Description of Agnikarma

• The Agnikarma technique is described in Sushruta Samhita(Ancient Ayurveda Literature), which is written by the legendary Vedic Indian Surgeon Sushruta, who is also known as father of modern surgery.

  In Shushurut Samhita he has described effect of Agnikarma on disorders of Asthi (bone), Sandhi (joint) and Snayu (ligament/tendon).

• Agnikarma is very effective in acute pain, as well as chronic pain.

  Agnikarma is very helpful in treatment of Knee pain, Back Pain, Frozen shoulder, Slipped Disc, Sciatica, Lumbago, Lumbar spondylosis, Neck pain, Cervical Spondylosis, Osteoarthritis, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Heel pain, Planter fasciitis, Myofascial pain, Chronic fatigue pain, Tendonitis, Migraine etc.

• Agnikarma is rare treatment, but is very effective if practiced correctly and does not produce any further complications.

  It is very well described in Ayurveda.

Agnikarma Description in Ayurveda

Agnikarma described in Ayurvedic textbooks:

• त्वऽ.मांससिरास्नायुसंध्यस्थिस्थितेऽत्युग्ररुजे वायु |
  Burning (branding) should be done in presence of very severe pain in the skin, muscles,veins, ligaments, joints and bones caused by vata (aggravation).
  (SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 12, VERSE 10)
• तद्दग्धानां रोगानामपुनर्भवात् भेषजशस्त्रक्षारैरसाध्यानां तत्साध्यत्वात च |
  Diseases treated by thermal cautery will not recur again and also because those diseases which are incurable by the use of medicines, sharp instruments and alkalis will be cured by fire (thermal cautery).
  (SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 12, VERSE 3)
• स्नेहोपनाहाग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च |
  स्नायुसन्ध्यस्थिप्राप्ते कुर्यात् वायावतन्द्रितः ||
  When vata is found affecting ligaments, joints and bones, then therapies such as sneha (oleation), Upanaha (warm poultice), agnikarma (thermal cautery), bandhana (bandaging), unmardana (hard massaging, squeezing or trampling on the body part) should be done.
  (SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – CHIKITSASTHANA – CHAPTER 4, VERSE 8)
• अग्निः क्षारादपि श्रेष्ठस्तदग्धानामसंभवात् |
  भेषजशस्त्रक्षारैश्च न सिद्धानां प्रसाधनात् ||
  Thermal cautery is better than even alkali, for the diseases burnt by it (treated) do not recur and it can be used even (in diseases) which have not been successfully treated by drugs, alkalis and knife.
  (ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – SUTRASHANA – CHAPTER 30, VERSE 40)
• त्वचि मांस सिरास्नायुसंध्यस्थिषु स युज्यते |
  It is used on the skin, muscle, vein, tendon, joints and bones.
  (ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 30, VERSE 41)
• स्नायुसन्धिसिराप्राप्ते स्नेहदाहोपनाहनम् |
  When vata is found affecting ligaments, joints and vein, then it should be treated by sneha (oleation), daaha (thermal cautery) and upanaaha (warm poultices).
  (ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – CHIKITSASTHANA – CHAPTER 21, VERSE 22)
• स्नेहोपनाहाग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च |
  क्रुद्धे स्नायुगते वाते कारयेत् कुशलो भिषक् ||
  When vata is found affecting ligaments, then therapies such as sneha (oleation), Upanaha (warm poultice), agnikarma (thermal cautery), bandhana (bandaging), unmardana (hard massaging, squeezing or trampling on the body part) should be done.
  (BHAVAPRAKASHA – VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA – VERSE 257)
• कुर्यात् सन्धिगते वाते दाहोपनाहनम् |
  When sandhi (joints) are affected by vata, then it should be treated with daha (thermal cautery) and upanaha (warm poultices).
  (BHAVAPRAKASHA – VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA – VERSE 259)
• स्नेहोपनाहग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च |
  स्नायुसन्धिसिराप्राप्ते कुर्यात् वाते विचक्षणः ||
  When vata is affecting the snayu(ligaments), sandhi(joints), and sira(veins), it should be treated with sneha(oleation), agnikarma(thermal cautery), bandhana(bandaging) and unmardana(hard massaging ,squeezing or trampling on the body part).
  (CHAKRADATTA – VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA – VERSE 9)