Agni Karma
Treatment
Agni Karma Treatments
Agni Karma is ideal for curing ailments such as sprains, heel pain, headaches, sciatica and arthritis. It is usually done for 2 to 3 minutes
What is Agni karma?
Agni Karm is a para surgical procedure. This procedure aims at management of various afflictions by inflicting burns on the tissue surface directly by using different materials known as ‘Dahan Upakaranas’(tools of thermal cautery).
What are tools of cauterization?
These are different materials subjected to heat and used for therapy in different conditions. The specificity of tools of cauterization depends on the disease status concerned. For superficial conditions, materials used are of minimum latent heat, whereas in deeper tissues used objects are with maximum latent heat. On this concept, in classics, for the diseases of skin surfaces the materials used for Agni karma are Pippali (Piper longum), Godanta (Teeth of Cow), Shara (Arrow), Shalaka (Probes), Varti (Wick), Suryakanta (Variety of stone) etc. Likewise, for the diseases of muscles Loha (Iron), Swarna (Gold), Tamra (Copper) and Kamsya (bronze) are used. In deeper and strong tissues like bones, ligaments, tendons, vessels etc., Madhu (Honey), Guda (Jaggery), Vasa (Fat), Ghrita(Ghee), Taila(Oil), Madhucchishta(Beewax) are used.
‘Pancha dhatu shalaka’ has been used on a regular basis for the purpose of Agnikarma irrespective of the structure involved or level of the pathology. The Pancha dhatu shalaka is made up of Copper, Brass, Bronze, Lead and Tin (in equal quantity).
Indications of Agnikarma?
- Sciatica
- Painful conditions of bones and joints.
- Stiffness of Joints
- Muscle spasm
- Tennis elbow
- Calcaneal spur
- Plantar fasciitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Headache
- To excise the corn from the heel
- To excise the external piles
- Disc prolapses
- Low back ache
How Agni karma(cauterization) helps to relieve the pain?
Here the heat, which is transferred to skin acts by removing the obstruction in the Srotas (minute channels) and increases the blood circulation to the affected site. The rate of any metabolic activity is increased by a rise in temperature. From the therapeutic point of view with an appropriate rise in temperature, all cell activity increases, including dilatation of vessels, cell motility, synthesis, and release of chemical mediators. More blood circulation, flushes away the inflammation and patient get relief from the symptoms. Afferent nerves stimulated by heat is having an analgesic effect by acting on the gate control mechanism.
Timeline of Kshar sutra technology.
In anal fistula, the Ayurvedic surgeon searches for internal and external openings of Fistulous track. And then inserts the Kshar sutra within the track and ties it outside. This process takes 5 to 25 minutes depending upon the nature of track and skills of surgeon.
The first 8 layers of medicine on thread slowly dissolves the infected material and expels the debridement through the external opening of the track. other layers of medicine on the thread promotes the healing of the track. Within 7-10 days, all layers of the thread are dissolves and there shall be plain thread in situ. After 7-10 days, the surgeon replaces old thread with new one which takes 1-3 minutes. The medicine on thread cuts and heals and every next visit the length of thread reduces which means the reduction in length of Track.
At last point, the thread comes out itself with 89% healed wound. The rest of wound shall heal with 7-10 days. Similarly, Kshar sutra works same in conditions of Pilonidal Sinus.
Is there any contraindication for Agni karma (cautery)?
Persons of Pitta prakriti, emaciated, children, old aged, sensitive, pregnant, multiple ulcers in the body, anaemic, obese, indigestion, alcoholic, intoxicated etc are not recommended for this therapy.