka capsule
3. Tulsi capsule
4. Shwas kuthar tablet
   
   

Product Description

1. Praanrakshak churna

This herbal churna is the combination of the herbs used since ancient times to treat lung’s ailments like Shirish (Albizia lebbeck), Dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanica), Anantmool (Tylophora asthmatica), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum) etc. Praan Rakshak churna helps in treating shortness of breath, respiratory tract infections, and helps in restoring the function of the lungs.

Dosage- Take 1 teaspoon twice daily after meals with plain water

2. Vasaka capsule

This is the single herb capsule prepared from standardized extract of Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica). Vasaka capsules help in treating all types of respiratory troubles like difficulty in breathing, discomfort in the chest, chronic dry cough and infections of the respiratory tract.

Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water

3. Tulsi capsule

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is used to prepare these capsules in standardized form. Tulsi is very well known and used since ancient times to treat various respiratory troubles by the people. Tulsi capsules helps to relieve chronic cough, pain and discomfort in chest, shortness of breath, eradicate infections and helps in better functioning of lungs to certain extent.

Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water

4. Shwas Kuthar tablet

It is prepared from Shuddha parada (Purified mercury), Tankan bhasma (Borax), Shuddh gandhaka (Purified sulphur), Shuddha Vatsanabha (Purified aconitum ferox), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Pippali (Piper longum) and Manashila (Arsenic di sulphide). Shwas kuthar ras helps in relieving cough, cold, breathlessness, and treats bronchitis and asthma.

Dosage- Take 2 tabs twice daily after meals with plain water

CONCLUSION

Honeycombing is a serious and irreversible pathology of end stage interstitial lung disease but herbal remedies discussed above can help in relieving the complaints without causing any further harm to the body. It is better than filling the body with steroids which in the long term causes more harm to other parts of the body. I hope this article will help you in understanding honeycombing better and help you diagnose ILD at an earlier stage so that the irreversible damage to the lungs can be prevented.