Therapeutic Extent of Agnikarma

Abstract

Aacharya Sushruta who is worshipped as the father of surgery has described various modalities relating to both surgical and parasurgical procedures. 'Agnikarma' is one amongst these parasurgical procedures. It has widely been practiced in the various clinical settings depending on the training and exposures of the physician. With renewed interest in the parasurgical procedures in the recent times agnikarma has gained foremost appraisal to attempt treatment to diseases of various categories. Agnikarma though is a parasurgical procedure yet is indicated as a therapy of choice in many diseases, formally being indicated in vata and kapha related morbidities. Moreover, the scope of this therapy is further extended to diseases that are found to be refractory to conventional sheeta-ushana-snigdha-rooksha kind of treatment. The final attribute of agnikarma can be considered on its tremendous prophylactic potential to do away certain diseases and also has developed as a precursor to 'cauterization' of modern era.