A review on agnikarma and its probable mode of action

Summary of article contents:

Salyatantra is one among the important and vital branches of Ayurveda , which consists of various surgical and para surgical procedures. Agnikarma or thermal cauterization is the foremost among these para surgical procedures. It means application of heat to the body part directly or indirectly with help of different materials to prevent or to cure a disease. It is a potent and minimally invasive para surgical procedure which has wide application in chronic conditions as well as in emergency management. Agnikarma has been given special place in surgery by Susruta and the disease treated by Agnikarma never reoccurs. Clinically it is considered as prime para surgical procedure and it provide relief in certain diseases which are not cured by herbal medicine, surgical interventions and alkaline cauterization. Based on specific heat retention and transmission capacity of different substances acharyas had prescribed different materials for cauterizing specific body parts. Most commonly Agnikarma is indicated in neurogenic pain, tendinopathies, or in diseases of skin, vein, ligament, bone or joint where pain is an exclusive factor. The preventive, curative and haemostatic properties of Agnikarma were known even centuries back Keywords: Agnikarma , Cauterization, Para surgical measures INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL Shalu mol S et al